Plastic timers for 1K Ballasts?

[dotblunt]

I browsed back 30 pages, didn't quite find what I was looking for so I'll ask directly.

Are those 1875W plastic rotary timers safe for 1K ballasts? Bulb wattage plus ballast wattage makes it closer than I'd like.

If not, what are a cost effective alternative? Noma has Block Heater timers with a digital 'clock' but again wattage is limited to 1875W.

Everything made of plastic

DB

 

[flamingheat]

1k= 1000<1875 so in theory yes its safe. make sure its grounded (3 prongs)

bulb wattage and ballast wattage are the same thing dude. you don't add them. (and if you did, they would = 2000 so it would've been way too much.) smoke after electrical work bro. after.

 

[delta9nxs]

hi, dotblunt!

actually, the ballast does contribute to watts consumed, usually around 175 watts or so. a 1k light and ballast will read approx. 1175 at the meter.

i run 1k lights and never had good luck with those cheap rotary timers. the same company that makes most of the ones you see at home depot or lowes also makes some very good ones.

i run 5 model hb800rcl intermatic raintight outdoor programmable timers and have never had 1 fail. some are 6 years old. they are $19.95 at lowes.

they are built for wet, humid conditions. ideal for indoor growers.

hope this helps, delta9nxs

 

[dotblunt]

Thanks delta9nxs! No Lowes in Canada but I'll check Home Depot and hope they didn't inflate the price after exchange rates.

DB

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

hey dotblunt, delta9nxs sounds like a good idea. I paid $25.00 for a hydro farm digital timer. It has a battery back up but I wouldn't trust it with the 1000 without an endorsement from those you trust.


edit: more than a couple of electricians have recommended components endure no more than 80% of the rated capacity for longevity.

 

[magiccannabus]

Read the label on the timers, their rating for "inductive load" is important. Most can't take past 6amps inductive. Very annoying. I am in desperate need of a timer right now and I can't find anything suitable.

 

[simple green]

I had one of the cheap plastic ones fail on me...also a similar one (with the green and red turn on pieces) that looked more heavy duty and was meant for outdoors...they both broke by failing to shut off!

Both were labeled as heavy duty, 1875 like you're talking about....

The hb800rcl intermatic's recommended above seem nice for the price...

My failures of those plastic things made me want to get a little more solid with things so I've hard wired Intermatic t103's to my outlets and controlled them with that and feel real safe that as long as they're getting power, they're going to operate flawlessly...

If power went out it would throw the light timing off, but any time power goes out I'd know about it and be able to adjust accordingly....

The t103's are a little more pricey...now selling at home depot for $50 and cheaper on ebay...but they're solid!

 

[Dr Dog]

I have run way over 1000 with the heavy duty intermatic timers, no worries at all.

And there are not any Lowes around, but many other places.

I tend to get mine at Walmart, like 20 bucks

 

[yortbogey]

hi, dotblunt!

actually, the ballast does contribute to watts consumed, usually around 175 watts or so. a 1k light and ballast will read approx. 1175 at the meter.

i run 1k lights and never had good luck with those cheap rotary timers. the same company that makes most of the ones you see at home depot or lowes also makes some very good ones.

i run 5 model hb800rcl intermatic raintight outdoor programmable timers and have never had 1 fail. some are 6 years old. they are $19.95 at lowes.

they are built for wet, humid conditions. ideal for indoor growers.

hope this helps, delta9nxs

I run the sam unit in several spotz and they work g8t.....never had aproblyem w/ them................

 

[Che]

I run over 2K on a T103 and it can take a lot more than that..

 

[vancityj]

The cheaper, plastic, grounded $25 timers at Home Depot will work, but I've found that the female, ballast plug-end gets extremely hot-to-the-touch when running a single 120V, 1000-watt lamp. It damn-near melts the plug, somewhat. If at all possible, spend the $75 and wire a duplex receptacle/s to a nema Intermatic, or better still, run your ballast/s on 240V.

 

[milehighmedical]

I have been running my 1k's on plastic hydrofarm timers... I always check them to make sure they're not warm/hot to the touch. And they're always fine. Yet to have a problem.

 

[magiccannabus]

Anyone here have experience with the Intermatic HB800RCL? I badly need a timer for a 250W HPS(magnetic) and 512W of T-8(electronic ballasts). I need a unit that will handle that much, and maybe later I will change the 250 to a 400W HPS. How about with that load? Does the HB800RCL get warm or even hot ever while running? Ever had missed cycles or any other problems with them? Should this be the timer I go with? I don't know that I can afford the industrial units, I need something affordable. I had the DT17C, but it got recalled(and sucks anyway).

 

[medjool]

hi, dotblunt!

actually, the ballast does contribute to watts consumed, usually around 175 watts or so. a 1k light and ballast will read approx. 1175 at the meter.

i run 1k lights and never had good luck with those cheap rotary timers. the same company that makes most of the ones you see at home depot or lowes also makes some very good ones.

i run 5 model hb800rcl intermatic raintight outdoor programmable timers and have never had 1 fail. some are 6 years old. they are $19.95 at lowes.

they are built for wet, humid conditions. ideal for indoor growers.

hope this helps, delta9nxs

Did you have any problems programming them? I have one that I'm not sure how to program. When I think I've got it programmed. it doesn't work.

Medjool

 

[JackTheGrower]

my intermatic is rated inductive and resistive loads.. it's nice with battery backup.

my 1 k runs on that.

 

[masterKahn]

I use cheap three prong timers for my 1000w with no issues.

 

[dotblunt]

Well I could only find some Noma HD rotary outdoor timers, sure enough one lasted 3 cycles before staying on after it was supposed to turn off. F'ing garbage!

At least it didn't catch on fire...

But me no dumb, I kept the receipt

 

[r13f]

i had that happen the day before i was gonna move 'em outside from 12/12, the thing stayed on with only a 400w ballast/lamp
at least it was good timing

 

[JackTheGrower]

http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer indoor timers/digital timers/dt17c.aspx

Seems to be alright..
• 15 Amps, 1800 Watts Resistive and Inductive
• 500 Watts Tungsten
• 1/3 H.P.
• 120 VAC, 60 Hz

I mean so far so good with GFI behind it..

 

[sparkjumper]

I hear a lot of people in this thread say they've used cheap plastic rotary timers with 1K's with no problems and thats good.I wonder how long your luck will hold out though?The best timer to use for 1K's or multiple 1K's are the Hot water heater style mechanical timers like the Intermatic WH40 "little gray box" or T-103.You are taking your chances with cheap timers when it just isnt worth it