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View Full Version : Anyone heard of a "Dawk to Dusk" light timer?


dirtyreefer
01-17-2005, 10:27 PM
What I mean in the subject is that to achieve the dawn to dusk affect, you need to use multiple light timers. This becomes a pain and very messy when you have 3 different sets of lights (e.g. actinic, MH, moonlights etc).

Is anyone aware of a light timer that can handle multiple inputs (sockets) and can be controllable individually? I have checked HD and nothing there.

JLs has a coralife powerbar timer which is kinda stupid because you can run either constant, or "on AND off". What that means is if I have my actinic come on first, they will be turned off when the MH kicks in and vice versa. You can't have the actinic to stay on while the MH is on (unless you have it plugged into the constant powersource input which is not controllable). Really dumb, but I guess it's meant for powerheads.

Any others?

StirCrazy
01-17-2005, 10:36 PM
I have 3 timers going, cost me about 45 bucks but I can change the length of time for each set easy.
also if one fails it doesn't affect the others.

Steve

Skimmerking
01-17-2005, 11:18 PM
i have 4 timers going for my tank.
MH timer
Actinic timer
MH fan timer
Night light timer
oh ya MH ballast fan timer

mike

Rikko
01-18-2005, 12:13 AM
Multiple timers is probably the way to go. Those wavemaker powerbars IMO are rubbish.

Heavy duty outdoor (ie. grounded) timers can be had from HD for around 8 bucks. That's all I use for my various tanks. The only complaint I have about those is that you can't precisely set the time (you get to within 15 mins accuracy but such is the way with analog timers). I recall seeing a post where someone saw digital timers at Superstore for a good price.. Might be worth a look if you really want precision.
Personally, if my main T5s shut off at 11:04 instead of 10:59 I'm not too worried.

geeeman
01-18-2005, 12:27 AM
I have 3 timers
MH timer
Actinic timer
Night light timer

I got them from Canadian Tire, on sale for $15 each. They are a Garrison exterior timer with a digital display, 10 on/off settings, and rechargable battery back-up, which is nice when the power goes out because you don't have to reprogram

AJ_77
01-18-2005, 12:56 AM
http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13585

SeaHorse_Fanatic
01-18-2005, 07:51 AM
My only complaint about all the timers I use is there size. They tend to block at least one other plug outlet on my power bars. Mine are from Canadian Tire & Home Depot. <$20 each. Usually around $15-16 range.

StirCrazy
01-18-2005, 12:54 PM
http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=213

get these ones, they have a plug in cord that come off the timer so they take up no more room than a normal cord on a power bar. I got mine at walmart.

Steve

dirtyreefer
01-18-2005, 03:21 PM
http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=213

Ahh, this is the type of thing I was looking for. Any idea what the price is? I mean if it's over $50 then I won't even bother.

Thanks Steve!

Jaws
01-18-2005, 05:28 PM
How many plugs can you plug into each unit?

Willow
01-18-2005, 05:39 PM
http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=213

get these ones, they have a plug in cord that come off the timer so they take up no more room than a normal cord on a power bar. I got mine at walmart.

Steve

im off to walmart. i likes the look of these.. wait was that walmart in canada or the states?