What are The Switches Called That Turn Off Your Lights Periodically?

Islam

Active Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #1

Hey all, just wondering what they're called.

Saw a few at Wal-Mart a while ago that were about 20 dollars. They turn your lights off/on for any time you want them to (12/12 light cycle would be possible with them.)

Thanks guys!

 

robert 14617

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #2

timers .............................

 

Islam

Active Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #3

robert 14617 said:

timers .............................

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Thanks Robert! Could I perhaps use an outlet splitter like this one for one timer?:

For flowering I'm planning to hook up 3 lights to one timer using the splitter if it's possible.

 

lagarrettBLUNT

Active Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #4

my timer didnt have the ground [third plug] in it so watch out for that.

 

polyarcturus

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #5

what wattage are the light? that splitter is not a good choice you want a heavy duty three way splitter so as to reduce the chance of fire.

the timer and the splitter both have to rated over the culminate # of amps drawn from the lights. so if you run x3 400(3.3 amp ea total amps= 9.9) to a 15amp rated splitter attached to a 15 amp rated timer on a 20amp circuit you will be ok.

also you only ever want to run no more than 90% amps on a circuit, so on a 20 amp circuit, its best to run under 18 amps.

 

polyarcturus

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #6

lagarrettBLUNT said:

my timer didnt have the ground [third plug] in it so watch out for that.

Click to expand...

MAD IMPORTANT!!!!!!1 i kept shocking the shit out of myself becuase i have a fan on a diimer with out grounding it. it now grounded but getting zapped in the fore head hurts

 

Hugo Phurst

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #7

You want something like this.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672791&bmUID=1226671123162&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443308424&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

Don't fuck around with a light-weight splitter like that.

 

H R Puff N Stuff

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #8

verify amp rating of timer and use a grounded power strip, not the one in the pic unless it is hooked up to a gfci outlet.

 

B

budleydoright

Well-Known Member

• Apr 29, 2012

• #9

I wouldn't use any power strips or splitters on anything other than CFL lights.

 

A

Aljazera

Active Member

• Apr 30, 2012

• #10

budleydoright said:

I wouldn't use any power strips or splitters on anything other than CFL lights.

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Why wouldn't you use a power strip with surge protection for a ballast?

 

missnu

Well-Known Member

• Apr 30, 2012

• #11

the best kind of timer you can get is one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/APC-6-OUTLET-...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1335835786&sr=1-11

I got 2, but I can set 6 different on and off times for each outlet, So, I only need the one...lol

 

missnu

Well-Known Member

• Apr 30, 2012

• #12

budleydoright said:

I wouldn't use any power strips or splitters on anything other than CFL lights.

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you would want a power strip for a ballast more than CFLs...lol. If CFLs go wrong the bulb will blow...HID lights go wrong and burn houses down..so add ina surge protector...lol. It is dumb to use any large expensive electronics without surge protectors...

 

missnu

Well-Known Member

• Apr 30, 2012

• #13

lagarrettBLUNT said:

my timer didnt have the ground [third plug] in it so watch out for that.

Click to expand...

you can get all kinds of ones, and also little adapters that you can plug into make it all line up...