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yakfishin
06/05/2009, 01:33 PM
I have had trouble getting a good lighting timer to last for any great length of time. I started with a coralife power strip with the built in timers and it lasted for about almost a year. I purchased another and it lasted only 1 month. Since it was still under warranty I replaced it with another and it last just a week or two. So I then changed to individual timers plugged into a power strip, but while these seem to last longer, they still didn't last more than a year. I am currently using heavy duty timers that I purchased from home depot. These have two separated plug ins for each timer. They have a dial on the top that you can use to manually turn the timer on or off and for some reason they have recently started tripping to being off. Every three days or so I come home to a dark aquarium. I don't think I'm overloading my electrical capabilities. I have an outlet that is on it's own circuit that I have just for my lighting. My lighting is about 960 watts of power compacts that run off of four separate chords, two chords for my actintics and two for my daylights. Can anyone tell me of a reliable way to put these four chords on timers without having to replace them often or worrying wether they are turning on or not?
Thanks.

shaginwagon13
06/05/2009, 02:09 PM
Honestly I think they are just poorly made. I have used the Coralife ones as well and I have been threw 3 of them this year alone. I find that the more you manually turn the 'on-off' setting on the dial they faster they break.

I know its frustrating but until another company makes a better model we are stuck with that one

Phyxius
06/05/2009, 02:22 PM
I have had good luck with these over the yrs. Still use them for my MHs instead of my RKE so I wouldnt use up for plugs on my controller.

They control 2 receptacles per timer, HD rated and up to 1000 watts a piece Worth a look and I paid less than $12 on sale at Lowes for each.


Timer (http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/digital%20timers/hb88rc.aspx)

reefscape15
06/05/2009, 02:39 PM
Mike - I almost bought one of those for my MH last week, but passed on it. Now after seeing someone else using one, i'm headed back there this weekend. I too have the coralife power strip. Mine is the Dual model, and one of the timers has stopped working, but it did last for about 3 years. I have my Actinic and Daytime T-5's on separate timers, and now I need another one for my MH

Phyxius
06/05/2009, 02:51 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15142087#post15142087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefscape15
Mike - I almost bought one of those for my MH last week, but passed on it. Now after seeing someone else using one, i'm headed back there this weekend. I too have the coralife power strip. Mine is the Dual model, and one of the timers has stopped working, but it did last for about 3 years. I have my Actinic and Daytime T-5's on separate timers, and now I need another one for my MH

Like I said they have been working fine so far. I use one to control the Left and Right MH and then the other for the Center MH. I have them mounted in my side cabinet next to the tank stand I house my ballasts, reactor and top off container in...Not a great pic but shows what they look like

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/100_3610.jpg

rezaktp
06/05/2009, 03:00 PM
Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a $99.00 Reefkeeper lite level I!

http://www.store.digitalaquatics.com/product-info.php?pid111.html

tastingSalty
06/05/2009, 03:02 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15142232#post15142232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rezaktp
Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a $99.00 Reefkeeper lite level I!

http://www.store.digitalaquatics.com/product-info.php?pid111.html

YUP! I just bought 1!

Phyxius
06/05/2009, 03:08 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15142232#post15142232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rezaktp
Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a $99.00 Reefkeeper lite level I!

http://www.store.digitalaquatics.com/product-info.php?pid111.html

I have used the RK1, RKII and have the RKE and the lite is a great unit but as the orig poster mentioned they need 4 plugs controlled and that maxes out the 99.00 Lites`s ability without getting another powerstrip added on. 100.00 is a little steep just for the timing of lights. I used the timers above since I have 8 outlets on my RKE to add just 4 more its another 100.00.
24.00 is a lot less than 100.00 if all its for is lights controlled plus temp.....Just something to think about

tastingSalty
06/05/2009, 03:10 PM
I use these:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a106/sk8n214/DSC_0545.jpg

They were $5 at Meijer! (a store just like walmart). I've had no problems with them, and had them for about a year now. They are cool because you can control them hour-by-hour, so I have my moonlights come on twice a day-once in the morning and once at night.

reefscape15
06/05/2009, 04:07 PM
Mike - Very nice and clean. I think this is what I will do. Can you turn the outlets on at different times from one unit?

yakfishin
06/08/2009, 08:16 AM
I didn't get a chance to respond back after making my original post, but thanks to all for the suggestions. Mike, I went to home depot and purchased two very similiar outdoor units like the ones that you have. So far, they are working great. Mine cost $21 a piece, but if they continue to work out that will be money well spent. Thanks again!

billdogg
06/08/2009, 09:37 AM
i have used the intermatics line of timers from HD/Lowes for years with problems

NirvanaFan
06/08/2009, 10:05 AM
Those intermatic timers are great. I have used 2 of them for 2 years with no problem.

2farNorth
06/08/2009, 06:09 PM
Same here with the Intermatic timers... I haven't had one fail for years.... actually I don't ever remember one failing.... I believe in total I have around a dozen running. Fairly cheap, around $12 I think?

I like to use the Appliance timers... (which have the 3-prong outlet)

Seen at the top of the picture.....

http://www.jimsreef.com/tanks/120/powercenter.jpg

yakfishin
06/10/2009, 11:30 AM
I used the small timers like that, but they had inputs for two appliances. But they would only last a week or two before frying. I do have a single timer used for the lighting on my sump that only has 1 outlet, and that has been working just fine. I like the heavy duty outdoor timers, with two outlets in each, because I can use one timer for both of my actintic chords and one timer for my two daylight chords. They seem to handle the load and fit in my space much better than 4 separate timers would. That's the part of this hobby that I find most perplexing, what works best for one person isn't always what is going to work best for the next. Thanks for all the responses.