Timer melting at 1/3 rated load? Recommend a good timer pls.

[timmyocool]

I bought a "heavy duty" intermatic for my 400w hps and when I was in the cab doing some maintenance I noticed the timer had become stuck to the outlet. Is it normal for these to melt a little lol? It says its rated for 15a and i think the 400 draws around 4. omg, false advertising...or is there something about the way an hps operates that is hard on timers? I was going to put a 1kw on this timer but now im second guessing that. Do you think the 1k would be safe on it? What exactly happens when these things malfunction from too much juice? Could it possibly start a fire or will it short out before that?

Can you recommend some timer models that work well with a big light but arent aimed specifically at growers? Id like to get something inconspicuous at the home depot or walmart.

thank you guys, i love you very much

 

[New Holland]

If the timer is rated at 15 amps it should handle the light. I know that some timers shit themselves because the contacts are to thin and weld themselves together when it turns on. The sudden rush of currents causes an arc that welds the contacts perm shut.

 

[green_grow]

i have had LOTS of trouble with the so-called heavy-duty intermatic timer. on this one, i decided to take the fan off the timer and it has since started behaving perfectly. when this one fails i am going for the intermatic t104's ... 30amp mechanical timer and it's in a nice looking steel case .

 

[Guest]

Remember when they say rated for 15A,thats normally 15A"resistive" not 15A of ballasted power the word which escapes me at the moment lol,I would recommend the "hot water heater" style of intermatic timers for HID loads.T-101 for 120V loads and the WH40 "little gray box" hot water heater timer or the T-103 for 240 volt.It takes a skosh of wiring but nothing difficult.

 

[Avenger]

"inductive" is probably the word you are searching for ballastman.


Loose plug connections are the weakest link in any electrical circuit. No matter what the device is rated at, loose connections will overheat and meltdown. Whenever possible eleminate all plug-in connections.

 

[Guest]

Dats the one lol