Timer help

[MikeP]

I was planning on getting a digital coralife powercenter but after to many poor reviews from the internet and fellow canreefers I'm not going to bother. I haven't really researched anything else. I need to run 2 MH ballasts, 1 set of actinics, and a moonlight. I'm going to Rona/HD today what should I look for?

Thanks

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Mike...as I mentioned in your last thread, I've seen some more heavy duty timers at Canadian Tire and Home Depot. They're more expensive, but I think they're made for outdoor applications and I'm guessing they'd be built more ruggedly, stand the test of time, etc. Or maybe I'm just full of it :-)

Good luck and tell me what you come up with. I'm looking to upgrade my timer(s) as well.

P.S. I bought three individual timers a while back but didn't realize they only accepted plugs with two prongs, not three. A rookie mistake, but just a heads up!

[christyf5]

For me, space was a big issue, I still have yet to find a timer that doesn't take up more than one outlet worth of space on my powerbar. I ended up getting one of those garrison timers from crappy tire but the thing is huge. Its nice having the digital readout and battery backup though, I don't have to fiddle with it every time the power goes out.

Edit: Oh ya and as Der Iron Chef mentioned, make sure you have the three pronged one! I have a small pile of two pronged timers due to my lack of attention when purchasing :razz:

[fishface]

I ended up getting one of those garrison timers from crappy tire but the thing is huge.
Edit: Oh ya and as Der Iron Chef mentioned, make sure you have the three pronged one! I have a small pile of two pronged timers due to my lack of attention when purchasing :razz:bad, bad luck with the garrisons from my experience...i've gone through several.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672799&bmUID=1176485142826&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442510595&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

however this is what i have been using since. it's nice cause it's got a pigtail so it doesn't use up all the room on your powerbar and it's also 3 pronged and waterproof, very heavy-duty. only down fall i've found is in programming it, you can only accurately set it on the hour, slight inconvenience but not a huge deal.

[christyf5]

My bad. Its not a garrison at all. I remember I was told to get a garrison but then bought one of these instead as it was on sale. Its a Noma.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444245 9563&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672799&bmUID=1176485874937

[Slick Fork]

I've got one of those noma ones as well, my biggest complaint is no battery back-up and out where I am, the power supply is sort of finicky so I'm constantly programming the darn thing. But it is nice not having a timer take up 3 spots on the powerbar.

[MikeP]

Thanks for the link. I think I will look for something like that. Too bad coralife or someone else hasn't made a better version of the powercenter, there seems to be enough demand for it and it is a good idea.

[fishface]

My bad. Its not a garrison at all. I remember I was told to get a garrison but then bought one of these instead as it was on sale. Its a Noma.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444245 9563&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672799&bmUID=1176485874937

that is a garrison...look at the top corner of the actual timer.

[Kryten]

Don't get this one from Rona, I bought two and they both stopped working properly. http://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/rona/showproduct.jsp?link=/img/product/full/0238157.jpg&closingWidth=480&width=500&lang=en_US&langId=-1&height=500

[christyf5]

that is a garrison...look at the top corner of the actual timer.

oh. jeez. :neutral:

What kind of bad luck are we talking about, "oh man another timer died" bad luck or "burn down your house" bad luck? :razz:

[Midknight]

My bad. Its not a garrison at all. I remember I was told to get a garrison but then bought one of these instead as it was on sale. Its a Noma.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444245 9563&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672799&bmUID=1176485874937

Yes I have several of these and they work great.

[fishface]

oh. jeez. :neutral:

What kind of bad luck are we talking about, "oh man another timer died" bad luck or "burn down your house" bad luck? :razz:just the bad luck in which they straight up konked out...nothing that a good old return policy cant fix up :lol: more of a PITA than anything else.

[KrazyKuch]

I have 2 and have never had any porblems with them at all!!

[Snappy]

I use "INTERMATIC" timers that I bought at "Superstore". I have six of them running all the lights in my system and have never had a problem. I think they are less than $15. each so quite inexpensive.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/electricsupplieson-line_1941_58059097 (http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/inhegrtitn.html)http://us.st1.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/Img/trans_1x1.gifIntermatic Heavy-Duty Grounded Timer TN311C (http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/inhegrtitn.html)
http://us.st1.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/Img/trans_1x1.gif
$13.00

[Raf]

I use the Intermatic(sp?) digital timers exculisvely, very reliable with battery backup and can program for anything, even different times for weekends when the party is going overtime. ;)

[Snappy]

I use the Intermatic(sp?) digital timers exculisvely, very reliable with battery backup and can program for anything, even different times for weekends when the party is going overtime. ;)
I have one of those too but I'm too dumb to figure it out so I just use the analogs.:redface:

[Ruth]

I have one of those too but I'm too dumb to figure it out so I just use the analogs.:redface:

I'm with Snappy - same timers - same problem:silly: :redface: