Gremlins in my electrics whats happening???

Hello to all looking in i have a worrying problem with my electrics and timer let me explain what i have got really strange.

From a single socket 13 amp i have an extention lead which then has 4 additional sockets ( This extention lead from the socket has a surge protector on it)

There are two plugs in this firtly serving one room, the other one plug then feeds another extention lead.

This is where the problem is. It plugs into a extention lead using just one plug (three spare) on top of a timer which is then feeding another 4 way/plug extention lead A 400w ballast, fan, sprinkers etc.

Now this is where the problem is the timer is set correctly and has worked fine for the last 5 days coming on and going off it is a segment timer.

Now this morning it was still on SHOULD OF BEEN OFF. I checked the timer it had not stopped and was on the correct time, but had not switched off the power. This has happened twice in the space of a week with two timers, i did not take a chance and binned the first timer and this is the second one and same problem can't be the timer again.

My thinking is could it be the surge protector in some way?

When the timer goes to switch off somehow the surge protector sees a spike and drops power somehow cutting power for a sec at the point of timer switch turning off?? This then stops it turning off and timer thinks it has and passes this point continue's to work as if it has switched power.

I'm guessing for solutions here,

This has happened twice now my poor plants will go hermie i thinking of getting rid of the surge protector extention and replace with a normal one i don't know what else i can try any idea's anyone? spew:

Is this a digital or analog timer?

it sounds like a fire waiting to happen.

you need to be careful how many extensions, connections, and devices you run on a single extension. you could easily burn your house down if you draw peak amps through a setup like that for very long

you need to get an electrician in and add new circuits, or run lines from other areas of the house to divide the load out to other circuits.

and get a more heavy duty mechanical timer.

I am an electrician,

The Maximum potential load coming from the single 13amp socket which then feeds the extention leads are as follows,

2 x 400w lights

2 x Fans 40 w

2 x sprinkers 5w

Even rounding it up to a 1000w for the benefit of maths....

Ohms law,

1000 divide by input of volts 230 = 4.34 Amps.

As you can see clearly the socket and cable is more than capable of talking current and load.

Back to topic yes these are analog segment timers and easier designed to switch the power i've got.

I still think it's to do with the surge protector and i will change this first to a standard extention lead can't see what else it could be....

Well if I'm not mistake, those timers turn on and off when the wheel moves with the time and a switch is activated by an individual tab or slots you press for the desired time. So, being that its a physical switch, I don't think that the surge protector will have anything to do with it. I'd say the tabs or slots are not pushed in all the way or the timers are faulty. Are both your timers made from the same manufacturer? Maybe they are defective?

User24 said:

and get a more heavy duty mechanical timer.

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I have 2 of these on my wall.....very good timers.

AverageJoe21 said:

Well if I'm not mistake, those timers turn on and off when the wheel moves with the time and a switch is activated by an individual tab or slots you press for the desired time. So, being that its a physical switch, I don't think that the surge protector will have anything to do with it. I'd say the tabs or slots are not pushed in all the way or the timers are faulty. Are both your timers made from the same manufacturer? Maybe they are defective?

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You might be right could be defective timers, and yes they were both the same manufacturer,

I have changed the surge protector extention lead to a normal one and also changed to another timer same type (segment) but different manufacturer. Hopefully this should fix this strange problem will keep you updated, in the meantime thanks for the replies guys appreciated, KB

Manny Ramirez said:

I have 2 of these on my wall.....very good timers.

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Where do you get those from?

Is your timer white with blue push tabs? If so iv'e had to chuck three of those worked for about a week then they went wacky.

Pookiedough said:

Is your timer white with blue push tabs? If so iv'e had to chuck three of those worked for about a week then they went wacky.

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Yes they were....................

kathleenbilly said:

Yes they were....................

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Those are just crappy timers,I was getting those because they were cheap now I know why.

I am not sure what country you are in, but in the states, there is not such a thing as a 13 amp circuit in a modern home. 10-15-20 are normal breaker ampacities, and you would be hard pressed to find a 230v 13 amp circuit anywhere in the developed world i think.

the smallest 240v I have ever run, or ever seen run is 20amp.

maybe you are in europe or elsewhere, but thats the way it is in the USA.

also, just to make the point again so you dont burn your house down, running near max amperage for extended durations with that many slip connections (plug ends) can cause electrical fires.

if you are an electrician, why are you asking us? 2 timers bad in a row, time to buy a different type.