Timers for 1K Digital ballasts
- Thread starter Pepper
- Start date
The Meadows
Member
Intermatic makes some good heavy duty timers. I've melted my share of cheap timers but the Intermatic lasted for many years.
They may not be the best or cheapest route tho. You can use a cheap timer to trip a heavy duty relay/contactor for good results.
Those cheap 15 amp timers are rated for a 15 amp resistive load. A 1000 watt light is a large amp inductive load.
I have some cheap 10 amp rated relays that drop to 5 amp rated relays with an inductive load. A 50% rating drop. On the other hand, I have some big 40 amp contactors that only drop to 30 amp inductive rating.
For even better results, skip the timers and get an Arduino. The Arduino, relays, contactors, and thermometers cost less than the stack of timers I no longer use.
They may not be the best or cheapest route tho. You can use a cheap timer to trip a heavy duty relay/contactor for good results.
Those cheap 15 amp timers are rated for a 15 amp resistive load. A 1000 watt light is a large amp inductive load.
I have some cheap 10 amp rated relays that drop to 5 amp rated relays with an inductive load. A 50% rating drop. On the other hand, I have some big 40 amp contactors that only drop to 30 amp inductive rating.
For even better results, skip the timers and get an Arduino. The Arduino, relays, contactors, and thermometers cost less than the stack of timers I no longer use.
nukklehead
Active member
Just to clarify a bit, I think that everyone is referring to the T100 series timers. They were originally intended as water heater timers and are bulletproof. Intermatic does make a variety of light-duty timers that will suffer the same fate as the 10-15 amp timers that you have experience with.
nukklehead
Active member
Yes correction rives.. im sure you knew what "I" was talking about
with the huge click.
( the T-100 series).. Yes I have seen the
cheapo intermatic timers at the big box. They look just like the other
plastic cheapos and perform just as badly I suppose. ???
T-100 where its at
with the huge click.
( the T-100 series).. Yes I have seen the cheapo intermatic timers at the big box. They look just like the other
plastic cheapos and perform just as badly I suppose. ???
T-100 where its at
Elite Nugz
Member
Just go to Home Depot. $60, handles 40 amps and its digital. Can be wired for 120v or 240v. Works great. Been using them for years.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-7-Day-Digital-Outdoor-Box-Timer-On-Off-Per-Day-15136/202788241
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-7-Day-Digital-Outdoor-Box-Timer-On-Off-Per-Day-15136/202788241
Yes correction rives.. im sure you knew what "I" was talking about
with the huge click.
cheapo intermatic timers at the big box. They look just like the other
plastic cheapos and perform just as badly I suppose. ???
T-100 where its at
Yep, I knew. I thought that the OP might not, though.
While that GE is pretty stout, it only has about half the rating that the Intermatic does. It does have the benefit of digital accuracy and will hold it's setting during power outages, though. The 40a rating is for a resistive load, it's only rated for 20a of ballast loading. For comparison, it is rated to start a 1 hp 120v motor or a 2 hp 240v motor, where the Intermatic is rated at 2 hp for 120v and 5 hp at 240v. The GE uses a relatively small relay, where the T-100 has some pretty large mechanically-actuated contacts.
GE specs -
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/GE-15136-Timer-Manual.pdf
Intermatic specs -
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/Intermatic/Documentation/Specifier%20Guide/003_T100%20Series_2pgs.ashx
I found some great digital timers from a large retail outlet. Pre-built. All you have to do is program them. $15 per unit. I think that GE makes it. Tough units.
Elite Nugz
Member
Yep, I knew. I thought that the OP might not, though.
While that GE is pretty stout, it only has about half the rating that the Intermatic does. It does have the benefit of digital accuracy and will hold it's setting during power outages, though. The 40a rating is for a resistive load, it's only rated for 20a of ballast loading. For comparison, it is rated to start a 1 hp 120v motor or a 2 hp 240v motor, where the Intermatic is rated at 2 hp for 120v and 5 hp at 240v. The GE uses a relatively small relay, where the T-100 has some pretty large mechanically-actuated contacts.
GE specs -
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/GE-15136-Timer-Manual.pdf
Intermatic specs -
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/Intermatic/Documentation/Specifier Guide/003_T100 Series_2pgs.ashx
He's only running one light though.
I usually make my own light controllers, with a good digital timer and some contactors.
I run my dehuey off of a cap UPM-1 universal power module triggered relay or whatever its called
http://www.discount-hydro.com/products/C.A.P.-Universal-Power-Module-UPM%252d1.html
This way you can use a cheap digital timer or whatever and the light doesnt run through the timer at all
Since cap went out of business you could probably find them pretty cheap
http://www.discount-hydro.com/products/C.A.P.-Universal-Power-Module-UPM%252d1.html
This way you can use a cheap digital timer or whatever and the light doesnt run through the timer at all
Since cap went out of business you could probably find them pretty cheap
Knowing the quality of CAP's gear, I would have serious doubts that the relay in that unit is any more capable of handling ballast loads than the relay in any cheap digital timer. A quality power relay would have difficulty fitting in that enclosure without the receptacle taking up space, let alone with the receptacle filling up the bulk of the package.
F
Folate
I'm happy and confident in my Titan Apollo 4 timers.
Folate
Folate
@rives
I had the same question. Is this the timer you are talking about for a 240v?
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-T104-208-277-Volt-Mechanical-Switch/dp/B000BQOX88/
I had the same question. Is this the timer you are talking about for a 240v?
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-T104-208-277-Volt-Mechanical-Switch/dp/B000BQOX88/
Watts nailed it.
