babber

I was wondering if anyone had some cheap / reliable solution to switch on a timed lighting circuit with 4 times 600 watt sodium lamps?

I can't seem to find anything at local electrical suppliers in a box, and to be honest the advise I got was so varying and inconsistant.

Ok, so a normal timer can supply around 3 amps continiously and 13 amps briefly, but sodiums can draw (so I'm told) on warm up four times the normal current on the warm up stage. How can I safely supply the power through a timed circuit to illuminate all the lamps together without burning any wires / fuses out? Anyone know the warm up times for a sodium lamp?

Thanks in advance, Phill

richieh

you need a contacter box m8(basically a mains relay-the timer only switches the relay the relay then switches the lights )
have a search around some online growshops eg http://www.atasteofamsterdam.co.uk/a...er_relays.html there'll be loads or make your own up for a few quid
richie

babber

I have sourced something that will do the job (out of a box) locally but £100 seems excessive for a relay, timer and a few sockets. I might just buy the components and do it myself

Phill

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

you trying to blind the neighbours

richieh

i'd get the contacter and a box from an electrical factors http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSear...&Ntk=gensearch then a nice cheap timer
-lots cheaper.
you taking up market gardening then?
richie

mj

RS do a nice little 7 day timer, each day can have 4 switching ops IIRC, timer with back box is about £40, contactor should be about £20, box to chuck it all in say a tenner, then the sockets for the lamps, to save the faffing about I would just buy the ready built box for £100.


the profit from one plant alone should more than cover it

richieh

thatd do about 6 sq m
say 32oz/sq m
thats 192oz
every 8 weeks
can i be your friend
all alegedly of course
richie

babber

I'm setting up some electrics for a friend, while I have some spare time on mu hands and they're growing tomatoes / cucumber and strawberries inside, so don't get excited

I think your right about buy the box for £100 though, and will get it tomorrow

Thanks for all the advise chaps, Phill

PS I think people on this BBS have over-active minds, lol

mj

count me in for an ounce of *tomatoes* when there done

richieh

you can do chillies as well
see here http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/show...t=chilli+seeds
and
http://www.applewebsolutions.co.uk/m...eds/index1.htm
richie

babber

Mate has been saying there's a market for exotic fruit and veg and that's exactly what he intends on using the lamps for. I'll pass the website information onto him, as he's very keen to experiment with this type of growing. I'm loaning my electrical skills to him to sort it out, but it's a very interesting subject

Phill

richieh

he'd be right m8
if you did a tidy job you could probabally make more the legal way
i did a little naughty growing bout 10 years ago(pre anklebiter) hence the knowledge
best trick is chuck a beer kit in the room-when the lights were on it'd pump out co2 then stop with the lights off(cooler) doubled the yeild
if you want some cheap growing set up tricks+tips let me know-i'm pretty sure they work whatever you were growing-chillies in part ex for that gearbox sounds good
richie