Timer

[Phil Bowyer]

Hi guys, 

I need to buy a new timer for my system. I've been looking around and can't seem to find one that is both reliable and has the amount of settings I need. 

Does anybody have any recommendations out there on a good timer that can run a 15/45 cycle? 

Thanks,

Phil

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I have been using GE 7-Day Plug-In Digital Timer that I picked up at home depot.

It has 20 programmable on off cycles so you will need to skip an hour of pumping 4 times a day. I have been told that cycling a pump on off that many times a day could do damage to it over the life of the pump.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

OMRON H3CR... It lists for $113.00 USD. With those two screws on the right, you can set the on/off time increments independently. Their ranges are 0.5 seconds to 100 hours. So it's pretty versatile and can accommodate a very wide range of cycle times...And the dials are pretty self explanatory...It has a double pole, double throw relay switch that you can hear clicking as it throws (if you prefer that sort of thing over digital stuff)...it is rated at 5 amps, 250VAC. Input voltage is 100–230VAC, 50/60 Hz. So it will work on about any electric grid regardless of the country you live in. And it's Japanese made.

[Phil Bowyer]

Thanks, I'll check it out

Jonathan Kadish said:

I have been using GE 7-Day Plug-In Digital Timer that I picked up at home depot.

It has 20 programmable on off cycles so you will need to skip an hour of pumping 4 times a day. I have been told that cycling a pump on off that many times a day could do damage to it over the life of the pump.

[Phil Bowyer]

Thanks Vlad. A bit heavy on the price, but you get what you pay for! 

Vlad Jovanovic said:

OMRON H3CR...This is the timer I ended up buying. It lists for $113.00 USD. With those two screws on the right, you can set the on/off time increments independently. Their ranges are 0.5 seconds to 100 hours. So it's pretty versatile and can accommodate a very wide range of cycle times...It has a double pole, double throw relay switch that you can hear clicking as it throws (if you prefer that sort of thing over digital stuff) is rated at 5 amps, 250VAC. Input voltage is 100–230VAC, 50/60 Hz. So it will work on about any electric grid regardless of the country you live in. And it's Japanese made.

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Yeah well...I've got 2 different types of digital timers I use for other stuff, and 2 other types of mechanical timers and they've not been the most reliable at times...especially in the greenhouse. This one though clicks away rain, snow or shine so far in the testing...We'll see how I feel about it in 5 to 10 years :)

[Vlad Jovanovic]

See if you can pick up an old mechanical relay timer on e-bay/craigslist...My neighbor has some 'cheap' East German model from over 25 years ago, and it still works like the day he got it...It hasn't worked non-stop mind you, but it's certainly put in it's fair share of hours...I guess they don't make anything like they used to, eh?

http://www.iseincstore.com/timers-2.aspx?gclid=CMSMw5fN9LECFYu-zAod...

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Catalog/Relays_-z-_Tim...

[Vlad Jovanovic]

OK, one more piece of timer porn and I swear I'm done...but this puppy is one bad ass piece of electro-mechanical hardware...

[Phil Bowyer]

Who could say no to "timer porn"? LOL. Thanks Vlad for the suggestions. I always forget about eBay so maybe I'll check them out and see if I can find those. 

[Vlad Jovanovic]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=repeat+cycle+timer

I just typed 'repeat cycle timer e-bay' and holy moses! There's a ton of stuff that's surely loads better than most of the Chinese and/or digital crap being pumped out these days. (Skip the first 5 Madelane Albright listings...after that it's all SI Swimsuit... :)

[George]

I've used this for 8 months and have no complaints

http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/products/aquaponic-systems-and-compone...

[Rob Torcellini]

This one will do the trick too:  http://www.bigelowbrook.com/timer

[Phil Bowyer]

Thanks Rob and George.