timer with multiple outlets/timer settings?

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 04:58 PM

I have a light fisture with 4 sets of bulbs on seperate plugs. I would like to get something which isnt super rigged so i could set on/off for each set.

I wanted to do something like: first set from 9-10, first and second from 10 - 11, first,second, and third from 11 -12, all bulbs from 12 - 3, then first, second, and third set from 3 - 4, first and second from 4 - 5, then last set from 5 - 8

What do you think? Any one know of a single product which would have 4 outlets on individual timers?

Thank you for any advise,
Jason

TypeYourTextHere · 12-13-2011, 05:54 PM

I looked into this a while back and the only thing I could find were power strips that had day/night settings or timers that cost hundreds of dollars. There were only two sets of outlets that were on the timers and they are about $40. your best bet is to get these
Shop Utilitech Indoor Digital Bar Timer at Lowes.com
They are pretty cheap and accurate. Four of them will cost you as much as one of the power strip types.

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeYourTextHere

I looked into this a while back and the only thing I could find were power strips that had day/night settings or timers that cost hundreds of dollars. There were only two sets of outlets that were on the timers and they are about $40. your best bet is to get these
Shop Utilitech Indoor Digital Bar Timer at Lowes.com
They are pretty cheap and accurate. Four of them will cost you as much as one of the power strip types.

Yeah, i could do 4 of those. It would be ncie to have a nice elegant package for doing what we want.

jrman83 · 12-13-2011, 06:16 PM

I think you try to make it more difficult than it needs to be? Why all the on/off, on/off? Don't get it. I have plants in all of my tanks and 2 on/off times, but it is in no way as hard as you are trying to make it.

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 06:56 PM

these are 8 80 w t5 bulbs... thats 640 w of light that i dont want to just turn on in the morning, then turn off at night. I would think that would sort of shock the fish. I am trying to sort of emulate the day.. gradually getting more intense. Plus, it can save on energy costs.

jrman83 · 12-13-2011, 07:04 PM

640 watts? Shouldn't you be in the reef section? What size tank is this?

TypeYourTextHere · 12-13-2011, 07:05 PM

All I do is use the stock light from 7am to 10pm, My T5HO from 11am to 7pm and my moonlights from 11pm to 7am. So far it has worked out great.

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

640 watts? Shouldn't you be in the reef section? What size tank is this?

210g

jrman83 · 12-13-2011, 07:27 PM

Well, that's better. If you're using all 8 bulbs, I hope you have it above the tank around 3ft. Otherwise, it will just be an algae farm. Is it planted?

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

Well, that's better. If you're using all 8 bulbs, I hope you have it above the tank around 3ft. Otherwise, it will just be an algae farm. Is it planted?

it is planted. right now its sitting right on top the glass lids. But i don't have a timer, so i only bother turning one set of 80w bulbs on during the day. The light is enough to sustain my plants, but theyre not growing (which is expected).. i dont have my co2 set up or a proper filter system (still in the process of setting it up)

jrman83 · 12-13-2011, 09:33 PM

I wouldn't plan to run all bulbs unless it is hanging. That is WAY too much for that close to the tank. You'll have a BBA grow tank.

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

I wouldn't plan to run all bulbs unless it is hanging. That is WAY too much for that close to the tank. You'll have a BBA grow tank.

Whats the diff between my old 29g with 96w vs 210g with 640w? Its actually a lower ratio. I never had any algae problems before in my 29

SuckMyCichlids · 12-13-2011, 10:34 PM

that sounds waay too complicated.. and i dont see how that could save energy as turning them on uses more power and your setup is constantly turning off and on..

jasonp · 12-13-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckMyCichlids

that sounds waay too complicated.. and i dont see how that could save energy as turning them on uses more power and your setup is constantly turning off and on..

I dont know if your logic makes sense.. its still on/off twice a day for each bulb.. there are 4 different ballasts each connected to 2 lights.. 4 seperate plugs.. 1 set goes on/off at 9am - 8pm, another goes on/off from 10am - 4pm, another from 11am - 12pm, and the last one from 12 - 3...

If i turned them all on and all off at the same time, wouldnt that be the same thing?

I really didn't think this was that complicated... i really dont want 640w on my system all day long.. i just want it to peak during mid-day..

but i am guessing by the responses (questioning my setup vs my actual question) that no one can think of an all in one product for this

TypeYourTextHere · 12-14-2011, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonp

I dont know if your logic makes sense.. its still on/off twice a day for each bulb.. there are 4 different ballasts each connected to 2 lights.. 4 seperate plugs.. 1 set goes on/off at 9am - 8pm, another goes on/off from 10am - 4pm, another from 11am - 12pm, and the last one from 12 - 3...

If i turned them all on and all off at the same time, wouldnt that be the same thing?

