Timer?

What kind of timer should I use for my setup? I'm going to have a 600w Quantum Ballast (dimmable) running both MH and HPS bulbs. Also on the surge protector will be 2 duct inline fans, anyway to keep those on while the timer cuts the lights off?

yes, you plug your lights into a heavy duty timer, check the wattage it can handle on the back of the package, and then you plug your lights into the socket, not the timer. might want another surge protector.

That made no sense to me. First, you say to plug my lights into a heavy duty timer. And then you say to plug my lights into the socket, not the timer.

BWPZ what country do you hail from.

Because there are vast differences between USA and UK and other countries.



J

USA and my ballast can be 120v or 240v, comes with both power cords. It also allows 50 hertz to 60 hertz.

IN that case you need a heavy duty timer.

You plug your ballast into the heavy duty timer and the timer into the wall socket.


YOU MUST GET A HEAVY DUTY one otherwise your timer will fail.


As for the fans just plug them straight into the wall socket if you want them on 24hours a day.




J

If I plugged the lights into a heavy duty timer, and then plugged that into a surge protector would that work if I also had the fans on the surge protector?

I think i am not understanding what this surge protector you are talking about is.

Is it like an RCD that trips if it overloads, in effect stopping a power surge effecting your equipment etc?

Is it an EXTENSION CORD that has a bank of sockets on it?


J

http://www.ezhydroshop.com/products/8’-Power-Strip-14{47}3.html

Something like that, but more heavy duty to handle the right amps and whatnot.

Personally i would use 2 seperate wall sockets.

WALL SOCKET 1
Heavy duty timer with ballast plugged in.

WALL SOCKET 2
That extension cord you showed me with your fans plugged into it.





J

Okay, can i plug the timer into an extension cord that goes out of my closet like 8 ft away to the closest outlet?

Or maybe the ballast plugged into the extension cord which plugs into the timer which is directly plugged into the wall socket?

Sorry I meant fan in another socket. My bad bro. Smoking 2 much.

Bwpz said:

Okay, can i plug the timer into an extension cord that goes out of my closet like 8 ft away to the closest outlet?

Or maybe the ballast plugged into the extension cord which plugs into the timer which is directly plugged into the wall socket?

Click to expand...

The draw from the ballast could BLOW your extension cord. This is why i mentioned about straight into the wall socket.

I personally would not plug a ballast into an extension cord.

If you can contact the manufacturer of that cord you showed me and they can confirm you can do it, THEN plug your ballast into the cord and the cord into the timer. BUT if they tell you that it is not designed to take the load of the ballast then i wouldnt use it.


Contact them and let them tell you about it first.



J


J

they make some heavy duty construction type ext. cords...and sorry to interrupt the thread with a question, but jon...since we are on the topic, i am from the U.S and i am running 1 400w hps, and 1 125w actual CFL, as well as a small oscilating fan...all connected to 1 surge protector, which is connected to a heavy duty ext. cord to the wall...safe or no? i have a family...and never thought about that untill i saw this thread. thanks!

o...and the surge protector is connected to a timer...then extension cord, and wall.

There's no way for my ballast to go directly to a wall socket, my closet is about 8ft away from the closest one.

gobskiii said:

they make some heavy duty construction type ext. cords...and sorry to interrupt the thread with a question, but jon...since we are on the topic, i am from the U.S and i am running 1 400w hps, and 1 125w actual CFL, as well as a small oscilating fan...all connected to 1 surge protector, which is connected to a heavy duty ext. cord to the wall...safe or no? i have a family...and never thought about that untill i saw this thread. thanks!

Click to expand...

I wish i could give you a definitive answer but i am not electrician in the UK let alone the US.


I just dont like putting myself or my family at risk.

My home electrical system is only 2years old and here in the UK we use things called HORTICULTURAL LIGHTING CONTACTORS that have 2 plugs on them, 1 goes into the timer and into the wall socket and the other plugs straight into the wall socket, WE HAVE TO USE 2 WALL SOCKETS WITH OUR LIGHTING CONTACTORS these contactors range in sizes from 1k which will run a single 1000w or under lamp up to around 16k which you can guess runs around 16 x 1k lamps.


There is an electrician on RIU that hangs around and has a thread in the GROW ROOM DESIGN AND SETUP forum.

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/181708-experienced-electrician-here-answer-any.html



J