Check your timers!!!!!!!

doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
Well folks, it happens to us all...........equipment malfunctions!!!!!!!:cuss: Fortunately, some of these "malfunctions" are easily preventable with a bit of vigilance. The other night after my lights should have turned off, I happened to go back into my grow area for something I needed. This was just about 2 hours after "lights out". I heard a ballast humming, which was odd, because all of my ballasts should have turned off long ago. Fuck!!!!!!! I looked at the timer which powered this particular ballast and noticed it was still on, and had been inadvertantly switched from Auto to Manual. It is a digital timer and I've been using this brand, quite successfully for almost 2 years with no problems whatsoever. I quickly shut the timer off and switched it back to Auto and checked the settings. It has a battery backup as well so it wasn't caused by a power outage or anything. I must have inadvertantly bumped it when I was doing some grow room cleaning and organizing earlier in the day. The lesson here is, Don't get complacent! I should have been checking my timers each night all along but had been neglecting to do so for some time due to the reliable nature of the timers. A simple goof nearly screwed me. It's been a few days and I haven't noticed any problems, so I think I dodged a bullet but I now check my timers, especially in the flowering room, every single night before, and after "lights out". ;-)
 
420God

420God

Well-Known Member
Good post, I've had a few of the cheaper timers malfunction and burn out on me either leaving the lights on or not turn them back on in the morning.

Luckily I check frequently liked you mentioned and caught them in time but this is definitely something more growers need to be aware of.:leaf:
 
doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
420God said:
Good post, I've had a few of the cheaper timers malfunction and burn out on me either leaving the lights on or not turn them back on in the morning.

Luckily I check frequently liked you mentioned and caught them in time but this is definitely something more growers need to be aware of.:leaf:
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Thank you my friend. As human beings it is in our nature to get complacent but unfortunately for growers, complacency is a luxury we can't afford.:sad:

GreatwhiteNorth said:
Doc, what brand/model do you use?
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It is an Intermatic Model DT620CL.:leaf:


http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20indoor%20timers/digital%20timers/dt620cl.aspx
 
doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
I still haven't noticed any problems due to my timer "hiccup". The buds are still growing and don't seem to have been affected by the extra 2 hours of light they received. I've had issues with timers before but none quite this severe. Still, it's good to know that one relatively small fuck up shouldn't derail an entire grow.:weed:
 
L

Luke

Well-Known Member
The same thing happened to one of my grows bout 2 yrs ago.timer didnt shut when it was supposed to and i didnt notice it for almost 6 hours.timer was only 2 years old.no ill effects on the plants though.got a new timer and re set it for 12/12.moral of this story is to replace your timer every 12 to 18 months of continious use.
 
SmokeyMcSmokester

SmokeyMcSmokester

Well-Known Member
doc111 said:
Well folks, it happens to us all...........equipment malfunctions!!!!!!!:cuss: Fortunately, some of these "malfunctions" are easily preventable with a bit of vigilance. The other night after my lights should have turned off, I happened to go back into my grow area for something I needed. This was just about 2 hours after "lights out". I heard a ballast humming, which was odd, because all of my ballasts should have turned off long ago. Fuck!!!!!!! I looked at the timer which powered this particular ballast and noticed it was still on, and had been inadvertantly switched from Auto to Manual. It is a digital timer and I've been using this brand, quite successfully for almost 2 years with no problems whatsoever. I quickly shut the timer off and switched it back to Auto and checked the settings. It has a battery backup as well so it wasn't caused by a power outage or anything. I must have inadvertantly bumped it when I was doing some grow room cleaning and organizing earlier in the day. The lesson here is, Don't get complacent! I should have been checking my timers each night all along but had been neglecting to do so for some time due to the reliable nature of the timers. A simple goof nearly screwed me. It's been a few days and I haven't noticed any problems, so I think I dodged a bullet but I now check my timers, especially in the flowering room, every single night before, and after "lights out". ;-)
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man that shit happened to me...i had one of those POS hydrofarm timers...shit was working fine for a while, then about 3 weeks into the grow it busted..i didnt notice it until it was too late, and had to scrap the grow..first time i ever had to do that...now i stick with those heavy duty sprinkler timers. what a fuckin headache tho! :wall:
 
doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
Luke said:
The same thing happened to one of my grows bout 2 yrs ago.timer didnt shut when it was supposed to and i didnt notice it for almost 6 hours.timer was only 2 years old.no ill effects on the plants though.got a new timer and re set it for 12/12.moral of this story is to replace your timer every 12 to 18 months of continious use.
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That's not a bad idea. Timers are relatively cheap and its definitely not worth it to have one fail and screw up a grow. :sad: I'm glad that your plants were ok though. :weed:

SmokeyMcSmokester said:
man that shit happened to me...i had one of those POS hydrofarm timers...shit was working fine for a while, then about 3 weeks into the grow it busted..i didnt notice it until it was too late, and had to scrap the grow..first time i ever had to do that...now i stick with those heavy duty sprinkler timers. what a fuckin headache tho! :wall:
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Man, sorry to hear about that. :sad: Disasters like that are usually the best teachers though. I know I'm gonna be checking mine at lights out from now on. :bigjoint:
 
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