Issue with light timers dieing

I just picked up some new seeds for another grow and I would really like to replace my light timer. I have been using the $6 pin timers from Wal-Mart and I have had two of them die on me so far. I am not sure if they are dieing because they are junk, or if I am doing something wrong. I am growing with CFL light bulbs that add up to 126 watts (3 CFL bulbs). I have the lights hooked up to a surge protector with socket to plug adapters and the surge protector plugged into the timer. I was wondering if this should be ok? I am missing anything that I should have?

Also, is it possible to get a quality timer in the $20 range? I did a search on here for recommended timers and I found people talking about $50+ industrial timers. But they look like they are pretty large and would be noticeable. Is there anything that is more stealthy that is reliable enough to not randomly die on me?

if your using a digital timer toss it and get a mechanical one.... much more reliable

if you keep killing mechanical ones i dont know how to help you

im using the same one i bet...its a brinks timer...been using it for over a year and a half now...has never missed time going on or off.sure its the timer and not your wiring/wires some cheap sockets will leave loose wires and a small short can toast your timer

djruiner said:

im using the same one i bet...its a brinks timer...been using it for over a year and a half now...has never missed time going on or off.sure its the timer and not your wiring/wires some cheap sockets will leave loose wires and a small short can toast your timer

Click to expand...

It probably is the same timer. I have the brinks analog timer with a million little pins that you push down/pull up to start/stop the current. It is possible that it could be my wiring, my house is still running on the original electrical. Would plugging the time into a surge protector prevent this from occurring?

Either way I would like to pick up a back-up given my history with timers dieing on me. It just seems whenever I look at them on amazon or a website there are 50 reviews with 10 of them claiming the item was DOA or died within a few months. I was hoping that there was a reliable brand or model that I could count on.

go to lowes or home depot, there less than ten dollars for a heavy dudt mechanical wall timer

make sure the slide switch on the side is not getting knocked, set your time and then push it right back, the only problem i had with these timers was accidentally knocking it once, very reliable and would much rather use these than the electric ones. very easy to use

spend the money on your light timer. i suggest getting the TITAN Equipment timers. a good light timer will run 40.00 plus.

mystifiedbongs said:

go to lowes or home depot, there less than ten dollars for a heavy dudt mechanical wall timer

Click to expand...

For a bit more, but still less than $20, take a look at water heater timers, or the timers for outdoor lights. Simple and heavy duty. Also at HD or Lowes.

Wet