Cheap Timers

[jimmyringo]

I have my lights and an air pump on digital timers to come on and off themselves at certain times.One of them packed in yesterday so i went down to B&Q and they are selling timers(the Clock type ones) for £1.I bought one and it works perfectly and is completely silent.

So if you're looking for a cheap timer in the UK..............B&Q £1.

Jimmyringo

 

[helterskelter]

You dont work for them do u?

 

[Malfie]

Wow.............

That's amazing.I bought a pack of three from QD last week for £7.99 and I thought that was good.

Malfie

 

[keenonfish]

Cool! Personally I would only use the mechanical ones for switching stuff like ballasts and leave digital ones to bedside lights etc so this is a bargain!

BTW are they in the bargain bucket or in the electrical section?

 

[jimmyringo]

No,i don't work for them


and in the Derry store there were about 100 of them in a big bargain section 'EVERYTHING £1'. If i get the chance i'll be going back for a couple of spares

 

[Schmill]

Incidently 2 out of 3 'clockwork' timers that I bought, (not B&Q), have gone faulty, one with the internal switching, and one with the segments not staying locked, whereas I bought 6 digital timers from Argos and they are still going strong, (and also a LOT easier to synchronise )

 

[onebto]

I think this is a case of both Digital and mechanical timers are as good as each other excluding the price .

The important thing to think about is the load on the timer . If you have your Lights on a timer okay if you have pumps and Lights and other items running of just one timer just check they do not overload the manufacturers maximum load recommendations as this will ware the very cheap components (as cheap as they can make them) inside and you will end up with a restricted running life on your timer.

Overloaded electrical components can also be a fire hazard ! I do not want to bore or scare anyone this is meant to help those not in the know but if you draw to much load through an electrical component it will heat up and over a period of time components can degenerate and in the worst case scenario catch fire so check the maximum loads of the timer and the items you are connecting to them a simple rule of thumb is if the clock is getting hot whilst running (maximum run time if it is less) then it would be advised to spread the load with another timer

This would also be a good idea to bare in mind with the multiple socket extension lead running out of one plug point that goes behind or below your tank it is not a good idea to have to many plugs running of it fortunately the fuses in the plugs (if there the correct one's ? never oversize your fuses) and the RCD's in most modern houses supply distribution boxes will keep you safe

But at £1 a pop everyone's a winner and you can afford to get a couple of them nice find jimmyringo

 

[flash22]

I Always go for the digital timers myself its suprising the amount of people who not use timers at all

Some of the mech timers have a low rating (3-400w some of them) where as most of the digital ones do 3-3.5 Kw most have switching relays

 

[keenonfish]

Incidently 2 out of 3 'clockwork' timers that I bought, (not B&Q), have gone faulty, one with the internal switching, and one with the segments not staying locked, whereas I bought 6 digital timers from Argos and they are still going strong, (and also a LOT easier to synchronise )

I found exactly the opposite! When I had an Iggy I found that the digital timers didn't like noisy loads like ballasts and have always failed after a while (freezing and other odd symptoms) whereas my mech. timers have gone on for years! Oh and it was properly rated, in fact surprisingly so for the size of the relay!

I would give digitals a chance again but tbh they are often three times the price and you really don't need the days & random control etc with a fish tank so I will stay manual for now I think

 

[T1KARMANN]

why would you want to put you air pump on a timer don't you fish breath at night

the big highs and lows of air can be enough to kill some fish

 

[keenonfish]

why would you want to put you air pump on a timer don't you fish breath at night

the big highs and lows of air can be enough to kill some fish

I took it to mean air pumps for decorative purposes...?

 

[jimmyringo]

why would you want to put you air pump on a timer don't you fish breath at night

the big highs and lows of air can be enough to kill some fish

Some people like bubbles,but not all the time.

 

[onebto]

Bubbles are cool

 

[SuperColey1]

All 8 of mine are mechanical ones - No problems with any of them. Easier to use than digital ones and as a user above say cheaper with no need for 7 day settings.

AC

 

[Colts]

if you're looking for a cheap timer in the UK..............B&Q £1.
Jimmyringo

Thanks Jimmyringo,

I've just bought 3 timers. One for lights, one for CO2 and, one spare.

I've always used digital timers but the one I'm currently using is too bulky so stops me from plugging in next to it. Poor design!

If the timers fail within a year then I'll keep the receipt and get a refund. If they fail after this time then I think I'll have gotten my money's worth out of them

These B & Q timers are mini versions and will take a 13Amp load.