What are you using for a light timer?

[Jl330]

I have 2 165w LED mars aqua lights.

I run them full blast from lunch time til bed time, about 10 hours total.

I'd like something that can control this for me so I don't have to manually do it after I get my canopy on.

They have dimmer knobs but I've never messed with them.

An idea setup would turn on my actinics for an hour, then my daylight for 8 hours or so and then back to my actinics for an hour before they all go out for the night.

Not sure about manipulating for brightness, I'm still learning here, just something simple enough to handle the 2 stages I want to run would be fine

 

[stevo01]

I have 2 165w LED mars aqua lights.

I run them full blast from lunch time til bed time, about 10 hours total.

I'd like something that can control this for me so I don't have to manually do it after I get my canopy on.

They have dimmer knobs but I've never messed with them.

An idea setup would turn on my actinics for an hour, then my daylight for 8 hours or so and then back to my actinics for an hour before they all go out for the night.

Not sure about manipulating for brightness, I'm still learning here, just something simple enough to handle the 2 stages I want to run would be fine

Maybe something like a reef controller would work here. I have a GHL P4. There is a dimable programmable socket for doing something like this. I just use it for my sump light. I dont use the dimmer option I just go on for 4 hours and off for 20 hours. My reef light is an ATI powermodule hybrid and it has its own programing separate from the controller.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product...MIkq3Mk5fc1gIVEC1pCh1S9ADtEAQYDCABEgIDhfD_BwE

 

[stevo01]

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product...MIkq3Mk5fc1gIVEC1pCh1S9ADtEAQYDCABEgIDhfD_BwE

Nice! Does this allow you to control any ramping?

 

[Jl330]

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product...MIkq3Mk5fc1gIVEC1pCh1S9ADtEAQYDCABEgIDhfD_BwE

I was actually looking at that. Is it easy to program?

Seeing several reviews of these catching fire. That's not good.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I was actually looking at that. Is it easy to program?

Seeing several reviews of these catching fire. That's not good.

They're all about the same. There are a lot of different manufacturers of them too.

A lot of folks overload them or plug too many things in.
Individual timers are pretty popular but but wind up with splitters and such. Makes a mess and isn't that safe. I would def Reccomend this style rather than individual ones.

 

[Jl330]

They're all about the same. There are a lot of different manufacturers of them too.

A lot of folks overload them or plug too many things in.
Individual timers are pretty popular but but wind up with splitters and such. Makes a mess and isn't that safe. I would def Reccomend this style rather than individual ones.

I assumed with led lighting this would be safe. I don't need anything fancy but I don't need my house on fire either.

 

[Jl330]

would you recommend the mechanical one or the digital one?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nice! Does this allow you to control any ramping?

Oh no. Simple on off. Ac power. Most at the Home Depot are single input so you need four of them. So hard to fit four in a strip

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

would you recommend the mechanical one or the digital one?

Both work. Over the years I've had digital one and mech ones lose time.
Never had fire smoke or anything.

The mech is super easy. The digital isn't for those who hates button pushing. Like me. Lol.

 

[Jl330]

Both work. Over the years I've had digital one and mech ones lose time.
Never had fire smoke or anything.

The mech is super easy. The digital isn't for those who hates button pushing. Like me. Lol.

I don't mind buttons, I even managed to program my thermostat before my wife bought a nest. Lol.

I just want something that I can set once and leave it alone.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hahaha. That's why I got married! Button pusher.

Yea you'll be fine with those. They all have their good and bads.

 

[spiraling]

I have one from home depot that is 8 sockets. 4 are always on and 4 are on a timer you program. Its worked fine for about 6 years now.

 

[Jl330]

I have one from home depot that is 8 sockets. 4 are always on and 4 are on a timer you program. Its worked fine for about 6 years now.

I may just have to swing by there after work.

I guess we're not reinventing the wheel here.

 

[Ryan115]

If you are wanting something budget friendly and dont mind DIY, you should check out reef-pi.
Big thread in the DIY forum, and more info can be found here...
https://reef-pi.github.io/

 

[Jl330]

If you are wanting something budget friendly and dont mind DIY, you should check out reef-pi.
Big thread in the DIY forum, and more info can be found here...
https://reef-pi.github.io/

I may dive into that when I have more time to tinker with it. I have some limited raspberry pi experience already.