antwan Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Twice in a row I have paid the price for buying cheap-quality light timers. I have bought the basic one found in the supermarket and warehouse for $7.99. First one stopped working after a few weeks, but this new one stopped tonight after just 4 days! How can they sell such an unreliable product? Anyway, just wondering what timers everyone uses that actually do what they're supposed to and how much they cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 the cheaper ones can't handle a big load through them usually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 http://www.mitre10.co.nz/energy_efficie ... id=7&rid=2 I use those. I bought some expensive ones that crapped out within weeks. Some of these have been going for two years now with no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 the cheaper ones can't handle a big load through them usually What do you regard as a big load? I have one running the lights on 5 tanks (total of nearly 700w) and have never had an issue. I just set and forget. I realise 700w is not a huge load, but who here uses them for more than tank lighting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted November 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 the cheaper ones can't handle a big load through them usually I have it on my 150W halide, maybe that's the problem? Simon, that's the same one's I've been using :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 I just went and counted, I have a total of 5 of these and they are all the Alto brand from Mitre10. I can recall only one that didnt work and I took it back and got my money back and paid five time more for an expensive HPM one. That lasted a few months and then just wouldn go again so I went back to the cheapies. I figure that at their price I can afford to have a few spare so if one does go I can just replace it. Its not like my tanks will crash if it stops for a day or so. Maybe take them back and get some more. 150w MH should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted November 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 third time's a charm right? may as well with the money back guarantee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 i have 14 running on lights at the moment i have another 20+ in a box that no longer work, expensive and cheapies some have lasted 2 or 3 years, some only a few months i just buy the cheapies now but only run 1 per MH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 I have it on my 150W halide, maybe that's the problem? Simon, that's the same one's I've been using :-? Yes, that is the problem. MHs have a big inrush current that eats timers. Even expensive ones sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 I just use the cheap Alto ones, the current lot of 5 have all been going for 12-24+ months. I usually keep the receipts when i buy one so I can take it back if it does in the first few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 i have these http://www.mitre10.co.nz/energy_efficie ... &orderby=1 the first time i got it from the shop it didnt work, but the replacement did and its been good for the past few months, still have to get around to changing it over to daylight saving time one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Mine is Arlec brand. It was secondhand and I've been using it ever since I started fishkeeping. It says not to exceed 2500w. I've only ever run the one set of bulbs off it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Mine has Masterclear written on it and has been running a few years. The one before that was a cheapie from The Warehouse or Mitre 10 and ran for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Love this one. After trying several types I keep going back to it. I have about a dozen of them now and none have ever given me a problem, even with big loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 can't find the other box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 I've got three just like the topmost one in the image that livingart posted. One runs the CO² solenoid, one runs the smaller tank light (~30w) and one runs my twin 2 x T5HO fixtures (156w). All been running for about a year almost, they work great. 100% digital with a relay, not mechanical like the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amethyst Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 We've got these: http://www.mitre10.co.nz/index.cfm?mid= ... 3337&sid=6 we've had 4 running from 2 years to 6 years and never had a problem . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Ended up buying the cheapest warehouse digital timer and it's working great fourth times a charm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 i find when using them on MH halide they gradually become in accurate and you have to adjust the times often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 We have bought both the HPM 24 hour timer and Elto 24 hour timer from Mitre 10 at just over $6.00 each and haven't had a problem yet with them. Touch wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 I just started considering timers a wear item. I never managed to find one that lasted more than about 4-6 months before failing running MHs. But with the such a small load on them I'd just go for the cheapest, never had a problem with a timer outside of running MHs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.