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rezin8r
Stranger
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 82
Last seen: 17 years, 7 months
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Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)!
#5428935 - 03/22/06 08:07 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hey Guys,
It should be noted that a coolmist is not needed if you have an ultrasonic on a short increment timer along with a fan that does FAE 4-6 times a day. By going this route, you dont have to make BS modifations to any machines, and your ultrasonic doesnt have to be refilled for days. I just stick my ultra on a top shelf and it does the job. The problem with the DT17 is you can only power on the ultrasonic every two hours(only 14 settings per day), so you are forced to run it like 15 minutes every two hours. This is bogus because if you run your ultra for more than 5 minutes in most martha setups, you will get a soupy mess. 
In a recent discussion with my friend, an electrical engineer, ( he works for a certain company in Texas that makes Instruments *wink* ), i mentioned to him how hard it was to find a short interval appliance timer to run my ultrasonic in martha setup. I explained to him that the only affordable timer that most people are buying is that 14 settings per day one(DT17 i think) at home depot. :/ He said it would be extremely easy to make an appliance timer that would just run in a continuous loop with two different delays.
The first delay is set by a knob that moves in 1 minute increments all the way up to 5 mintues. This is the knob that you adjust for how long you want the appliance to come on for. You generally want the ultrasonic on for about 2 minutes every 15 minutes. So, this knob you would set to 2. The second knob is the sleep delay, basically it controls how long between power-on sessions, you would set it to 15 minutes. That's it! It just runs in a continous loop. He also put a straight through socket on there too, so i dont loose a valuable power socket. The socket on the front has continous power, while the one on the side is the timed one.
Anyways, my prototype is coming this weekend, i'll let you guys know how it goes. He wants to know if anyone else would be interested in buying one, as it is relatively simple to build and he can crank them out pretty fast. Price would be aroud 40 bucks.
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d4a2n0k
The Dude


Registered: 07/23/03
Posts: 742
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: rezin8r]
#5429060 - 03/22/06 08:45 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Wow I think your friend just stumbled onto a great idea, I think alot of people find it hard to get an affordable timer for their humidifiers. If your friend is interested in making these to sell then send me a PM because I would be very interested in buying one!
-------------------- Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.
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Citric


Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 4,490
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: d4a2n0k]
#5429101 - 03/22/06 08:58 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Would be nice to have, but I do just fine with my timer. 2 hours for 20 minutes, and my coolmist 24/7. Constant 95%+ humidity, and no slushyness =). The key? Drain holes!
-------------------- Self Healing lid tek ** Update 10.17.17 ** Mini casing pictures: Pins to harvest Cup O' Shrooms Magash: I noticed my contams were in the shape of fingers Hyphae: Yes "Loss of moisture from the substrate" is not a casing trigger. My final Grow!
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agar
old hand


Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 9,056
Loc: Somewhere Else
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: rezin8r]
#5429363 - 03/22/06 10:29 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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http://homeharvest.com/hydroponictimers.htm $ 36.95 7-Day Programmable Digital Timer For use with HID and fluorescent light fixtures, and ideal for ebb & flood hydroponic systems, this timer features the ability to switch power on and off up to eight times per 24 hour day. Individual day or multi-day timer settings. Battery backup (included) for the timer clock assures your systems stay on schedule even after a power outage. Can also be used with electrical appliances such as lights, radios, television sets, coffee makers, automatic water sprinklers, commercial signs, etc. Minimum 'on' time is 1 minute. 3 prong grounded female receptacle, 3 prong grounded male plug. Not for use with 1000 watt or greater HID lighting systems. Input line voltage, 125VAC/60Hz; Maximum Output Current, 15(3)Amps. Maximum resistive load, 1875 Watts (15A X 125VAC). Maximum lighting load, 960 Watts (8A X 120VAC). Ambient temperature operating range between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit. UL Listed.
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mushboy
modboy


Registered: 04/24/05
Posts: 32,274
Loc: where?
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: agar]
#5429439 - 03/22/06 10:54 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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i have the same digital timer(40$). but i cant figure it out. i lost the box:(
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cappa
Nerd
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 854
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: mushboy]
#5429646 - 03/22/06 11:54 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Rezin, they commercially make those as well. Again, the problem is price. Check hydroponic shops if that's the kind you want(2 dials, 1 for 'on' time and one for time between 'on' times.)
I think you're talking about these:
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/11587/cid/1076
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/3502/cid/1076
Their are hundreds of varieties but I can't find them any cheaper than good digital timers like what Agar posted.
-------------------- Their are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary, and those who don't. ~Cappa.
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rezin8r
Stranger
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 82
Last seen: 17 years, 7 months
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: agar]
#5429820 - 03/22/06 12:43 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
agar said: http://homeharvest.com/hydroponictimers.htm $ 36.95 this timer features the ability to switch power on and off up to eight times per 24 hour day.
I have one that only cost me $18, however, it only does 14 settings per day. I need one that has indefinate settings per day and operates every 10 to 15 minutes.
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mogur
regnartS

Registered: 11/15/05
Posts: 322
Loc: Puget Sound
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: cappa]
#5429908 - 03/22/06 01:10 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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If you want to build your own, here's a circuit.
This circuit is even easier, you can use fixed resistors, or wire in pots to control the on and off periods.
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MerchantP
Stranger
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 58
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: mogur]
#5430090 - 03/22/06 01:52 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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"ability to switch power on and off up to eight times per 24 hour day"
in regards to the timer agar posted, doesn't that mean it only has a maximum of 8 settings per day?
making it worse than a 14 period timer?
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rezin8r
Stranger
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 82
Last seen: 17 years, 7 months
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: MerchantP]
#5430282 - 03/22/06 02:41 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
MerchantP said: "ability to switch power on and off up to eight times per 24 hour day"
in regards to the timer agar posted, doesn't that mean it only has a maximum of 8 settings per day?
making it worse than a 14 period timer?
my point exactly......
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cappa
Nerd
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 854
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Re: Custom appliance timers for cheap(~$40)! [Re: MerchantP]
#5430363 - 03/22/06 03:01 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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14 event timers are usually speaking about 7 on's and 7 off's.
I found that out the hard way. So a 14 event timer has the ability to switch the shit on for a few minutes and then off, 7 times a day.
-------------------- Their are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary, and those who don't. ~Cappa.
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