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Recommend a timer.
- Thread starter pacoveli
- Start date
Reliable? Man, that is a loaded question.
I do not use digital timers. They may be just as good as mechanical timers but they give no warning before they fail, and all units will eventually fail. Mechanical timers either get hot or start buzzing before they fail, giving lead time to replace without affecting the plants.
The brand I use is Westek dual outlet from Fred Meyer, $9 each. I run ten of them, mostly at 400 watts, a couple at 600 watts. One of them is handling 1000 watts just fine, but I worry and check often for heat.
One mechanical failure in 2 years and it made enough noise I replaced it before it quit. The only other failure I've had was a digital, and it let me know when it was going bad by not going on one morning, better than not going off, but annoying none the less.
I do not use digital timers. They may be just as good as mechanical timers but they give no warning before they fail, and all units will eventually fail. Mechanical timers either get hot or start buzzing before they fail, giving lead time to replace without affecting the plants.
The brand I use is Westek dual outlet from Fred Meyer, $9 each. I run ten of them, mostly at 400 watts, a couple at 600 watts. One of them is handling 1000 watts just fine, but I worry and check often for heat.
One mechanical failure in 2 years and it made enough noise I replaced it before it quit. The only other failure I've had was a digital, and it let me know when it was going bad by not going on one morning, better than not going off, but annoying none the less.
I've had tremendous service from my manual Intermatics (the ones with the pins). I have some well over ten years old still operating. Digitals... not so much.
S
stoney-trees
I have a 4 year old sunleaves digital. Change the 1 triple A battery out every grow and never had a problem. Easy to setup.
Any timer from walmart is too cheap for my garden.
Any timer from walmart is too cheap for my garden.
G
growingcrazy
Cheap and I have not had one fail yet.
G
Groseph
If you get the above intermatic make sure you get the grounded 3-prong timer. They have both models available. Screw the digital intermatics that had their display on the very top.. I've seen several melt down ..when not overloaded.
I've never had the hydro-store mechanical or digital dual timers fail. They however can be purchased under the name chicago electric from harbor freight for only a few bucks vs. the 20 something the hydro store wants.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=timer
I've never had the hydro-store mechanical or digital dual timers fail. They however can be purchased under the name chicago electric from harbor freight for only a few bucks vs. the 20 something the hydro store wants.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=timer
whatsupdoc
Member
Ditto on the el cheapo Intermatic timers. They may loose a minute or two every month, but they're damn reliable. I've had mine for approximately 5 years.
buy the intermatic timers that get hard wired in. by far the best e z and can run up to 4 1k off of one np...
im sure theres even more then 40a ones but those are the ones i use.
im sure theres even more then 40a ones but those are the ones i use.
the condition of the receptacle makes a huge difference in how long a timer works,if it is loose the timer melts at the plug my advise is to replace (with a new commercial grade receptacle) any sockets that will be running lights before even starting a grow. plugs should not be hot to the touch and if they are there is a problem and it should be corrected asap
