Light Timer help?

[JokerWx13]

I'm planning on getting a timer for my solarmax t5he with 2 bulbs. i was wondering if there was a timer that would

a) turn on one light at one time and then turn on the other at a different time.

b) turn the lights on for 4 hours, go off for 1, then turn on for another 4 hours?

and if they require a switch to turn on the lights, would the timer still work? i really need help to understand how these timers work :/

 

[Rutrag]

The most common timers just turn the power to an outlet on and off at specified times. To get more than one "on" and one "off" in a day is likely going to be harder to find. I think there are some programmable digital ones out there that will do that, but they will be significantly more expensive than a basic timer. The cheapest of timers have a rotating dial that is kind of like a 24 hour clock with pegs that slide into place for on and off. I suppose if you really needed the kind of control you're talking about you could buy a couple of the same type to steal the pegs from one to add onto the one you'll be using.

I'm not familiar with the solarmax fixture. If it was just plugged into the wall (no timer), can you turn each bulb on and off independently? If not, the timer can't do it for you either. If you can, does the fixture operate off of only one cord, or does it have two? If it only has one cord, then the timer can't control both lamps independently.

You also asked about if the fixture required a switch to turn the lights on and off, would a timer work? I assume you mean a switch on the fixture. If I understand you correctly, then you would just leave the fixture switch on, plug the fixture into the timer, set the timer as desired, and plug the timer into the wall. If you meant that the outlet was controlled by a wall switch, the you'd have to leave the wall switch in the on position.

 

[JokerWx13]

thanks, you cleared a bunch of questions for me! only disappointed that i can't turn each on independently :/ bummer, but that doesn't matter, the uses far outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[JokerWx13]

oh and do you know a good place to get one?

 

[Rutrag]

A big box store or any hardware store should have a basic timer for around $6.