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I am interested in minimum suggested ratings and gauges for a timer supporting a 250w digital ballast for mh/hps convertable light.

I ask cuz the timer being used is a Utilitech 2-outlet timer rated as 12VAC,60HHz, 15A / 125VAC,60Hz,1250W Tungsten / 125VAC,60Hz,1/2HP. This must be compatible with my little light and is not the reason for it going out unexpectedly? There are 2 3-prong outlets on the timer and I am only using one. I have everything else (supporting cfl's) on a seperate timer (same make and model) on the same surge protector strip.

The light initially was out when I got home last night. I switched to the other outlet on the timer and the mh light came back on. This morning when the mh was suposed to be fired up it was not. I plugged straight into the strip for the time being and the light is back on.

If not the timer, what else might I need to pay attention too?

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Just a box of rain - wind and water -
Believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on.
Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there.

BUT....is that other strip on the same circuit in the home? It may be that the combined power draw is too much for the timer to handle. Just a thought

Never had a 250w lite, but a 400w draws only 4.3 amps on a 120v circuit, so a 250 must only be drawing around 2.5/3 amps.

Sounds like the timer took a dump on ya, but i sure would carefully check to make sure there isnt any overheating anywhere else for the light wiring and ballast.

Intermatic DT17 digital timers do a great job for us, and theyre about $15. Can be sorta hard to find tho. Lowes dosent carry them, Menards has them now and then, haveent looked Home Depot cause there are none close by.

Good advice. I will look into the overheating issues, but I really hope it is just the timer. Everything else is looking so great at the moment...

__________________
Just a box of rain - wind and water -
Believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on.
Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there.

Just another thought....is maybe the batteries are weak, if it has one/some.

No batteries, so that is not it. Also, I know it is not the timer cuz I got one at the hydro store that the store person recommended and the light is still not behaving consistantly.

The light was not on this morning nor was it on when I got home last night. This is really getting me down. I have the light in the car and will go to the hydro store on my lunch break. I hope they have something in stock I can take home today.

It is just weird, I will come home and the MH bulb will not be on but then I can take out the MH bulb and put in the HPS bulb and it will work. I then turn off, let cool, and put the MH bulb back in, turn back on and everything looks groovy. But then it will not ignite in the morning. I am so confussed and fustrated and depressed. I know this will get worked out one way or another and I am glad to have this happen in the seedling/veg stage as opposed to the flower stage, but still...

__________________
Just a box of rain - wind and water -
Believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on.
Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there.

Well, It used to be that a HPS bulb needed more power to fire up compared to a MH, so HPS ballasts have/had something called an 'ignitor' thats used for the initial power up of the bulb. Dont know if the new digital ballasts are the same way. I'm sure the store will be able to tell you for sure. They can swap out parts until they figure it out. God luck

Went to the store and they let me swap out for a complete new system and bulbs. I thought that was really cool of them; no hassles or anything!

Here is hoping the new setup is problem free!

__________________
Just a box of rain - wind and water -
Believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on.
Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there.