intermatic timers and grow lights

I have read on the OG grow faq that household timers arent designed to withstand the surge created by something like a 400w hps light system. And someone has also told me that fires are mostly due to the surge of electricity created when the timer is switched on for the light. The grow faq mentions about making a contact relay for your light and timer. Don't appliances already come with these things as a safety measure? I am relatively new to the MJ growing culture and I haven't reached the point of using my 400w hps yet so I wanted to get some input on this matter as I haven't come upon any thread containing this topic (maybe Im just not searching right). sorry if this is a redundant thread but I would really like experienced anecdotal evidence. thanks in advance!

its a good point always a concen of mine but some timers are grounded and rated for so many watts

I think they are rated at 15 amps so Im thinking a 400watt light (100 watts per amp) shouldn't do much damage to the timer. IDK. hydro store seem to be carrying the same timers I have and bought from Home Depot. It's the heavy duty timer with three (3) prong plug. It's just that I know someone who got in it with the law due to a fire caused by his grow. I dont want to be another victim of a circumstance especially dealing with burning plants in the garage. I don't mind "burnin trees" in the garage though. LOL

i understand ur concern your could talk to an electrian but i always used the 3 prong timers from home depot

Most timers even the cheapest can easily handle 1000w and no there's no risk of fire from a timer even if it went out.

Fires are caused by other mistakes. My timers were $3 on clearance...

Oh I hear your concern about timers...

I had the same uneasy feeling about the cheapo plastic ones...

So I went out and got a real timer for my 600 HPS and the 170CFM fan that cools it...

Hope this helps...

Gypsy...

Thanks for the input ppl! Atleast I'm a little more reassured about not having to worry about the lights when I'm not able to tend to the plants. Well if there are any people who have experienced some sort of timer failure, please share your story here so I know what to expect and what to prepare for. Peace

greeneyedbandit said:

Thanks for the input ppl! Atleast I'm a little more reassured about not having to worry about the lights when I'm not able to tend to the plants. Well if there are any people who have experienced some sort of timer failure, please share your story here so I know what to expect and what to prepare for. Peace

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Honestly, unless your house is VERY old, I wouldn't worry about anything, we would hear about many more fires if this were true (tons of stuff consumes more then even an 1000w hps/mh..) For instance, an air conditioner on a timer would be virtually the same.. and chances are it would be just fine.

Calijuana said:

Honestly, unless your house is VERY old, I wouldn't worry about anything, we would hear about many more fires if this were true (tons of stuff consumes more then even an 1000w hps/mh..) For instance, an air conditioner on a timer would be virtually the same.. and chances are it would be just fine.

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Thanks alot for the input Calijuana. Makes alot of sense and I am more reassured about leaving the plants to do their own thing. I guess there's alot of mixed opinions and experiences that I've heard about these things going on that it's made me a bit sketchy about relying on a timer.