Light wont fire when using timer

can your timer handle the wattage your trying to pull through it?

most of those removable pin-type timers arent rated for much mor than a string of xmas lights or a couple 100w incandecents.

Originally Posted by SlikWiLL13

can your timer handle the wattage your trying to pull through it?

most of those removable pin-type timers arent rated for much mor than a string of xmas lights or a couple 100w incandecents.

Im not sure what they can handle, but if it fires sometimes, I would think it can handle it. Im going to get a hydrofarm timer today and see if thats the problem.

there should be a sticker on the back of the timer saying what its rated for. im guessing you have a indoor lamp timer....was it $3-5? 2-prong?

if you get a hydrofarm timer youll be golden. good luck.

I have the same timer bud, there are a couple models but usually they are 10 or 15 amp. Either way it can handle your light.

As for the problem, I thought the same thing was happening to me. But, I just left it plugged in and after about 15 minutes it came on. I just needed some patience, not sure if thats your problem or not

Originally Posted by MrJoshC

I have the same timer bud, there are a couple models but usually they are 10 or 15 amp. Either way it can handle your light.

As for the problem, I thought the same thing was happening to me. But, I just left it plugged in and after about 15 minutes it came on. I just needed some patience, not sure if thats your problem or not

Well got a new hydrofarm digital timer and .....nothing! My other timers are all for like 1700W and 15 amps I think. So it must be the ballast I guess. Ya sometimes the light will actually fire, but then glow faintly all day, never a complete bright burn. I always have to unplug the light from the ballast and just plug it back in then it fires right up.

I just though of another thing, I had a completely different light system burn out 3 bulbs within a month or two. Maybe its the electricity? Amyone hear of a house being old and shitty and causing these kind of problems?

Originally Posted by Muffy D

Well got a new hydrofarm digital timer and .....nothing! My other timers are all for like 1700W and 15 amps I think. So it must be the ballast I guess. Ya sometimes the light will actually fire, but then glow faintly all day, never a complete bright burn. I always have to unplug the light from the ballast and just plug it back in then it fires right up.

I just though of another thing, I had a completely different light system burn out 3 bulbs within a month or two. Maybe its the electricity? Amyone hear of a house being old and shitty and causing these kind of problems?

Does it fire every time you plug it in directly?

I use the same timer with a 1000w it is the three prong and it has always been perfect. You might try a different outlet to see if it works right if so there might be an issue with the circuit you are using.

Originally Posted by Mr.Freedom

Does it fire every time you plug it in directly?

I use the same timer with a 1000w it is the three prong and it has always been perfect. You might try a different outlet to see if it works right if so there might be an issue with the circuit you are using.

if the bulb is too hot sometimes it could take up to 15 minutes to fire up complete to its full brightness and if its hot enough it may never reach full brightness unless you let it cool down

hmmmm, running out of ideas. i had a 1000w rig that i thought had a bad timer. it would run for awhile and shut itself of for a few hours and then start again. i was all ready to buy a new ballast and my shop-guy(my shop guy is fucking amazing!) gave me a new bulb to try, said he had similar problems and it was his bulb. i swapped it out, it worked like a dream, and i dropped a fatty quarter off on the hydro guy.

moral of the story here is maybe a new buld could be a cheaper fix tham a new ballast.