Sick of Mechnical Lighting Timers

[Nabber86]

Thanks everyone for the info.

I have a Corallife single channel and one of the newer dual channel modles. The reason that I dont like mechanical timers is that then tend to "drift". After a couple of months, the lights are turning on and off at different times than you thought you set. (of course you cant even tell to within 15 minutes what time you set it at anyway). Lately the Coralife single channel has been acting up. Sometimes it dosnt turn on at all. Or worse, last week it stayed on all nite.

 

[Nabber86]

I think I found what I need.

http://fishsupply.com/slnt-ddt01.html

Dual channel, grounded, electronic timer.

 

[Nabber86]

Anybody using one of these??

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7051402#post7051402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nabber86
I think I found what I need.

http://fishsupply.com/slnt-ddt01.html

Dual channel, grounded, electronic timer.

Nabber, I think that one has a single timer with two outlets, I do not think it operates the two outlets independently so I recomend you to double check that from the supplier just in case if what you want is two independently timed outlets and while you are at it check the maximum load (Amps) it can take.

 

[fat-tony]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=584645&highlight=coral+and+fire

There's the thread about a coralife power center on fire.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7057484#post7057484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fat-tony
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=584645&highlight=coral+and+fire

There's the thread about a coralife power center on fire.

ok, scratch that idea. I was going to get one of these coralife dual timers for my new setup, but I guess i'm looking for something else then.

thanks tony.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7051402#post7051402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nabber86
I think I found what I need.

http://fishsupply.com/slnt-ddt01.html

Dual channel, grounded, electronic timer.

nabber,

the 2 outlets on that timer are not independent. here's link that i found on it.

http://www.championlighting.com/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=80

 

[Nabber86]

Bummer - 2 outlets on a single channel.

======================

So OK, here is what I have been thinking about. A sprinkler timer (Rainbird) at Home Depot sells for only about $20. They have 4 independent channels. Each channel can be set to mutiple time periods per day and per week. They even come with battery backup.

The only problem is that each channel would have to be connected to a relay switch to operate a light. I am not sure if you should run a light for 12 hours on a relay switch, because the relay would have to be energized for the entire time that a light was on. Seems like burnout (of the relay) would be a problem.

Any ideas on this??

 

[rick s]

Nabber,

I'm just curious. . . Why all the attempts to re-invent the wheel?
What is it that the off-the-shelf, designed to do the job, Digital Intermatic Timer won't do for you?

 

[Nabber86]

Because I would like a digital unit with a single clock and mutilple channels to turn the lights on and off. I would like to do this for under $100.

To run 3 sets of lights (sun rise/sunset, full sun, moonlights) I would need 3 Intermatic timers. I checked them out at Home Depot last night and they were $29.99 each. I guess that is $0.03 less than my goal, but it still leaves me with 3 units that will drift eventually.

A sprinkler timer is $30 and relay switchs are less than $10 a piece. I already have the soldering gun and a decent understanding of simple electric circuits.

 

[bromion]

I have a coralife dual power center, and it's a piece of crap, which is too bad because it has great features. Unfortunately, they don't work. I guess you get what you pay for.