Question-for those of you without a controller

M

Mw1981

New member
What are you using as a timer for your lights? Id like to be able to control on/off times for blue/white leds as well as moonlights..what is everyone using? I was going to mount a American dj pro strip, but with how the timers are setup it would limit my options.

Any ideas would be great
 
I have a normal "spinning" timer on my frag tank. Doesn't really give the control you are after, but it was cheap enough I could have multiple.
 
I see what you are saying about the timers issue with the power bar. I would get these so you can use all the outlets on the power bar and use separate timers for each light plug, if they are separate.

http://www.amazon.com/1-Foot-Extension-Listed-Approved-5-Pack/dp/B000CRFOMK

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81KELZV3YdL._SL1500_.jpg" alt=" " height="600" width="800">

<img src="https://d2pbmlo3fglvvr.cloudfront.net/product/full/Z2J4Bzfo5oy.JPG" alt=" " height="600" width="800">
 
I run a $8 dollar timer from Harbor Freight for my T5's
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-timer-95205.html
Then for the Kessils they run on a Kessil controller. The Kessil controller has 2 channels or basically independent timer systems. I bought all the pieces to make a 120v relay with the 3mm jack 10vdc input signal from the Kessil and then never put the dang thing together. Matter of fact till this moment I had forgotten. I guess I need to go finish that project. :)
I also run those same Harbor Freight timers for dosing. They have 8 on/off events so I spread the dosing over the day.
 
I wouldn't run any thing from harbor freight that's electrical in my house everything in that store is junk so I'm sure the electrical products are top notch.
 
What????? Come on guys. I bought a drill there years ago and it is still working as new. Not everything they sell is crap. Also, these timers are probably made by the same company in China.

It doesn't matter if you buy them from Amazon, Walmart or Harbor Freight, they all come from China. Therefore, they are all built with the cheapest labor and materials available.
 
You are entitled to your opinion, but I own many items from harbor freight and most are of similar quality of what you would get anywhere else. This includes hand tools, electric tools, as well as micellaneous items. Furthermore they stand behind their products. I broke a 1/2" drive breaker bar trying to remove an axle nut. I had owned the tool 10 years, and they did not even carry the same item anymore, but they replaced it with a similar item no questions. I broke a similar craftsman tool on the same nut a,d ended up having to cut it off, so the failure was not a reflection on the quality of the tool.

As was stated before, their products probably come off the same assembly li,e as many of the "better" brands.
 
I'll be using a marsaqua light..was going to add on moonlights for just a few hours after lights out.
Will prob be asking more questions in next few days, about to get my build moving.
 
I have a knockoff of said light on the frag tank. As mentioned above, I have it on a simple timer. I have considered two timers so blue could run on its own schedule.

Then again, I suspect it uses 0-10v dimming drivers, and,could probably be controlled by one of the many 0-10v led controllers out there if you were brave enough to rewire it
 
yeah thats the plan, working on a simple arduino controller, but thats going to be after tank is up and running.
 
0-10v is dificult with an arduino. Not possible but requires extra hardware and extra expense... Own is far easier, you may actually find yourself over the price of the mars aqua wireless units with the built in controller.

Of course building your own is far more interesting :)
 
yeah was more into it for the interesting factor lol...sorta thinking of going w the sbreeflights pro...sounds like it does all I am looking for and has a better spectrum.
 
snake1 said:
I wouldn't run any thing from harbor freight that's electrical in my house everything in that store is junk so I'm sure the electrical products are top notch.
Click to expand...


98% of everything you buy is from china. Wake up. If you took everything out of your house that wasn't made overseas then you would get wet when it rained. Go ahead and buy your stuff at grainger, sears, wherever. Guess what? It's made by the same exact facility that harbor freight buys from. I'm financing three kids incollege, mortgage and life. If you want to pay 50% more for the exact same product, knock youself out.
 
oblio said:
98% of everything you buy is from china. Wake up. If you took everything out of your house that wasn't made overseas then you would get wet when it rained. Go ahead and buy your stuff at grainger, sears, wherever. Guess what? It's made by the same exact facility that harbor freight buys from. I'm financing three kids incollege, mortgage and life. If you want to pay 50% more for the exact same product, knock youself out.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry this was taken the wrong way ,I'm stating that the tools at harbor freight are crap and that I would never feel good leaving my house with crap controlling my expensive investment I.e. fish tank, and worrying about my house burning to the ground with my dog ,tank ,and not to mention my house and whole life ...the quality of their tools just shows me I would never use anything of thiers that was constantly plugged in without supervision ..sure you can buy a drill or a saw and it works fine for the one time cut or drill for a homeowner thats not using it everyday but to leave it alone plugged in to control my tank no way ..but I'm entitled to my own opinion and so are you. I rewire homes that have burnt down due to the typical extension cord monoply .....I'm in no way coming down on anyone here I just have seen guys use harbor feight tools and myself have used them to and the pure quality is junk and for something that is controlling electrical in my house no way am I trying to save a dollar ...and I'm not rich. Just not looking to get lasik surgery behind 7-11 some things you don't skimp on.
 
Thanks for all the responses everyone. Still trying to decide on LED, that may make a difference, otherwise will prob purchase a couple of the squid cords.
 
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