Contoling lights

[1460sun]

Can anyone recommend a good unit to control lighting. I bought a Aqualight Power center and it lasted 60 days. One of the timmers quit working.

[GaryP]

Just go to Home Depot and buy some regular timers. They are so cheap its no big deal when one of them quits. I like the electronic ones better and they are only a few dollars more.

[MikeyBoy]

Ditto,
I spent over $500 on a Aquacontroller and all the gizmos and would not do it again.
I dont think it was worth the money.

[Richard]

Where did you buy it at?

[1460sun]

It was purchased off the Internet. http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/timers2.htm. Everytime I try to save money it ends up costing me double. Oh well, stuff happens

[::pete::]

Like Mikey said ... and I always say ... keep it simple!!! More can go wrong when yoy start adding all the fancy equiptment that is supposed to "take care of" "YOUR" tank

[eric]

I had the same Power Center die on me in very short time (less than two months). I take responsibility on myself for not returning it. These are one of those that alternates a few outlets. Two are on permanently, two perm off.

I use a mechanical timer now (just takes up too much room on a power strip though.) I have both the lights and fan on it.

[Dozer]

I was just looking around and saw some cool stuff on these sites that relate to electrical. Lots of different kinds of outlet strips and cords and things. Haven't ordered from any of them myself but some cool looking stuff for next time I get motivated to get more organized/efficient...

http://www.smarthome.com
http://www.powerstrippals.com/
http://www.keysan.com/ksu1718.htm

[eric]

I've bought a lot of X10 stuff from smarthome myself. I have yet to automate the tanks in with my mater remote.

[NaCl_H2O]

My aquarium lights are controlled by X10. I have a BUNCH of controllers for all my lights/tanks - about 12. In general, I am fairly happy with the X10 stuff, but I had to invest in coupler/amp units in breaker boxes to finally get it working reliably. Still 5%-10% of the time a light doesn't switch on/off when it should.

For a few lights on a single tank, I think it would work pretty good, but far more expensive than simple mechanical or digital timers from Home Depot!

[1460sun]

Just recieved an email back form Energy Savers Unlimited, Inc , the manufactor of the power strip. They say if I send it in they will repair or replace. Guess I'll try and see what happens, nothing to loose but time

[Richard]

You also should get a decent surge protector to plug it into. I assume your on PEC like me. I couldn't keep a timer of any kind working for more than two months until I started using a good surge protector. No problems since.

[1460sun]

Yes I am, and thanks for the suggestion. I'll pick one up tomorrow.

[1460sun]

I was looking at the smarthome stuff last night. Pretty cool stuff, have always wanted to control my home (temp, lights phone jacks etc.) from my computer. Can't wait for the day when I can talk to my house and it talks back and if it could keep track of the tank all the better

[NaCl_H2O]

I was looking at the smarthome stuff last night. Pretty cool stuff ...

Careful, from my experience the X10 stuff is flakey. For controlling a light or two (maybe 6-8 units) it is fine, but whole house automation requires some serious investigation & installation. Command signals are injected onto your 110v house current at low amplitudes. All the electrical noise in a typical home (and esp. one with a reef: Fluorescent & MH ballasts) really messes up the X10 reliability.