|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
Timer thread
#14308401 - 04/17/11 07:32 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Hello,
I find that I am needing a much better timer than any that I have found so far if I am going to succeed in dialing in my GH.
The search engine is not as useful here, as I need data on devices available for purchase now.
I need Make and model. URLs to sellers would be a big plus.
This is something that the entire community can benefit from.
I can recommend this timer from Home Depot for certain uses:
 http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100685854/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
It has the little mechanical swiches, 48 of them, and allows any number of on/offs, but no period less than 1/2 hour.
These timers are dirt cheap, and they work. They are perfect for controlling the 12/24 schedule of lights.
I know that this has been asked before, and by me as well, but I am hoping for more specific data.
It has been recommended that I build what I need from parts. This sort of response will do the community good if sufficiently detailed plans are included.
In any case, thank you for the kind attention.
Take care,
JD
P.S. If this plays out as I hope, then growers will be able to post back with those units they have found, and this way this thread will represent a picture of what models are still currently available, as we go along.
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 12 days
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Javadog]
#14308715 - 04/17/11 08:36 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
What you're looking for is a cycle timer. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
|
You know RR, I just may have to land on one of those, in spite of the price. If it does what I need, then it will have been worth it.
What I really need is not a timer that defines what happens over a 24-hour period only. I need to define what happens over just one hour, and for this cycle to repeat each hour.
You see, I got a high quality fogger, and find that I only need it on for about 5 minutes an hour. The 30/30 schedule of my Vicks is serious overkill if the fogger is used as well.
Thank you for taking the time.
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
conformist


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 210
Loc: SE
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Javadog]
#14309422 - 04/17/11 10:25 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
http://shop.reptilegeeks.com/749-mistking-seconds-timer.html
Haven't compared this to the above post, but it's an option. Saw it posted somewhere around here before.
Edited by conformist (04/18/11 07:14 AM)
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
|
That is a very flexible timer, but it only supports 8 events.
Thank you for sharing!
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
biologys
Mycologist in Trainning




Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 4,622
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Javadog]
#14309792 - 04/17/11 11:54 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
|
dmonkey1
Monkey Say...




Registered: 06/29/10
Posts: 1,326
Loc: 39°50′39″N 75°42′...
Last seen: 11 years, 30 days
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Javadog]
#14309799 - 04/17/11 11:55 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
yo whats up javadog, just popping in.
I got my cycle timer on ebay. free shipping
-------------------- Check out my Trade List!!
|
dmonkey1
Monkey Say...




Registered: 06/29/10
Posts: 1,326
Loc: 39°50′39″N 75°42′...
Last seen: 11 years, 30 days
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: dmonkey1]
#14309802 - 04/17/11 11:56 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
-------------------- Check out my Trade List!!
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: dmonkey1]
#14309904 - 04/18/11 12:25 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Hey DM,
It does look like "cycle timer" is the operative phrase here.
5 mins on then 55 mins off == a cycle that I'd like to try.
Thank you all for sharing!
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
Primal Call
Earth Mage



Registered: 09/05/10
Posts: 2,766
Loc: Here until here
Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Javadog]
#14310143 - 04/18/11 01:39 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
just wanted to add that I use the one JD linked in the OP. if you don't need a "cycle timer," that one is fantastic! oh, and it has 2 plugs if that is not clear by the image.
|
dmonkey1
Monkey Say...




