Electrical question

[HappyHemphog]

Ok, I have an Intermatic Heavy-Duty timer, I'm sure you have all seen them:


They are listed as 15 Amp 1750 Watt 125 Volts.

Would it be safe to run 2 600w HPS lights (One digital ballast, one coil type) with light movers with this one timer?

It's plugged into a 20 amp circuit just for my lights, so there's no issue there, it's the timer that's my weak point.

I know the math says I can do it:

600w/120v = 5amp x 2 = 10amp for lights.
5.5w/120v = 0.03amp x 2 = a really small amount.

So the math says I have 1211 watts needing 10.06 amps, correct?

Currently I am using two seperate timers and keeping them in sync is clearly an exercise in futility.

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

get a real "Heavy duty" intermatic timer bro LOL this is a lamp timer a TN-111 if i'm not mistaken, anywho you can safely runt he 2 600s on there, you JUST make it..
u need to tack -on 20% wattage for transformer loss, you just make it.

grow safe

be well

cj

 

[Guest]

btw the 20% is a rough estimate, just playin it safe..also dude that is an ungrounded device, if using it make sure you at least plug it into a GFCI

peace

cj

 

[HappyHemphog]

btw the 20% is a rough estimate, just playin it safe..also dude that is an ungrounded device, if using it make sure you at least plug it into a GFCI

peace

cj

Yup, all the circuits I added to the grow room are GFCI. I've worked as a electricans helper so I know enough to know electricty KILLS. That's why I ask questions to backup my calculations.

The heavy duty version is grounded as far as I can tell. Well, it has the 3rd ground prong and outlet so I have to assume it is. They do make one that's rated for 10 amps that only has the 2 prong plug and outlet.

Ultimately they will be plugged into automated outlets for PC control, but for now I am trying to deal with the sync issue. I think it's causing me some hermies

Hempy

 

[Guest]

You may be better off using the heavy-duty (grounded) digital timers instead of the mechanical type. Digital timers have a battery backup so that, if the power goes out, the clock keeps running and things stay in synch. I have a bunch of those mechanical timers and I'm in the process of replacing them one by one with digital timers.

 

[Guest]

hehehe

hehehe

DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE PIC FIRST GO-AROUND, MY BAD, HEHE WAS JUST LOOKIN OUT ANYWAY, I KNOW THE ONES I USED TO USE HAD NO 3RD PRONG.. HAPPY YOU HAVE THE BRAINS TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN UNSURE.. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT AND IT CAN BE VERY HAZARDOUS..ASU KNOW

lol omg thats all in caps, my bad LOLL im retarded on some pretty wild sativa sorry for the rambling AND CAPS :-D

peace

cj

 

[00420]

hey boy's n gurls... why we are on timer's let me add a lil that i found a few months ago...

homedepot timer........ 15 amp's


but if u read the back it says 15 amp resistive & inductive 500watt's....
so is it safe to run a 1000watt light?...... i have been doing it for 2 yrs now.

 

[00420]

Ok, I have an Intermatic Heavy-Duty timer, I'm sure you have all seen them:


They are listed as 15 Amp 1750 Watt 125 Volts.

Would it be safe to run 2 600w HPS lights (One digital ballast, one coil type) with light movers with this one timer?

It's plugged into a 20 amp circuit just for my lights, so there's no issue there, it's the timer that's my weak point.

I know the math says I can do it:

600w/120v = 5amp x 2 = 10amp for lights.
5.5w/120v = 0.03amp x 2 = a really small amount.

So the math says I have 1211 watts needing 10.06 amps, correct?

Currently I am using two seperate timers and keeping them in sync is clearly an exercise in futility.

Thanks!

to answer your ?......... yes u can if it where really 10 amps.....
10 amps is a 1000 watt.... ( 9.6 )
2 600's is more like 12 amps
but i would not....

your house probly is more like 115v ( if that) not 120v witch makes your amp's more like 5.2-6 amps ( depinding on how your house is set up.)
my 600hps says 6 amps on it....... i have not tested it.... with dig' timers you can get them to turn on with in a few sec's of thats what your looking for.

but then again i have ran 2 1000hps on 1 line befor when i first started...

 

[Verite]

Those programable digi's from home depot are ok to run one 1000 watt off of but you need to unplug and check them at the connection every so often as I have had two of them go melty on me underneath where it was plugged in. I wouldnt have caught it if the thing didnt start malfunctioning by not turning the lights off at the programmed time.

 

[Guest]

Relays are the answer

Relays are the answer

Even the heavy duty mechanical ones (water heater timer) go bad. They are supposed to be inductive vs resistive and work for our purposes, but I burnt through a few hundred dollars worth before I discovered relays: http://www.carefreegarden.com/a/detail.html?SKU=GAP1006&ref=FroogleCFG

Thats the cheapest I could find. Then you can use any appliance timer on a 120v circuit to control your 240v equipment.

I can only say I wish someone would've pointed these out to me sooner. I've even burned up the 120v mechanical timers using too many flouros. Damn if the hermies didn't almost kill me.

Relays are the way to grow, trust me.

 

[stretchpuppy]

Throwing my .02 in... those mechanical intermatic timers (even the grounded "Heavy Duty" kind) would not kick off my ballast and light. Standard sun system ballast and light, 400w. I bought two of them from a hydro store online, and they are now paperweights to me.

I picked up the intermatic digital 420 posted above, which was only a few dollars more, and haven't had a problem since. I also like it because of the 14 timer settings in memory... nice for watering schedules in a hydro system.

 

[BigToke]

Well HappyHemphog I cant speak for everyone but as for myself here’s a pic of my timers just like the one your looking at: for each one of these timers I run; three ballsets, two 400w and one 600w and one fan ~ that equals out to about 1400w’s not including the fan and the small amount that each ballset will use also, and I have done this for years with no problems at all.

 

[HappyHemphog]

I went ahead a put the 2 600w lights and Light Rail on the timer and haven't had any problems. It's not even warm to the touch.

I would have bought an expensive digital timer but that would be a waste as I plan to have everything monitored and controlled by PC down the road.

Thanks for all the replies!
Hempy

 

[nukn futz]

you`ll probably be alright but it`ll be close