Lighting Timers

[john m_ lundberg]

I am going out of town this weekend...I am setting up my camcorder so that I can have a live feed to my tank...(kinda dorky I know but I'm a computer tech)...but I really want to put my new T5 lighting on a timer...what is the best out there?

Do they make ones that you can control different lights to come at different times?

I have done some research and kind know what I would like, just want to see what you all thought...

 

[smoothie]

I use a $14 digital from Wal-Mart that has 2 outlets and 6 different settings. Can do your lights from a powerstrip and another setting for your moonlights

 

[john m_ lundberg]

dawgdude;388638 wrote: I suggest the simple heavy duty outdoor rated timers at HD/Lowes. They have yet to fail me. DO NOT BUY THE CORALIFE TIMERS!

Glad you said that...it was actually one I was looking at...

And I was actually considering the cheapo analog timers, but they failed me one time with some other lights...the digital ones from Walmart, HD and Lowes are probably gonna be my route, I just wanted to see if anyone had some secret weapon...

 

[smoothie]

Secret weapon- reliable buddy to come over and check on it for ya, or be on stand by since you are trying the live feed

 

[jp30338]

+1


I am going out of town for 7 days, good to know NOT to buy a cora life one...

 

[rbredding]

I like the mechanical ones myself...

if it's just a weekend, you'll probably be fine.. (set it up tonight so you have a chance to see it working - or not working)

anything thats grounded should be fine (3 prong plug, not the type with two spade plugs where one is longer)

 

[budsreef]

I use the digital ones from HD/Lowes as others do and have never had a problem with them. They are probably made by the same people that make the Coralife digitals since the setup is identical. They have two outlets each but both are controlled identical so you need one for every set of lights you want on a different cycle.

 

[john m_ lundberg]

Here is what I bought. I went with it, because I liked the batter backup feature...who knows how long it last...I tried it for today and everything came on as planned...

 

[smoothie]

Nice! Forgot to mention my Wal-Mart ones have a battery backup

 

[john m_ lundberg]

I'm glad yours has a battery back up...according to my post, mine has a "batter" backup...good to know when I get home, I can still make a cake...

 

[smoothie]

Screw a cake. Pancakes mmmmmmmm

 

[jonboyb]

Coralife getting a bashing here but I have 2 of the Coralife duals (mechanical, not the digital ones) that I picked up in a tank purchase and they have been flawless for over a year now(knock wood). Are you guys talking about the digital Coralife units being bad or all Coralife units?