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 Cerveau
Registered: 01/14/09
Posts: 51
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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 Cheap timers suck 
#649209 - 12/03/12 07:35 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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I bought a $7 timer just because it was simple and inexpensive. I'm doing a drip feed system and I have cats so as an added precaution I put all the plugs in a freezer bag just in case my little bastards knocked a bucket over or something stupid.
When I put the plugs into the bag though I must have lightly bumped the timer on/off switch and the light was on for three days straight. Keep in mind that my seedlings didn't poke through the rockwell cubes until just yesterday.
 
Considering that they're only about a day old (out of the rockwell cubes) should I start again?
(Sorry for the poor lighting, I have my LEDs off because I'm already stressing. Carelessness is lame.)
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RasJeph
Psycho Pete
Registered: 01/14/09
Posts: 11,657
Loc: Bumfuckt Egypt
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: Cerveau]
#649216 - 12/03/12 08:49 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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I have a real cheap one too. my first one broke because it just got stuck, this new one scares me because I can literally hear it moving.
if anyone can recommend a sweet digital timer for like just 600 watts and less than $20 I'd really appreciate it.
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Of course it's happening inside your head.
Why should that mean it isn't real?
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 phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly) 
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: RasJeph]
#649227 - 12/03/12 10:34 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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whatever you do dont buy the titan/atlas timer. Their timer is whack. I've had good luck with the Brinks timers from walmart. They have a 15 minute interval and a digital timer. The older style timers with the green/red pegs that turn a knob suck, but the 15 minute timer uses a spring switch, which works much better. It also has built in time pegs.
you should be fine as long as the heat was not too much. Plants can veg under 24 hr light. It looks rather damp though, the plant needs some air in the root zone.
Follow the general safety precaution: electricity at the top, water at the bottom.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only.
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: Cerveau]
#649228 - 12/03/12 10:37 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Oh yea, and keep your cats out of the garden. Your already going to be smoking cat hair, don't let them make it worse.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only.
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coda
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 4,736
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: phychotron]
#649298 - 12/03/12 07:05 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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http://www.rvfgardensupply.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=734105
http://wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=SSTDT120
there's two digital timers for under 20 bucks although you get the better deal with RVF IMO. Relatively easy to find them. Lesson learned, eh? Don't ever skimp on your timers, next to your ballast they are the single most important piece of equipment I think. Can't grow without light, and if you run hydro, can't grow without a timer either lol (well, practically).
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MFDoom666: sobriety kills my buzz every time.
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: coda]
#649305 - 12/03/12 08:18 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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titan timers are whack to set and easy to accidentally leave on/off. that second link looks like it is the same timer with a different case.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only.
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coda
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 4,736
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: phychotron]
#649478 - 12/04/12 09:01 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Sorry you had trouble with them, I bought one timer in that style and it lasted me 6 years before it fried. Never had a problem with it myself. The one I have now is a major PITA to set, but it's working well and I don't have to touch it save for daylight savings time. Completely different style of timer though.
Point is, to rasjeph, there's lots of digital timers out there for 20$ or less. I would suggest trying to find one with two outlets in case you ever want to expand and run two lights, or, want to run some extra gear on the same timer.
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MFDoom666: sobriety kills my buzz every time.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: coda]
#649480 - 12/04/12 09:05 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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If you're thinking about getting a timer with more than one outlet on it, and plan to run 2 lights on it, make sure to check the amperage rating. A lot of them that have 2 plugs can't handle 2 1000 watt lights.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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Cerveau
Registered: 01/14/09
Posts: 51
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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I'm using a timer with three outlets in it but I only have my 100w LED plugged in atm so the amperage shouldn't be an issue.
Did you guys know that you rock? Seriously? I have yet to find a more helpful board.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: Cerveau]
#649582 - 12/05/12 12:19 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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Spread the word yo 
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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Farmer Joe
Registered: 09/03/09
Posts: 1,707
Loc: USA
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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This is the Titan Timer that i use.
On the package it says to not exceed 1000 watts. I ignored the fine print and plugged a wall mount fan into the timer along with one of my 1000 watt lamps. It shorted out a month or so later. If you do pick up a similar timer....don't push your luck....lol.
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"Marijuana may not be addictive, but growing it is" - ED Rosenthal
Maine Caregiver In 100% compliance with Maine state laws.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: Farmer Joe]
#649590 - 12/05/12 01:28 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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Just look at the amps. While mine are rated at 15 amps, it's best to stay a solid 2 amps under that.
I can plug my light in, 1000 watt, and any other fan/appliance I need with no worries. But I tried doing 2 1000 watt lights and blew the timer and could've easily caused a fire.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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Farmer Joe
Registered: 09/03/09
Posts: 1,707
Loc: USA
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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The titan timer i mentioned is a 15 amp timer. I was barely pulling 10amps when i had the fan and ballast plugged in and the timer died. The one you use must be of better quality? 
Now my lamps are hardwired into a 40amp timer.
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"Marijuana may not be addictive, but growing it is" - ED Rosenthal
Maine Caregiver In 100% compliance with Maine state laws.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: Farmer Joe]
#649645 - 12/05/12 05:58 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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Wow, that's crazy.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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I swear titan makes nothing but shit. I've never heard or seen anything good about that company.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only.
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trichome
THC
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 104
Last seen: 12 years, 2 months
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: phychotron]
#649678 - 12/05/12 08:45 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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all the timers I've bought have been either 10 amp or 15amp. Don't run more than 1440 watts on a 15 amp, and less than 1kw on a 10 amp. just put each light on a separate 15 amp timer, should be cheap at the local box store. I've never had a problem with any cheap timer, even when I dissected and reassembled to make a 30 minute on/off timer into a 2 minute on/off timer by switching the gears.
a quality timer is nothing compared to the price of other grow supplies.
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: trichome]
#649681 - 12/05/12 08:55 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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Everything you said is spot on.
I'd just like to say though, that people should know how to convert watts to amps. Then you can always just figure out how many amps you're pulling and it not be a problem.
watts/volts=amps
It's an easy conversion to remember and any grower should do some research into elementary electricity science. It's not hard and helps out a ton when it comes to wiring your rooms.
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
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I'm never fucking with a digital timer again, or a cheap ass mechanical timer for that matter. I know this isn't smart, but about 4 years ago I had a grow in mid flowering and had to leave town for a week and didn't let anyone watch it(don't trust anyone), when I got back I smelled something burning..I went to look around the room n everything seemed fine but I grabbed my timer and checked it out and it was hot and shit was melting...Another day and I could have had a fire.
Never had a problem with cheap ones before. Was only using about half of what it was rated for too.
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Suck my balls America
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Hawksresurrection
Registered: 12/04/08
Posts: 13,464
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Re: Cheap timers suck [Re: mhbound]
#649782 - 12/06/12 12:06 PM (13 years, 4 months ago) |
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So you do everything manually?
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Dude she isn't as young as she use to be.
-niteowl
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mhbound
Ballin out at all cost
Registered: 09/22/08
Posts: 8,144
Loc: High
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That isn't the exact one but that one is rated at 1800 watts, outdoor claims to be heavy duty and is 11 dollars.
This is the only type I'll use(no plastic--or very little):
Same wattage and everything but its 75$.
Its not worth the little savings of money. I'll post a picture of mine when I get the chance.
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Suck my balls America
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