roidrage152
Active Member
I'm trying to build a 4 light controller based on a mix of several DIY controllers I've seen online. I am not an electrician, but I've done alot of DIY work including all my grow room wiring to pretty much to code, definitly to safety standards. Definitly used all the proper guage wiring for each load, and put GFCI outlets mostly where required for being in an unfinished basement.
What I'm working with:
-I wired a 40amp 3 prong dryer outlet, 8g wire.
-PVC junction box
-30 amp 125v contactor I bought from Grainger
-2x 20 amp outlets
-12g wire throughout
-6guage 3 prong dryer cord
-crimp style connectors and wire nuts
-and the thing giving me trouble, a GE Digital wall timer rated for 15amp
If you look at the pictures I think you can see what I'm trying to do...get this timer to run my controller.
I've seen several of these designs, I'm confident if i attached the bare ends of an extension cord to my contaactor and pluged it into a powered timer, then that timer would control what I have made so far.
My problems:
-Where do I put all these wires coming out of the back of my digital timer?
-Can my timer get power from anything in this box? (I was thinking of something along the lines of I could take one of the live lines from my dryer plug, and use the ground on the dryer plug as my neutral. Kinda like old school stoves. I figured that this timer couldnt be putting too much draw on the line, so should be safe enough if its even plausable designwise.) You can see that I attached the black from the back of my timer to one of the lines, but thats where I started to get worried.
-What wires connect to the contactor to make it work off the timer?
-Is the screw I put in the side of my plastic box an adequate ground?
-Is there anything super bad or dangerous I'm forgetting or overlooking?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!




What I'm working with:
-I wired a 40amp 3 prong dryer outlet, 8g wire.
-PVC junction box
-30 amp 125v contactor I bought from Grainger
-2x 20 amp outlets
-12g wire throughout
-6guage 3 prong dryer cord
-crimp style connectors and wire nuts
-and the thing giving me trouble, a GE Digital wall timer rated for 15amp
If you look at the pictures I think you can see what I'm trying to do...get this timer to run my controller.
I've seen several of these designs, I'm confident if i attached the bare ends of an extension cord to my contaactor and pluged it into a powered timer, then that timer would control what I have made so far.
My problems:
-Where do I put all these wires coming out of the back of my digital timer?
-Can my timer get power from anything in this box? (I was thinking of something along the lines of I could take one of the live lines from my dryer plug, and use the ground on the dryer plug as my neutral. Kinda like old school stoves. I figured that this timer couldnt be putting too much draw on the line, so should be safe enough if its even plausable designwise.) You can see that I attached the black from the back of my timer to one of the lines, but thats where I started to get worried.
-What wires connect to the contactor to make it work off the timer?
-Is the screw I put in the side of my plastic box an adequate ground?
-Is there anything super bad or dangerous I'm forgetting or overlooking?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!



