Lighting Timer

[ShinySideUp]

I have a six foot tank and it has four 85w T5 lighting tubes in it. When all four are on it is too bright but because of the depth of the tank I realise that it will not be tto bright for the lower plants. What I want to do is to have two tubes on for the longest time, two tubes to come on for about three hours a day in addition to the first two and then later on to have some moonlight lights come on just before all the other lighting goes out.
 
At the moment I am using three separate timers but ti's a bit of a pain as they take up so much room (they won't fit in adjacent sockets the extension panel has to have eight sockets of which I use only three). Does anyone make a device that has one timer but controls at least three devices separately?

 

[DrRob]

energenie make a programmable extension block. 6 sockets than can be programmed to come on and off via USB. Not the cheapest piece of kit and still not the smallest but might be what you're after.
 
I can also get times in adjacent sockets in the extension blocks with switches, so a 4 gang switched may work for you.

 

[daizeUK]

I've seen several aquarist shops sell this sort of thing:  http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/fish-tank-equipment/aquarium-lighting/lighting-and-electrical-accessories/4-gang-socket-with-timer-arcadia-classica.html

 

[dgwebster]

I've seen several aquarist shops sell this sort of thing:  http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/fish-tank-equipment/aquarium-lighting/lighting-and-electrical-accessories/4-gang-socket-with-timer-arcadia-classica.html

This controls all 4 sockets via one timer, not independently.

I am currently building a raspberry pi powered system for my exotic pets, but even that is not cheap. Its really the relays and interfacing that costs the money.

For a really cheap solution, get to your local trade electrical supplier and buy a bunch of double gang switched sockets and pattress boxes and some 1.5mm 3 core flex. Daisy chain them together (they wire up like a reversed plug) and you have plenty of space for individual timers now (these are basically your double wall sockets, but instead of fitting to a wall you are putting a pretty white box on the back.)

I have 6 sockets fitted this way, oddles of space and cost me less than a tenner! I was also able to custom fit a 4m flex to plug it in far away.

 

[the_lock_man]

How much is a 240v relay then?

 

[dgwebster]

Its not the voltage, but the power that define their overall cost. For example im looking to push 600W through a single relay, so I am about £8 for one that can do this. But that is just the relay. Im controlling this via usb interface as well so software can monitor the temperature & humidity and do things like turn on the heater, spray a mister, alert me via email & text about any dangers etc. The price per unit right now is about the same as just buying a retail thermostat system for reptiles. Eventually though I hope to be able to get more functionality.