evilknieval69 Posted July 24, 2006 Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 A couple questions about the power i will be using in my new tank. For my new tank setup i have got two 150W metal halide units wired into one plug (240 Volt). I want them to be setup on a timer but i read another thread a while back about having to have a timer that can handle the sudden power burst they need to turn on... (something like that) What kind of timer should i get and where from?? ALSO, I want to put an RCD or similiar onto the main plug going into the tank but i dont want an RCD which will turn off if there is a power surge or cut and needs to be flicked back on manually as i may be away from home and my fish may be without power for a while. Is there an RCD or something which will stop the power from surging so the lights etc. dont blow but doesnt shut off completely?? Also, I had one of my MH units going and then i unplugged it and then plugged it in again but it didnt light. i let it cool and it lit again, so im guessing they wont turn on again when they are hot, so if the power went out and they shut off and then the power went on again and they were still hot they would have power going into them but they wont light. will this damage them or will they need to be on a shut off RCD to stop it from happening? Lots of words :roll: hope it makes sence. i have just confused myself aswell Thankyou Rogan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted July 24, 2006 Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 Hot restrike is rare on metal halides. Most lights I have seen have still had the old magnetic ballasts, no way those will restike ever. As for the RCD, I got an old one, its called a "lifeguard" - metal box with a twin power outlet in it. That one doesnt shut off when the input power drops. I have since then changed to using them in the breaker panel. I tried a yellow HPM one and it dropped out everytime the input power disconnected (its a saftey thing for powertools) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 so the metal halides wont restrike after the power comes back on but will they restrike once they cool down enough?? Is the power going into them whilst they are not restarting going to damage/hurt them in any way??? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted July 24, 2006 Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 I dont know. Mine made some awefull clicking and buzzing when it tried. I put that down to it having control gear that was developed at about the time the arc was floated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 So what do i do about them then, should i just put them on a shut off RCD and the rest on a better one which will not completely shut off??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted July 24, 2006 Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 May as well. I wasnt using aquarium metal halides, they were my lights in the garage, and whenever the arc welder stuck it would cause enough of a sag for the lights to go out frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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