Eight Lights on Independent Timers

[bdlt]

So I don't have PM access even though I've been a member for almost two years. Time to start bumping my threads!! J/k would the people PM'ng me please email me at isharci@hotmail.com? Or better yet could an admin give me PM privs? I promise not to spam, I swear!

~bdlt

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I didnt notice any odd noise from the ballast. Keep in mind I have 9 of them plus the AC right next to them so it may have been masked. Then again it happened so many times, I think I would have realized it. Sometimes I get a loud buzzing and its just the ballast a little loose on the board. A quick turn of the screwdriver and it goes away.

I think with a HPS ballast you may have issues as the ignitor is going to keep firing trying to light the bulb. It may just wear out the ignitor.

I guess I wont realize any long term effects until down the road but as of now everything is working properly.

My grow gets checked daily so if one circuit trips, I still have the other half providing light. Its never happened but if it does, that will be my fail safe.

 

[pimpjuice]

i'll be doing the individual 120v set-up cause 1: i will not see the grow for 5 days at a time max. 2: i dont want one light blowing out another. almost zero room for error on this one. 3: lots of $$$$$ on the line. 4: not a big deal for me to wire this way just like in Joe A. Grower's case i have a short wire run and i almost have all the timers already so i save $$$$$

In your scenario of 3 lights at 240 on a 30 amp breaker (I use 20amps per 3 lights in my case which gives me about 6.5 amps of headroom), controled with a water heater timer, that is pretty ideal. The only other way I could imagine doing it would be using high voltage relays to switch the load with 1 timer. I don't think I'd want to hook 8 lights up to cheap timers and walk away for 5 days at a time, I'd rather use t104 for safety reasons. I've had those cheap plastic timers do some funny things over the years, I'm lucky I didn't burn my house down using those things, I had one melt on me. You really don't want to skimp on the electical setup.

 

[_Dude]

I can build you a loadcenter for 8 ballasts with a PLC to control timer delay for power on and off of the ballasts.

Best Regards

DB2004

How about you teach us to fish instead? A tutorial would be nice.

 

[DB2004]

This isn't simple wiring, too complicated for most people, tutorial would be waste of time.

DB2004

How about you teach us to fish instead? A tutorial would be nice.

 

[Guest]

I burned through 4 or 5 T-104's before figuring out what a High Amperage Relay was. Now I can use the cheapest timer in the world - no issues.

If you simply want to run 8 lights - then a master relay with one timer would be best. Then you could place the tables next to eachother - one bulb pops, the table still gets light from the other hoods. If you want to play with photoperiods - it's been done, but have a good time.

 

[pimpjuice]

the high load relay activated by a 120v timer is almost the same thing as me buying the T104 240v timer and wiring in up to 40 amps of lighting to it.

What makes t104's burn up is running 40 amps through them, that's why I run about 13.5 amps through them, it's a lot smaller arc when they switch on which makes them last a lot longer. Those timers sunlight supply sells are chinese junk, like most of the crap they sell. I prefer metal inclosures, they don't melt and catch on fire, I've had those plastic hydro store specials do wierd things in months quality control isn't great over there. If you went the contactor route you could put a couple lights on each contactor and have jumpers going to each contactor to trigger them, probably about the same money some t104's would cost you and it'd be pretty bomber. It's been a long time since I tried running a 1kw lamp on 110, let alone 8 of them

4 relays x 30 = 120 + 30 china mart special = 150
3 t104's x 50 = 150

either route would be better than 8 china mart's running 8kw

 

[pimpjuice]

Hey bro I will respond, trying to get post count up to 50 so I can read some pm's. You sound pretty frustrated, I know exactly what you need though, your growing up and all. Check these out you'll be stylin like the big kids http://www.pull-ups.com/na/products/coolalert.asp

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

if you have alot of timers u can stager the timers so they all start at different times, some light being on the full 12, others only being on4, 6 or 8 hours, especialy in the end when your fruit is ripening. it dosent need so much watts. so u can save power. what if it breaks?? i know i use gear for years and years so if one of my 20 timers blows its ONLY 20 for a new one, not 100$, or whatever the t104/204 run for.
ull need 2 or 3 t104s to stager lights.

 

[Prof Sublime]

I just got a a timer from home depot. It was 8$ and has the tabs you move. Can I trust that this will work sufficently?

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

I just got a a timer from home depot. It was 8$ and has the tabs you move. Can I trust that this will work sufficently?

if its a 3 prong then sure. the back should say the max wattage it can handle, usualy 2-3kw if u run 1/2 of that or less you'll be set for a while.

 

[Prof Sublime]

Na its 2 prong im only running 4 cfls, mind you this is a micro grow. Two 30watt n two 42watt. How many kws you think that pulls? So I should get a new one I soppose?

Thanks alot for the quick reply!

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Na its 2 prong im only running 4 cfls, mind you this is a micro grow. Two 30watt n two 42watt. How many kws you think that pulls? So I should get a new one I soppose?

Thanks alot for the quick reply!

LOL

I THINK that is .144KW or 144 watts. I think you will be OK

 

[bdlt]

Problem Solved. My local grow shop has an electrician that wires up boxes like these.

Thank you all for the support.

~bdlt

 

[FirstTracks]

great thread and info everybody! Especially ty-stik, digital hippy, yahmaha1 and common sensi

 

[DB2004]

Common Sensi, you need a custom panel, send me a PM or check out www.nowirenuts.ca

Best Regards

DB2004

 

[DB2004]

Here's a link to some loadcenters I've built.

http://nowirenuts.ca/LOADCENTERS 1.htm

You can email me directly at info@nowirenuts.ca

Best Regards

DB2004