I really didn't think this was that complicated... i really dont want 640w on my system all day long.. i just want it to peak during mid-day..

but i am guessing by the responses (questioning my setup vs my actual question) that no one can think of an all in one product for this

There are All-in-one products for things like this, but they cost a lot. As I suggested before you are better off getting 4 separate timers.
As far as all of your on/off times go you should probably heed some of the advice that you have been given and uncomplicate things. There really is no reason why you should have multiple on/off times like you are wanting. As long as the aquatic life you are trying to support is getting the proper required amount of light it needs then there should not be a problem... Just my opinion.

jrman83 · 12-14-2011, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonp

Whats the diff between my old 29g with 96w vs 210g with 640w? Its actually a lower ratio. I never had any algae problems before in my 29

I don't know. Who makes each light fixture? Ratios? Ratios/WPG are not considered when it comes to T5HO lights and they don't work. Some have the effectiveness of 3-4 times their rated wattage. WPG works for T8/T12 bulbs only.

dvanbramer88 · 12-14-2011, 11:40 AM

petsmart has a power strip where you can set each outlet on a different timer, its all digital with a display screen

TypeYourTextHere · 12-14-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvanbramer88

petsmart has a power strip where you can set each outlet on a different timer, its all digital with a display screen

If you are refering to this timer 24/7 Digital Power Center - Humidity Control - Reptile - PetSmart Then you you are incorrect. That timer has two timers on it, one for the day time and one for night time. Basically if the yellow outlets are operational then the blue ones cannot be and vice versa. This is one of the timers I actually owned and I took it back immediately after purchasing it for this exact reason.

dvanbramer88 · 12-14-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeYourTextHere

If you are refering to this timer 24/7 Digital Power Center - Humidity Control - Reptile - PetSmart Then you you are incorrect. That timer has two timers on it, one for the day time and one for night time. Basically if the yellow outlets are operational then the blue ones cannot be and vice versa. This is one of the timers I actually owned and I took it back immediately after purchasing it for this exact reason.

They have another one, Looks very similar to that one in the fish department. It's an 8 outlet strip with the digital controls. 4 of the eight can each be set with their own timers and the other 4 are always on.

TypeYourTextHere · 12-14-2011, 05:24 PM

I wish they would have told me that when I initially asked about timers.

12-13-2011, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
jasonp Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 17 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? I have a light fisture with 4 sets of bulbs on seperate plugs. I would like to get something which isnt super rigged so i could set on/off for each set. I wanted to do something like: first set from 9-10, first and second from 10 - 11, first,second, and third from 11 -12, all bulbs from 12 - 3, then first, second, and third set from 3 - 4, first and second from 4 - 5, then last set from 5 - 8 What do you think? Any one know of a single product which would have 4 outlets on individual timers? Thank you for any advise, Jason

12-13-2011, 05:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
TypeYourTextHere TypeYourTextHere's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 563 Location: Olathe, KS Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 40 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 149 Times in 146 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? I looked into this a while back and the only thing I could find were power strips that had day/night settings or timers that cost hundreds of dollars. There were only two sets of outlets that were on the timers and they are about $40. your best bet is to get these Shop Utilitech Indoor Digital Bar Timer at Lowes.com They are pretty cheap and accurate. Four of them will cost you as much as one of the power strip types. __________________ 75 Gallon Planted

12-13-2011, 06:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? I think you try to make it more difficult than it needs to be? Why all the on/off, on/off? Don't get it. I have plants in all of my tanks and 2 on/off times, but it is in no way as hard as you are trying to make it.

12-13-2011, 06:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
jasonp Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 17 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? these are 8 80 w t5 bulbs... thats 640 w of light that i dont want to just turn on in the morning, then turn off at night. I would think that would sort of shock the fish. I am trying to sort of emulate the day.. gradually getting more intense. Plus, it can save on energy costs.

12-13-2011, 07:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
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12-13-2011, 07:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
TypeYourTextHere TypeYourTextHere's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 563 Location: Olathe, KS Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 40 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 149 Times in 146 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? All I do is use the stock light from 7am to 10pm, My T5HO from 11am to 7pm and my moonlights from 11pm to 7am. So far it has worked out great. __________________ 75 Gallon Planted

12-13-2011, 07:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? Well, that's better. If you're using all 8 bulbs, I hope you have it above the tank around 3ft. Otherwise, it will just be an algae farm. Is it planted?

12-13-2011, 09:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? I wouldn't plan to run all bulbs unless it is hanging. That is WAY too much for that close to the tank. You'll have a BBA grow tank.

12-13-2011, 10:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
SuckMyCichlids Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 465 Location: Las Vegas, Nv Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 125 Times Said "Thanks" 97 Times Was Thanked 118 Times in 115 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? that sounds waay too complicated.. and i dont see how that could save energy as turning them on uses more power and your setup is constantly turning off and on.. __________________ 10g- 2 hi-fin fm platys, 3 koi & red wag sword fry 40g Breeder- 6 danios, 4 female swords, 1 male swords "I was born with nothin and I still got most of it left."- Seasick Steve

12-14-2011, 11:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
dvanbramer88 dvanbramer88's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 118 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? petsmart has a power strip where you can set each outlet on a different timer, its all digital with a display screen __________________ 55 gallon FW community 20 gallon Goldfish 10 gallon firebelly toad

12-14-2011, 05:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
TypeYourTextHere TypeYourTextHere's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 563 Location: Olathe, KS Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 40 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 149 Times in 146 Posts	Re: timer with multiple outlets/timer settings? I wish they would have told me that when I initially asked about timers. __________________ 75 Gallon Planted

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