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Timers

Chris Steele

Chris Steele

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What brand, type of timers does everyone use for lighting? Apparently the ones I used are very sh*tty, because the pegs that make it cut on/off keep breaking.
 
Hey Chris,

Over the years I have probably used every kind known to man. I even have had The Clapper ( All together everyone.....Clap on... Clap off.... The Clapper!! ) going in my herp rooms before.

But the timer I have found most to my liking are these.....

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=656
 
I've got one of those shown in Sammy's link, and I love it. The others I use are just some I picked up at Menards, but am thinking I'm going to eventually switch to using all of the first kind mentioned.....but I want to get some rearranging done so I don't have to purchase so many and can run more enclosures from each strip. That may take awhile, lol.
 
Those that Sammy gave the link to are nice, especially if you have multiple devices that you want to control at once. I might have to pick one of those up myself.

I too have used all the various mechanical timers, and they are all cheap crap and normally stopped working right within one or two years.
I was in Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago looking for yet another replacement timer to put on a rack heater for winter cycling and found that they are now carrying digital models.
Like the mechanical timers, they only have one outlet on them though. They have a battery backup to hold the time settings during a power failure too.
At $8 they were about twice the price of the mechanical timers, but I think they will be far superior, if nothing else because there is no moving parts to break.
 
Clay Davenport said:
Like the mechanical timers, they only have one outlet on them though. They have a battery backup to hold the time settings during a power failure too.
At $8 they were about twice the price of the mechanical timers, but I think they will be far superior, if nothing else because there is no moving parts to break.
Click to expand...

I cheat and plug in one of those triple receptacles into the cheaper timer, then I have 3 outlets. :D

You're right though, all of the mechanical ones seem to stop working right for one reason or another within a fairly short time. I'm going to WallyWorld today, I may have to look around for the digital models! Thanks, Clay!
 
Speaking of a triple receptical (which I've done), could a surge protector go on a timer and if not one of those outlet strips that are the same besides without protection?
 
I'm sure they could, but I don't know just how much juice those cheap ones will handle, so I don't like to use it for any more than 3 things.....I don't know, they may be fine, but it's just kind of one of "my rules", lol.
 
I agree with Cathy. I limit it to three things on one timer myself.
An additional issue with the power strips is they have three prong plugs while the timers only accept two prong. That means an adapter would be required and I just don't like using those.
I'm fairly certain the ESU models that Sammy posted would have the grounded plug already which would be an added bonus. Sammy would have to verify that as I think he's the only one who actually has some of those.
 
Yes...

They make the cheap version of timers with the three prong outlet. They are usually sold as "appliance" timers instead of "lamp" timers. They are twice as expensive as the cheap lamp timers but hold up a lot better. They can also handle a LOT more wattage than the two prong outlet lamp timers. I have a few with the the six outlet power strip plugged into them and have no problems running six different light strips or heat lamps.

Scott Nellis
 
Mmmmm....

I would imagine so. My mechanical ones are still working well, so I haven't really looked for any more, but I would guess that they make them in digital formats now.

Scott Nellis
 
Haha, I know this sounds ridiculous, but a lot of the mechanical ones I've had broke within days, the ?clips? broke when it was that time. The others broke within a few months. How long have yours been working?
 
I don't touch them, I just walk in the room and there the two sides of the peg are 5 feet from the timer. I guess its possible I got a bunch of duds since I tried one kind buying them all at once that makes it more likely I guess...
 
years....

I've used my mechanical "appliance" timers for several years now...at least 8...but maybe not constantly. Of course, they cost a whole $8.99 back in 1998, so maybe that had something to do with it. I never was a fan of "get the cheapest ones to do the job" type of thinking. I don't know what brand they are, but I got them all at Target over about a year's span. They are all still working fine although one of the very first ones I got does make a lot of creaky, whining noise while it's plugged in...I guess the inner gears are getting worn. I think that the fact that there are made to handle heavy duty appliances (think room A/C), that they are made to a higher standard. Of course, you may be right and got a bunch of "duds" from the same lot. Try some different brands and definately get the heavy duty models, it'll probably work out much better. Now, if I can get my fluorescent lights to last! The damn ballasts keep crapping out...lol!

Scott Nellis
 
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