Help with programmable timer!

[cdearing]

I bought this timer from the LFS a couple of weeks ago. It seems like it should be pretty straight forward but it isn't. I've had lights coming on and going off at all hours until I finally just put it in "off" mode and I turn on the lights manually. Does anyone know how to program one of these. I want my blue actinics to come on at 7 AM and go off at 9 PM. Power compact flourescents to come on at 8 AM and off at 8 PM. I want the moon lights to come on at 9 PM and off at 10:30 PM. It says that there are 7 different settings and only 4 plugs. I'm guessing that if you want different times each day of the week, then that's what they mean by 7 settings? Also, if I have the actinics and pcs plugged into the daylight plugs, they both seem to come on at the same time. I asked LFS yesterday how to work it cuz I knew he had one at home. He says he has done the same as me and can't figure it out. I told him to get with the program and the next time I come to see him, he needs to tell me how it works. We'll just have to see who figures it out first! Thanks!

[SouthBayPhoto]

Cyn,

I don't have that version, but I have Coralife's double timer version (non digital).

Here's what the deal is...(I'll do my best to try and help without actually seeing it in front of me)

Yellow outlets are daytime outlets - both on at the same time

Blue outlets are nighttime outlets - both on at the same time

When the yellows are on, the blues are off. when the blues are on, the yellows are off.

It looks like you're trying to run 3 different timers (daylights, actinics and moonlights) off this system. I don't know if that can be done.

That's why I had to buy the dual timer one by Coralife. I'm doing the exact same thing you're trying to do.

I have a bad feeling that you're going to need the dual coralife timer instead.

Otherwise you probably could set up your current timer to run the daylight bulbs and the moonlights (daylights plugged into the yellow slots and moonlights into the blue slots), but you'd have to put the actinics on another programmible timer or plug them in and out manually to get your timing down.

Otherwise, the dual timer is setup to handle those three things and it's actually made for them. I have the same type of setup, but I have yellow slots (daylight bulbs), blue slots (actinic bulbs) and black slots (moonlights).

The blue and black slots work "against" each other (one is on, the other is off and visa versa - like you have now), but the yellow ones work independantly. So, I can set my yellow slots (daylights) to go on and off whenever I want. But then I have it setup so when my actinics are on, the moonlights are off, but as soon as my actinics go off (which is one hour after my daylights), then the moonlights automatically come on.

I hope this didn't just confuse the heck out of you and I probably didn't answer your question like you'd hoped. However, I have a feeling that you need the dual timer or to buy a single other timer to plug into another outlet for your daylights. If you're going to do that, then set up your actinics and moonlights on the digital Power Center, so that when one goes off, the other comes on and then put your daylights on a separate timer.

That's about all you can do with that strip. Or you can have your daylights AND actinics go on at the SAME time (both plugged into your yellow outlets) and then your moonlights come on when they go off. I believe that's all you can do with the digital power center.

[charlie]

I have never used one. I have always done the individual timers Cyn. But looking at it and with Mat's description, I think he is correct.

[charlie]

See if he will give you credit for it or maybe he has the dual in there too.

[Ratpack]

Yep, to do what you are wanting, you will need another one. I have the same set up right now. My blues and moonlights run off of one and the whites run off the other.

[cdearing]

Well, you didn't really answer my question but thanks for trying Mat. I did set up a separate timer for the pc's already with the extra timer you gave me Charlie but still can't figure out the program. I guess I just need someone to take me by the hand. Maybe I can get one that is preset? I think I will ask LFS to exchange the timer for one that has 3 different plugs for my 3 lights. That should be really fun to figure out.

[LIBERTY]

Only set #1 on and off
I have the same one. and right now I turn the white off and off my self till I can get one more.
So in the morning the blue come on and the night go off, one hr later I turn the white on. one hr before they go off I turn the white off.