Registered: 06/29/10
Posts: 1,326
Loc: 39°50′39″N 75°42′...
Last seen: 11 years, 30 days
|
|
you can always plug a 6 outlet expander into it
-------------------- Check out my Trade List!!
|
Gzaajhom
title


Registered: 12/11/10
Posts: 183
Loc: USA
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: dmonkey1]
#14310574 - 04/18/11 06:25 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
I've been wondering, for short cycles (for example, 1 min on 5 min off), couldn't you use a LM555 set astable, connected to a relay and have it when low to turn the relay on, and when high the relay is off? Times could be adjusted using variable resistors. I'm not an expert on this kind of stuff but was wondering if anyone who knows a little more could clarify on this idea. This would only cost about $10 but I must be missing something.
--------------------
Don't hate the player; hate the game. -Abraham Lincoln
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Gzaajhom]
#14310750 - 04/18/11 07:46 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Good data, thank you.
DM: I checked the timer RR suggested and it does suggest a 15 Amp limit, so there are limits to the number of power bars that one can attach to it. ;0)
...and I googling up just what a "LM555 set astable" is right now.
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Gzaajhom]
#14310894 - 04/18/11 08:31 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Gzaajhom said: I've been wondering, for short cycles (for example, 1 min on 5 min off), couldn't you use a LM555 set astable, connected to a relay and have it when low to turn the relay on, and when high the relay is off? Times could be adjusted using variable resistors. I'm not an expert on this kind of stuff but was wondering if anyone who knows a little more could clarify on this idea. This would only cost about $10 but I must be missing something.
Absolutely. The tricky and expensive part is the high power relays, then wiring it safely. The logic is trivial, the chip does the work and it comes with a chart to say which variable resistors to use.
Haven't worked with 555 in years, but I think you'll actually want a 556 dual timer for this particular application.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
|
diegotheslinger
Hello!



Registered: 03/13/11
Posts: 52
Loc: PNW
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
|
Re: Timer thread [Re: Doc_T]
#14313213 - 04/18/11 04:32 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Quote: Gzaajhom said: I've been wondering, for short cycles (for example, 1 min on 5 min off), couldn't you use a LM555 set astable, connected to a relay and have it when low to turn the relay on, and when high the relay is off? Times could be adjusted using variable resistors. I'm not an expert on this kind of stuff but was wondering if anyone who knows a little more could clarify on this idea. This would only cost about $10 but I must be missing something.
Absolutely. The tricky and expensive part is the high power relays, then wiring it safely. The logic is trivial, the chip does the work and it comes with a chart to say which variable resistors to use.
Haven't worked with 555 in years, but I think you'll actually want a 556 dual timer for this particular application
Yeah I think you would want to have two 555 timers (or one 556). The first one would send a single pulse approximately every 5min that would turn on the second one set to be on for about 1min. You could have variable resistors to change the Capacitor charge times so you could adjust the duty cycles of each of the timers. (555 setups are not very accurate due to variations in the external capacitors but for the purpose of turning on a fan/light it would be fine.)
The mains relay would be hooked up to the output of the second 555 timer and turn on the outlet. (with a diode for protection and maybe a transistor to source enough current to turn it on...although 555's can put out about 200mA which may be enough to turn on a smaller relay)
-------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....{ S.S.D.D. }....
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
|
This is really neat stuff guys, but my following of this would require a pictorial tek of such detail as to amaze.
Fun stuff though, and I will google the idea when I get time.
I am thinking that a cycle timer will have to do.
(expensive! ...but they will work)
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
SuperPuma
Automation Nut



Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 97
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
|
|
For those that want to muck about with this kind of thing, I recommend an arduino, an lcd and a powerswitchtail.
This way you can control up to 10 amps AC with a limitless degree of resolution, all for about the price of one of those repeat cycle timers (and much less soldering).
I have mine tied to a temp/rh sensor, im experimenting with full auto "smart" chambers.

|
Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
|
|
That arduino is more money, but more versatile. There's a million great teks out there, check Instructables.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
|
These posts will make this thread useful for the forum.
Thank you!
(now I am sure that an auduino thread and a 555 thread will be required to detail these things, but it is good to have them named)
Thank you all,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
Ozzy
TimeLord




Registered: 12/28/08
Posts: 1,067
Loc:
|
|
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: What you're looking for is a cycle timer. RR
I like these ones
found here..slightly less than RR's suggestion and more versatile cycle timer link
|
|