Important Question Coral Life Digital Timers help?

[MarineGirl411]

On Rc I've read where the Coral life timer that had the dual timers have started fires. Now I am wondering if the digital one has had any problems as well? I need a light timer that will control up to 4 lights. Please let me know anyone. Thank you.

 

[dippin61]

there are better options

 

[lecher]

The outdoor timers sold at lowes and home depot would work fine. I had one of the digital timers you are referring to and had around 500watts of lights plugged into it, although it worked and never any problems, after awhile I noticed it smelled burnt and I stopped using it.

 

[panmanmatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8906742#post8906742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dippin61
there are better options

Care to elaborate on this?

 

[zoomfish1]

I've also been thinking about a digi timer for my lights. What are the options out there. Something that won't take an arm & leg?

 

[lecher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8906802#post8906802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
I've also been thinking about a digi timer for my lights. What are the options out there. Something that won't take an arm & leg?

The outdoor timers at lowes and home depot used for lights and sprinkler pumps. They are usually about $20 each.

 

[MarineGirl411]

see those would only control one light though correct?

 

[horstman2]

Petco old fashioned push buton timers $11 and yes you would need 4...

 

[dippin61]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8906800#post8906800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by panmanmatt
Care to elaborate on this?

any outdoor digital timer. at least when it comes to the coralife timers.

personally.. it could be anything else really. I don't know about you, but me, i wouldn't want to use any timer by a company that has had as many problems as coralife has had.

people report that theirs just burst into flames for no reason. digital or analog, i wouldn't use one of their timers if it was the only option.

 

[atvdave]

I use timers from Lowe's with no problems.

However any timer can or will cause a fire without proper care. If you overload them or keep them in damp location, and also let salt creep accumulate all over them then IMO any timer will cause a fire.

 

[dippin61]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8929397#post8929397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by atvdave
I use timers from Lowe's with no problems.

However any timer can or will cause a fire without proper care. If you overload them or keep them in damp location, and also let salt creep accumulate all over them then IMO any timer will cause a fire.

not when it comes to the coralife's. there are stories, where they didnt get any water whatsoever in them, at all, and werent overloaded, and just burst into flames.

the thread where the tank melted and put the fire out, comes to mind.

no water at all got into it, wasnt overloaded, and was fairly new, and it just burst into flames for no reason.

 

[MarineGirl411]

Went to Walmart last night and picked up Timex timers. Well, they are junk so I am returning them. I guess I'll try Lowes. I was just wondering if the digital timer would burst into flames. I def. DO NOT want anything that will burst into flames. I have a seperate cabinet for my lights and plugs that my tank uses so there is no way any salt creep or water could get to it. So, I guess Coral life is out of the question. I was really hoping I could use it though. =/ I'm afraid to take a chance. How big are the ones at Lowes? The one's I bought from Walmart take up 2 plugs per timer. I wouldn't have enough space for them. Let me know. =)

 

[J. Montgomery]

I would have sworn that I replied to this same post a few days ago, but . . . I've used a Coralife for over 6 months, both on a chameleon cage as well as my reef tank. I recently got a AquaController Jr. so the Coralife is no longer on my main tank (it'll be going to the QT tank). AC Jr. is the bomb! But a pricey option.

The Coralife digital will only allow you to control two lights with the timer function. Even though it has four outlets; four of the them are always on, and the other four are divided into two "Day" and two "Night" outlets that work opposite from each other. When the day is on, the night is off, and vice-versa.

I have four appliance timers from Lowes that I use on my chameleon cage, the downside to those is that they don't accept three pronged outlets. . . so if you get some from the local hardware store, make sure it accepts three prongs. Each one is about the size of my fist and comes with a ~3-4ft. extension cord, so they're not small but they only occupy a single outlet each (I have them plugged into a power strip).

 

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8931032#post8931032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
How big are the ones at Lowes? The one's I bought from Walmart take up 2 plugs per timer. I wouldn't have enough space for them. Let me know. =)

The one's I got at Lowe's take up 2 plugs also.

They may sale others that won't but I have never seen any like that.

What I did is just use one power strip for my light/timers, and another power strip for my other equipment. You could also get short extension cords like 6" long and use it that way, but if it was me I'd just use 2 power strips to cut down on the load on just one power strip.

It's up to you.

 

[MarineGirl411]

any reason why you stopped using the Coralife timer?

 

[UCanDoIt]

I use to use Coralife timers and they kept getting stuck, so lights would stay on all night or be off all night long. I switched over to Neptune's AquaController Jr and now my complete system is under it's control, lights, fans, pumps, kalkstirrer, top of unit, heater, skimmer, you name it, it's under control. What peace of mind!!!

 

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8933744#post8933744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UCanDoIt
I use to use Coralife timers and they kept getting stuck, so lights would stay on all night or be off all night long.

Same here

 

[coolfish5]

I picked up a couple from lowes that were outdoor timers, have a plastic cover that covers the dial, a short like 4" power cord and the outlet on the bottom. They also were grounded 3 prong outlet/cord. I have used them for a couple of tanks as well as christmas lights outside. No problem except they do make a tiny bit of noise as they get older (3 years). I do not however run very high power lights, just NO strip lights off them.
I think they were $10-15 in a 2 pack with a normal 2 prong indoor timer. But that price may have been an after christmas clearance or something of the sort. They had them last year again but haven't looked lately.
They work well for me.
John

 

[MarineGirl411]

They had those at walmart, but I chose the cheaper Timex ones. So now I am thinking of going with the Grassline timers. Get 4 of those maybe. The Neptune would be awesome to have. Maybe Some day. How much are they?

 

[2crazyreefers]

I personely know 3 people who had fires with the coralife timers. Scared the hell out of 2 and fortunately they were home. My friend Bob said the flames blew his cabinet doors open while he was watching tv. My buddy in NY was not home and it started a fire in the cabinet which burst his tank and put the fire out. And the third happened to be home and heard a pop (luckily). Who knows for sure wether salt creep or water played a part but for me hearing this story from 3 people I know I will stay away from them myself.