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What are you using for timed lighting?

P

ponzi314

New member
I looking up what i can use for the lights. Currently im looking at the link below. I have extra smart outlets but im scared if the wifi is down it will stop working. I noticed the non digital versions (turn dial ones) are cheaper but if power goes out does it reset everything?
 
I switched to digital ones vs mechanical as resetting the time was becoming a PITA. The digital ones have internal batteries and will maintain the program and states when the power comes back on. Here is what I use on the tents main feed.

BN-LINK 7 Day Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer, FD60 U6 https://www.amazon.com/Century-Digi...46-f1ab-4f79-93a3-36eca3240199&pd_rd_wg=ccsyq

But internally in the tent I use the smaller ones that are simpler to program if there is a need.

https://www.amazon.com/Century-Stac...46-f1ab-4f79-93a3-36eca3240199&pd_rd_wg=ccsyq
 
The first one is a three wire grounded one the second smaller one is just a two wire one. I use the smaller inside the tent on the light circuit that goes dead when lights are out. It comes back on when the lights come back on. Doesn't miss a beat.
 
I just use the mechanical ones. They stay set either 1212 or 186 I just change the timer not setting.
 

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im not sure how those work, what if power goes out. We sometimes get a short power outage and would hate for it to go crazy
 
So what happens with anything electrical when you get a power outage ponzi314 ? I use a surge protector for all my stuff just so nothing gets fried. I frequently get outages it's just how it goes you deal with it, don't freak out about it. Depends how long power is off but it's part of the grow for many many folks. I've lost power for 7 days during a snow storm and just the other day power was out for couple hours do to heat. I have backup generaters also for the really bad storms that last for days. I use the same timers as the above does, i just have them on the powerstrip with the lights. Easy peasey
 
Yea i feel that i just know that some of the digital ones have a small battery to remember the settings. I wasnt sure if maybe the mechanical ones have same? Like if it was half way through a 12 hour lights on cycle. If power goes out for 1 hour. when it comes back will it still have 6 hours left or 5 hours? I wasnt to worried about what happens i just wanted to actually understand the difference.
 
Imo even if lights go out you dont want to extend light hrs that day power goes out. I'll keep my schedule the same regardless. Outdoors will have over cast or rainy days that plants dont receive alot of light no worries. Personal preference to keep things even where as light isnt extended constantly past light cycle.
 
The mechanical ones if the power goes out an then comes back on will complete the timed cycle. The digital ones will cut short at the normal time.

Personally I find the mechanical ones if you have more than one are a pain with all the accumulation of power outage throw the start time back each time.

So what is more important, correct start/stop times or a complete cycle but inaccurate actual time?
 
Im thinking Digital based on what GroBuddy said. Because he was right, normal days will have over cast and what not so power going out but coming back and keeping set time would be nice, never have to touch it after its set
 
I too use digital when inside, I had to many problems with those rotating manual time thingies. IDK how long the digital timer will run off the battery, I just plugged 1 in that had not seen power in over a year, still had perfect time. The cost is not that much more, go digital!
 
I assume you mean your ISP is awful and not your own equipment. I'm pretty sure that there are home automation servers you can run at home. But I haven't found one that has great voice support and that's a must for me.
 
Here's my set up. First is a surge suppressor, then a power meter, then a three way power tap, then the timer. Inside the tent are two power strips, one on 24/7 the other on the timer for lights. In the winter I use another digital timer on the timered strip to run a heater for the first 15 minutes of lights on.


veg tent power setup.jpg
 
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