Light Timers/dimmers?

[proton]

Ok, this might seem like a silly question, but can anyone give me tips how to setup my lights so that it switches on in the morning and then off in the evening by itself. I also want to know if anyone knows how to set it up so that the lights dim when it gets to switching off time and do the opposite for "sunrise" time.

 

[Joviella]

You buy timers and set them to the times you want your lights to come on,and turn off.

 

[JamesC]

I use an old central heating timer I had lying around the garage. I have 4 tubes in all above my tank. The hot water cycle turns on one tube first then 10 minutes later the central heating cycle turns on the other three tubes. Night time is the reverse. Works a treat, cheap to do and looks smart.

James

 

[proton]

Cool timers sound like a great idea, but anyone know about dimming? The reason I ask is that my Tetra's seem to "freak out" (they seem to break from shoaling and zip all over the place) when I switch off the lights? So I wanted to try to stop them from doing that.

 

[KimA]

Not sure about dimming the lights, but moonlights seem to help.

 

[raptorrex]

Cool timers sound like a great idea, but anyone know about dimming? The reason I ask is that my Tetra's seem to "freak out" (they seem to break from shoaling and zip all over the place) when I switch off the lights? So I wanted to try to stop them from doing that.

if you want to use a dimmer with fluresent lights you will need both a special dimmer unit and special lights!!!

if you have more than one tube running, and they each have their own unit, swithching one off then the other is the best you will do without a fair outlay of money.
as for timers, there are some very inexpensive mechanical timers out there! though the central heating time is a great idea!

 

[andywg]

Or, one could get a normal incandescant bulb purely to dim on and dim off through the approriate control of the power going into it. Just dim it on, let the other lights come in, and have it turn off. Then have it come on a little while before lights out, let the lights go off and have it dim down.

As mentioned, dimmable flourescant ballasts cost a fair whack.

 

[hoarp001]

You cant dim florecant tubes, they are either on are off.

The timers cost about a tenner and take five mins to set up....

 

[raptorrex]

You cant dim florecant tubes, they are either on are off.

The timers cost about a tenner and take five mins to set up....

you can but its expensive as mentiond in a couple of posts

 

[proton]

I guess timers will have to do for now....

 

[Joviella]

You cant dim florecant tubes, they are either on are off.

The timers cost about a tenner and take five mins to set up....

I got packs of 3 timers in Homebase for £9.99......so that £3.33 each!

 

[raptorrex]

You cant dim florecant tubes, they are either on are off.

The timers cost about a tenner and take five mins to set up....

I got packs of 3 timers in Homebase for £9.99......so that £3.33 each!

lol Argos do that too or £3.99 for 1.
also some electronic digital plug in timers for £9.99 for 2 they seemed good a seven day timer cycle. oops didnt look how many actions per day it could do.

 

[flying_babyb]

I know this probley isnt helpful but as a temperoary method till you can afford to get a dimmer you could try this: Get a lamp with a dimmer (a twenty at walmart) and use that.

 

[dewbo]

B&Q do a timed dimmer over 30 mins for childrens bedrooms, you might be able to mod it so it kicks in with an automatic timer. They are standard wall mounted light switches that cost a tenner and could go in the cabinate. Might be worth a look.

 

[Lateral Line]

B&Q do a timed dimmer over 30 mins for childrens bedrooms, you might be able to mod it so it kicks in with an automatic timer. They are standard wall mounted light switches that cost a tenner and could go in the cabinate. Might be worth a look.

And

I know this probley isnt helpful but as a temperoary method till you can afford to get a dimmer you could try this: Get a lamp with a dimmer (a twenty at walmart) and use that.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, you cannot use regular lamp dimmers, manual or timed, with fluorescent lamp ballasts. Fluorescents can be dimmed, but the control gear is more sophisticated, and cost considerable amounts.

You could mount an incandescent and use the dimmer/auto dimmer to control that.