Timer help

MikeP · #1 04-13-2007, 05:06 PM

I was planning on getting a digital coralife powercenter but after to many poor reviews from the internet and fellow canreefers I'm not going to bother. I haven't really researched anything else. I need to run 2 MH ballasts, 1 set of actinics, and a moonlight. I'm going to Rona/HD today what should I look for?

Thanks

Der_Iron_Chef · #2 04-13-2007, 05:11 PM

Mike...as I mentioned in your last thread, I've seen some more heavy duty timers at Canadian Tire and Home Depot. They're more expensive, but I think they're made for outdoor applications and I'm guessing they'd be built more ruggedly, stand the test of time, etc. Or maybe I'm just full of it :-)

Good luck and tell me what you come up with. I'm looking to upgrade my timer(s) as well.

P.S. I bought three individual timers a while back but didn't realize they only accepted plugs with two prongs, not three. A rookie mistake, but just a heads up!

christyf5 · #3 04-13-2007, 05:14 PM

For me, space was a big issue, I still have yet to find a timer that doesn't take up more than one outlet worth of space on my powerbar. I ended up getting one of those garrison timers from crappy tire but the thing is huge. Its nice having the digital readout and battery backup though, I don't have to fiddle with it every time the power goes out.

Edit: Oh ya and as Der Iron Chef mentioned, make sure you have the three pronged one! I have a small pile of two pronged timers due to my lack of attention when purchasing

fishface · #4 04-13-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christyf5

I ended up getting one of those garrison timers from crappy tire but the thing is huge.
Edit: Oh ya and as Der Iron Chef mentioned, make sure you have the three pronged one! I have a small pile of two pronged timers due to my lack of attention when purchasing

bad, bad luck with the garrisons from my experience...i've gone through several.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc...romSearch=true

however this is what i have been using since. it's nice cause it's got a pigtail so it doesn't use up all the room on your powerbar and it's also 3 pronged and waterproof, very heavy-duty. only down fall i've found is in programming it, you can only accurately set it on the hour, slight inconvenience but not a huge deal.

christyf5 · #5 04-13-2007, 05:39 PM

My bad. Its not a garrison at all. I remember I was told to get a garrison but then bought one of these instead as it was on sale. Its a Noma.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc...=1176485874937

Slick Fork · #6 04-13-2007, 05:41 PM

I've got one of those noma ones as well, my biggest complaint is no battery back-up and out where I am, the power supply is sort of finicky so I'm constantly programming the darn thing. But it is nice not having a timer take up 3 spots on the powerbar.

MikeP · #7 04-13-2007, 05:46 PM

Thanks for the link. I think I will look for something like that. Too bad coralife or someone else hasn't made a better version of the powercenter, there seems to be enough demand for it and it is a good idea.

fishface · #8 04-13-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christyf5

My bad. Its not a garrison at all. I remember I was told to get a garrison but then bought one of these instead as it was on sale. Its a Noma.

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc...=1176485874937

that is a garrison...look at the top corner of the actual timer.

Kryten · #9 04-13-2007, 06:02 PM

Don't get this one from Rona, I bought two and they both stopped working properly. http://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores...=-1&height=500

christyf5 · #10 04-13-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishface

that is a garrison...look at the top corner of the actual timer.

oh. jeez.

What kind of bad luck are we talking about, "oh man another timer died" bad luck or "burn down your house" bad luck?