I need a timer, any recommended?

[WilliamB217]

Hi my bros~ i currently have two lights from viparspectra, p1000 and xs2000. i'd like to join them together after this round, daisy chain? ? i will ask the seller for this. But my question's is there any a timer that you used is good and can you recommend one to me? Thanks guys.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Just plug them both into an Apollo 2 outlet timer, or the cheaper generic one.

 

[speedwell68]

Use a smart timer. Like a Smart Life or Sonoff Basic. Super reliable and can be controlled by your phone or via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. I have been using them for a couple of years.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Use a smart timer. Like a Smart Life or Sonoff Basic. Super reliable and can be controlled by your phone or via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. I have been using them for a couple of years.

Alexa "Don't Call The Cops",

 

[speedwell68]

Alexa "Don't Call The Cops",

Google think my lights are a coffee maker.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Google think my lights are a coffee maker.

Google "I Like Coffee",

 

[coreywebster]

I would definatelt order a smart timer from amazon they have an app u can control from ur phone

Don't understand how that's necessary though.

 

[coreywebster]

Literally all you need is any old 24h segment timer.
You don't need anything special to turn a few hundred watts of LED on.

But there's hundreds of options if you want something fancy.
I just don't get why fancy is any better than simple , but that's me, simple

 

[speedwell68]

Don't understand how that's necessary though.

Literally all you need is any old 24h segment timer.
You don't need anything special to turn a few hundred watts of LED on.

But there's hundreds of options if you want something fancy.
I just don't get why fancy is any better than simple , but that's me, simple

I have had so many segment timers fail over the years. Unless you are investing decent money in one they are completely inaccurate, they can vary with fluctuations in the electricity supply. Get a stopwatch and actually time an hour on a cheap segment timer, I have never come across one that is actually 60 minutes.

With a smart switch you can change the schedule without actually going near the thing. If it fails to work, I will be notified of that failure and can rectify it remotely. I can add the timings as part of a greater schedule over many devices. My fans and heater are controlled by readings from a Tuya Temp/Humidity sensor which turns on the smart switches based on it's readings.

All of my stuff in my main tent is controlled by Smartlife (Tuya) via Google Assistant, including the CCTV. I can monitor and control any aspect of my grow from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. My veg tent a little while ago...



It is totally reliable and accurate, it's timings are derived from the time server at the Greenwich Royal Observatory. I can count the times it has failed in the last 2.5 years on two fingers.

I use Tuya (SmartLife) for my grows, but Sonoff are just as good. You don't need to integrate it into Alexa or Google either.

It is also super cheap to do. For example...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defender-Hour-Segment-Timer-Plug/dp/B08N51P19L/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_w=nXpyK&content-id=amzn1.sym.2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_p=2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_r=WKAH35E9P694CZMS7JFN&pd_rd_wg=IhBir&pd_rd_r=08ba2890-50ac-4676-a42b-0ee3867ee57b&pd_rd_i=B08N51P19L&psc=1

VS

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Plug-Alexa-Google-Home/dp/B092DNQ4CP/ref=sr_1_78?crid=1YMV258251I70&keywords=smartlife&qid=1669974342&sprefix=smartlife%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-78&th=1

One is accurate to the nearest second, the other is going to have a have a margin of error measured in minutes. One can be integrated into a complete system, the other cannot. If you buy them on a multipack deal they are cheaper still. I have a fully automated environment with CCTV and remote control for under £60 ($73).

 

[Drop That Sound]

Make sure the timer is rated for the amount of amperage you'll be running through it. I do like digital timers, that keep the settings stored for when the power flickers or goes out. Keeps everything in sync, no matter what happens, without resetting it all the time.

 

[WilliamB217]

Thank you for all of yours help. I will check and choose one.

 

[Fordprefect42]

Stay away from Kasa. They aren’t reliable.

 

[PopAndSonGrows]

One of these. BUT, oddly enough, i found out my timer is "fast" (over the course of a month, it gets about 8 minutes ahead of set time). Works well, hasn't failed in almost 3 yrs.

 

[yinyang814]

Stay away from Kasa. They aren’t reliable.

What kind of issues should I expect from my Kasa devices? Only had em a year and a half so far.

 

[Fordprefect42]

What kind of issues should I expect from my Kasa devices? Only had em a year and a half so far.

So the gist of it is any kind of power flash can hose the timers and they have to be reset. They won’t continue to run their schedule. If you are on top of it and make sure everything’s working if that happens it’s probably fine. In my case I want to let things run while I’m away and unreliable timers are a non starter. The interface for the app is decent though.