Serious lighting problem

[Magnificient]

I don't like to start new strings, but I can't get my 400 watt mh light to work with a timer. The t5 and the fluorescent lights work with the timer, as does the fan, refrigerator, etc. I tested it on several things and only the 400 mh lights will not work on the timer. What am I missing?

 

[mrboots]

How big is your light? you may be throwing some kind of breaker on your timer of electrical panel.

 

[mrboots]

Your light is going through a ballast right?

 

[darkdestruction420]

Check over the component and that and make sure nothing is damaged, sounds more like a light issue than a timer issue, unless you were not using a heavy duty timer.

 

[IAm5toned]

sounds like the timer is not rated for inductive loads......

 

[ftpstrangr]

I had a timer that would shut off randomly, but it would at least turn on for a sec. had to upgrade to better one...
But you say its not turning on at all?
1-Ballast? cause you don't need one for the t5 and fluros
2-Can you get it to work without a timer first? Because if it doesn't turn on plugged into the wall then either your light or ballast has broken.

 

[Spanishfly]

Are you switching your lights through a contactor?? As Iam5toned said above, if your light is plugged directly into a timer, and if the timer is not rated to carry large inductive loads, and hardly any of them are, you can get major problems.

 

[Little Tommy]

I use Intermatic brand heavy duty timers and they work great. You can get away with cheap ones for flourescent lighting but the HID lights require a better timer.

 

[Magnificient]

I don't know what the problem is. The light works instantly when plugged up to the wall outlet, even though it takes it a while to get to full brightness...that's normal. But when I plug it into the timer it doesn't light up at all, then when I went down to check it out, it was on. It's not the timer or the light. It's a heavy duty timer. I guess it's just the way the timer works with the light. I won't know until tonight if it's going to work consistently. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Magnificient]

Your light is going through a ballast right?

Yes, it's a 400 watt mh/hps ballast.

 

[Magnificient]

I had a timer that would shut off randomly, but it would at least turn on for a sec. had to upgrade to better one...
But you say its not turning on at all?
1-Ballast? cause you don't need one for the t5 and fluros
2-Can you get it to work without a timer first? Because if it doesn't turn on plugged into the wall then either your light or ballast has broken.

Only the 400 watt mh has a problem. The t5s and the fluorescents were used to test the timer. It wasn't the light, it works perfectly.

 

[Magnificient]

Are you switching your lights through a contactor?? As Iam5toned said above, if your light is plugged directly into a timer, and if the timer is not rated to carry large inductive loads, and hardly any of them are, you can get major problems.

I had to look up contactor, no don't have one, but it is a heavy duty timer. The light finally came on. I'll have to watch it to see if it's going to keep working. Frankly, I've never used one until then. I'm still baffled as to why the light didn't come on immediately.

 

[Bonzi Lighthouse]

I was researching some digital Ballast and noticed the manufacture said that digital timers were not recommended. You might contact to ballast manufacture to see if that is the case with yours.

 

[ftpstrangr]

I don't know what the problem is. The light works instantly when plugged up to the wall outlet, even though it takes it a while to get to full brightness...that's normal. But when I plug it into the timer it doesn't light up at all, then when I went down to check it out, it was on. It's not the timer or the light. It's a heavy duty timer. I guess it's just the way the timer works with the light. I won't know until tonight if it's going to work consistently. Thanks for all the help.

I had the same problem. it was really weird. I'd be hanging out with my plants and all the sudden my lights would shut off. But come on again at some random time. If a light does shut off, i would have to let it cool for bout 2-5min before i could get it back on again. I think i had to much plugged into my power strip, and it would reset leaving my lights off...Also its super basic but can be forgotten, the on and off switch on the timer...try toggling it back and forth.

Good luck bro! If all else fails, htgsupply.com sells the "high yield lighting" timers for a few bucks and it works for me.

 

[Magnificient]

Everything's go now. I still don't know why there's a delay for the magnetic mh/hps ballasts to fire up. They don't do that when I use a wall socket. But they do come on consistently. Thanks for the posts.