6/12 flip flop light relay BARGAIN

[Mechanized]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...5986&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_1614wt_1137

 

[Tactician]

Electro-Yield is a cheap unit. The relays used inside are not rated for 600V. It's not even worth bidding on.

 

[jointsallday]

Hello Tactician,

I too am interested in a piece of equipment to flip a single 1000 watter (1 each room).

Can you suggest where to look for the right quality "flip flop" light relay?

The flip flop thing is new to me ( growing,,not so much ) so can you think of anything i may be overlooking while desighning or setting this up?

will this help with my smart meter?

otherwise my option would be two 1k's for flower.

please, any knowledge would be appreciated.

thanks.....peace

 

[Tactician]

I would build my own if I was you. All you need is;

- dpdt relay (600V) x 1
- lampcord x 1
- receptacle x 2
- enclosure x 1
- compression fittings
- terminal lugs
- #8-32 nuts and bolts x 2
- tools

Are you using a digital ballast. You WILL need to shut off the digital ballast during each 12 hour flip cycle. Others will tell you you don't have to turn off the digital ballast and that their flips are built for digital ballasts, that's false. There is no difference in a flipbox for digital or c&c ballasts, it's all the same components.

 

[jointsallday]

Hello Tactician and thanks for the reply.

The list above doesn't look too daunting . Would you be willing to help instruct me , patiently? haha.

really, I'm sure I could build it but I don't have a clue about the exact individual items. Can you help identify each part a little more?

The relay - Is there only one size/kind ? radio shack ?,or electrical supply store?

regular 110 wall receptacle? 2 outlets x 2?

what type/size enclosure? do you have a brand?

where d the fittings go? what size?
what is a terminal lug? is there a proper size? electrical supply store?

Would now be the time to design the thing to handle 2 more lights or would I just build a second one of these later?

I am running 2 1k's together at the moment.... not digital. If digital is bad would you please briefly explain why. What about magnetic ballast..do you have to turn them off?

sorry, I just don't have hardly any electrical experience and this smart meter makes me nervous although I've not heard of thr power co turning small users in I would feel better without them knowing my business, ya know?

thanks

peace, flip flop's & no shorts!

 

[Bud Spleefman]

I would build my own if I was you. All you need is;

- dpdt relay (600V) x 1
- lampcord x 1
- receptacle x 2
- enclosure x 1
- compression fittings
- terminal lugs
- #8-32 nuts and bolts x 2
- tools

Are you using a digital ballast. You WILL need to shut off the digital ballast during each 12 hour flip cycle. Others will tell you you don't have to turn off the digital ballast and that their flips are built for digital ballasts, that's false. There is no difference in a flipbox for digital or c&c ballasts, it's all the same components.

When we build those grow controllers that are run on a relay they run four lights per relay. Is it the same with the flippers? Can I flip multiple ballats with one relay, or is it a 1 to 1 deal?

 

[Bud Spleefman]

This is a relay that will work for this application, I am picking up a couple today.

EDIT SEEE BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jointsallday]

another product

another product

check out horticontrol.com

they make a few products all designed for whatever number of lights you want to switch.

check out a guy here going by toohighmf. He's got a great thread on flip flop's and rooms. 16# on 4 continous ballast with 8 lights in 2 rooms. all flipping.

peace

Bud spleef
p.s. . the specs on the relay said 30amp, which may limit you. I know nothinhg about elec circuitry though. Also 300 v and someone above said 600 wasn't enough. I just don't know enough too risk it for the money saved.

 

[dtfsux]

This is a relay that will work for this application, I am picking up a couple today.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DAYTON-Power-Relay-5X848

That has a 240V coil which doesn't seem practical. the coil is what connects to the timer or trigger and its a lot easier to use a 120 timer

 

[Bud Spleefman]

That has a 240V coil which doesn't seem practical. the coil is what connects to the timer or trigger and its a lot easier to use a 120 timer

I'm glad you pointed that out before I built my box, I assumed the one for 240v was for a 240 v application, and the one for 120v was for 120, and they all flipped off a 120v timer. Who runs a timer on 240v??????????????

I will go test mine........

 

[Bud Spleefman]

This one works with 120v timers, on 240v cirvuits. Grainger has the relays for most any application. Sorry for the confusion.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DAYTON-Power-Relay-5X847?Pid=search

 

[dtfsux]

the coil is the trigger and some run on 12v,24v,120v, and 240v. It may not be triggered by a timer all the time. Contactors can be triggered by sensors, when other items turn on etc so the different voltages are understandable.

Most contactors are rated up to 600V (The first one linked may not be 600V) capable and will switch ANY voltage up to that amount.

If using to power a ballast that is fine.

If using to switch the output of a ballast to a different bulb, you need one that is 600V because a 1000W ballast puts out 400-500 Volts.

Switching the ballast output has sparked many discussions on the proper relay to use due to the high voltage and arcing that occurs

 

[Bud Spleefman]

the coil is the trigger and some run on 12v,24v,120v, and 240v. It may not be triggered by a timer all the time. Contactors can be triggered by sensors, when other items turn on etc so the different voltages are understandable.

Most contactors are rated up to 600V (The first one linked may not be 600V) capable and will switch ANY voltage up to that amount.

If using to power a ballast that is fine.

If using to switch the output of a ballast to a different bulb, you need one that is 600V because a 1000W ballast puts out 400-500 Volts.

Switching the ballast output has sparked many discussions on the proper relay to use due to the high voltage and arcing that occurs

I exchanged mine today, they say 600v on them, so it's all good! I think I knew the HPS ran at a high voltage cause those capacitors say 480 volts on them! I'm building a flip, so maybe I'll post up a "how to," but I'm not an electrician, so hopefully I do it right and don't get flamed!

 

[dtfsux]

there already a couple DIY in the DIY link a rama or if you search. King Konk or Kung Pow or something did one

 

[jointsallday]

OK,, i'll be googling right away......

how about the horticontrol one?...anybody??? any knowledge of their products?

I'm trying to pysch myself up to pony up the cash for 2 digi ballast flipping between 4 lights in one room for 12 hours and then flipping 4 more , each 2 hours, in a 2nd room.

2 ballasts for 8 lights, Kinda like a 4 way checkerboard . per room, that flips every 2 hours... spreading the light kinda similar to what you do with a light mover....what do ya think?

btw---not my idea.

If this way of thinking is old news to you guys sorry but it's new and exciting stuff.

How much weight gain for spreading around the same electric? hmmnnn.....

laters

 

[dtfsux]

no its a new idea. If you have a room with 4 hoods, and another room with 4 hoods, and only run two lights at a time, you do not gain yields IMO because you wont get as much if you had run all 4 hoods the whole cycle.

Some say the yield is very close to what you would get with all 4 lights. I know Lazy ran his grow like that for a bit and did not have good results.


Also for what those horticontrol units cost, I could buy extra ballasts and still have a couple dollars left over. Not digital ballasts though

 

[EnjoiKush]

no its a new idea. If you have a room with 4 hoods, and another room with 4 hoods, and only run two lights at a time, you do not gain yields IMO because you wont get as much if you had run all 4 hoods the whole cycle.

Seems like it would definitely up your yield over using only 2 lights, the initial investment is more expensive but once you got all the equipment the electricity cost are pretty much the same. Make the lights flip every 2 hour and the plants won't even notice, sure you might not get the same yield as using 4 continuous lights but your using half the electricity.