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 NightGrower
Proficient Horticulturist
Registered: 11/17/09
Posts: 204
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 Controller versus Relay 
#458659 - 08/12/10 03:45 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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I'm sorry if I've been at this so long that it stopped making sense but I wanted to know what you all think.
I want to eliminate light spikes and manage the power usage by having them connect to a controller with a 240v "dryer" plug, having all my lights on a single breaker.
I ALSO want to utilize the lack of spike and use a relay to switch the lights from one area to the other, alternating 12/12 cycles.
Am I forced with buying both? A controller to power the ballasts and a relay to alternate the lights? All the ads say that the controller has a relay but I believe they are referring to simple timer off/on stuff.
Anyone familiar with this, use this setup and can shed some light?
Here are links to the two products I have been looking at.
4000w Controller
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sentinel-HPH-4-High-Power-HID-Controller-Relay-4000w-4-/120603472134?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
4000w Relay
http://www.progressive-growth.com/proddetail.php?prod=43015
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Learn of Terence Mckenna. Check out the Shroomery to learn more about what one man did for mushies. Thank you, Terence.
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NightGrower
Proficient Horticulturist
Registered: 11/17/09
Posts: 204
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 Re: Controller versus Relay [Re: NightGrower]
#459962 - 08/14/10 11:38 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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bump
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Learn of Terence Mckenna. Check out the Shroomery to learn more about what one man did for mushies. Thank you, Terence.
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 DieselB
High Watt Closet
Registered: 02/10/10
Posts: 1,156
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Re: Controller versus Relay [Re: NightGrower]
#460005 - 08/14/10 12:26 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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The relay its talking about having is for switching on and off your lights without having to go through the timer that you supply. Because most timers are rated around 1500w, so it uses the timer as a 'remote' switch to signal the relay to power up your lighting system(s).
So, in short, yes you need the seperate relay too, if you want to control two different rooms with opposite lighting cycles.
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If you ain't smokin' dro, you're smokin' reggie. 
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fungi
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Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 168
Loc: Silicon Sizzle, CA USA 
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
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Re: Controller versus Relay [Re: DieselB]
#460142 - 08/14/10 02:50 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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Honestly, I would believe that having individual ballasts for both rooms would benefit the ballast life cycle, as keeping them on 247 forever would get them very hot forever, and thus wear the components in the ballast faster.
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NightGrower
Proficient Horticulturist
Registered: 11/17/09
Posts: 204
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Re: Controller versus Relay [Re: fungi]
#460475 - 08/15/10 01:07 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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fungi said:
Honestly, I would believe that having individual ballasts for both rooms would benefit the ballast life cycle, as keeping them on 247 forever would get them very hot forever, and thus wear the components in the ballast faster.
I also believed this until I read that ballast wear and tear comes mainly from the spike in power needed to start and stop the ballasts. Then again, it is difficult to discern information about relatively new equipment.
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Learn of Terence Mckenna. Check out the Shroomery to learn more about what one man did for mushies. Thank you, Terence.
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NightGrower
Proficient Horticulturist
Registered: 11/17/09
Posts: 204
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Re: Controller versus Relay [Re: DieselB]
#460476 - 08/15/10 01:08 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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DieselB said:
The relay its talking about having is for switching on and off your lights without having to go through the timer that you supply. Because most timers are rated around 1500w, so it uses the timer as a 'remote' switch to signal the relay to power up your lighting system(s).
So, in short, yes you need the seperate relay too, if you want to control two different rooms with opposite lighting cycles.
Thank you for your input, this was killing me.
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Learn of Terence Mckenna. Check out the Shroomery to learn more about what one man did for mushies. Thank you, Terence.
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