Dumping Coralife Light Timers

[Nabber86]

I thought Coralife was having problems with their crummy timers that work for a couple of weeks and then break (or worse yet, catch fire).

Now they are dumping them at a science surplus site:

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=15&category=149

(you may have to go to the bottom of the page and hit "More Household Sockets" to get it to come up.)

2 for $9.75. Hope whomever buys them has good insurance.

"Itellegent" power strip. Yeah right.

 

[TWallace]

Those don't look like Coralife timers. Coralife timers have different colored tabs on some of the sockets, indicating if they are timed or not.

 

[Tobman]

I have one of the Coralife timers with the colored plugs. Just got it at Marine Depot less than 3 months ago.

Are they dangerous? What's a better brand? I like the combo timer and surge protector with 8 or more outlets.

This is the one I have.

 

[thor32766]

i have that one also. anybody?

 

[reefdood]

Any powerstrip labeled "NOT FOR USE IN DAMP LOCATIONS" is a fire hazard in our circumstance.

 

[ambaratur]

There have been a few threads about them catching fire.

And I believe however that not one of those threads said that they had a GFI outlet however. I could be wrong - but I don't remember seeing it.

 

[Lpsfanatic338]

I have had mine for over a year and it has never stopped working or caught fire

 

[Nabber86]

I have had 2 of them; a single timer and a double timer. Both of them stuck in the "on" position overnight and almost fried my tank.

 

[Dragon68]

What would be a better one to use?I have ones that are for TV's and such.I know this is wrong but what would be best?I also have drip loops in all of my cords.

 

[conefree]

I have heard nothing bad about the digitals. I use two of them, each plugged into their own GFCI outlet. If anybody wants pictures of the rig I made, let me know.

As far as the single and dual manual wheel timers, there have been multiple threads on how horrible they are. Several have started fires and done lots of damage.

 

[HowardW]

Ditto..........I believe the problems reported were with the older style non-digital units. I've been using 2 of the newer style digital ones for nearly a year now with no issues.

 

[conefree]

Here is one of the threads, there are probably a couple more:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=580767

 

[Nabber86]

Yes it is the old-style mechanical ones that are bad.

Every hour at precisely 26 minutes after the hour, I heared a distinct "click" from the tank area. It took me several months to figure out that it was the timer that was still pugged in under the stand (nothing is plugged into it). The timer wheel does not turn and sticks (or clicks) once an hour at that time.

Guess I ought to disconnect it.

 

[conefree]

Yeah don't take any chances. If you really want to keep it, I would definitely advise plugging it into a GFCI outlet.

 

[Tobman]

So can you all recommend better brands, please? With an internet link to where you can purchase them?

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8223740#post8223740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tobman
So can you all recommend better brands, please? With an internet link to where you can purchase them?

I think the new style Coralife digital units would be fine, I haven't heard of any problems with them and mine work just fine.

 

[conefree]

I have had both of my digitals for almost a year.

You can get them at:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01692

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/timer/Class//T1/F20CX+0047+1115/EDP/49868/Itemdy00.aspx

http://www.petsolutions.com/Digital+Power+Center-I-96301692-I-C-1042-C-.aspx

 

[areze]

plug a regular good power strip into this

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/12725/cid/3389

without question the best purchase Ive made. it just works. no worries at all. though I wouldnt get it wet just like I wouldnt get any powerstrip wet.

 

[conefree]

Those are pretty nice, good price too. Might have to invest in some of those for other timed tasks.

 

[Tobman]

So you all are saying I should ditch the Coralife one I linked to above and get one of the digitals, even though it is fairly new?

Mine is plugged into a GFCI outlet.