light timer tripping a circuit

[fulcrum]

I have a grounded water proof timer for my metal halide ballast. When it turns the lights off it keeps tripping the ground fault interrupt cricuit in the room, which shuts down the whole tank (and all electrical outlets in the kitchen).
Has anyone else had this problem? How do you time your MH lights?
I cannot be here durin ghte day to turn them on and off regularly...and I dont want to run them for the whole time I'm at work.

 

[fulcrum]

Thanks Jackie,
These are those pain in the a$$ GCF outlets, that have the mini breaker built in between the plugs....its not even getting to the breaker box.
Unfortunately I'm in an apartment, and cannot alter the wiring to fit my needs!!!!!!
I know its because the current goes up when that last little mechanical contact is touching.
Does anyone know of an electronic timer as opposed to a mechanical one?

 

[sammystingray]

Wouldn't an electronic timer still just break the circuit to the lights just as a mechanical timer would? I have no idea, but here's a "bump" for you.

 

[fulcrum]

I'm thinking that the problem has to do with the fact that this type of mechanical switch has a metal contact that slowly slides over the rotary switch. When the last little bit of metal is touching, the current density goes way up...tripping the GCF.
I'm wondering if a solid state switch even exitsts, and if anyone would know if that would solve the problem...otherwise there is no way I can time the lights on my tank...which will suck.

 

[scotts]

Fulcrum,
e-mail me at scotts@valex.com I will send you the name of an electrical site. They have a message board and someone there may know. I will give you my user name and password. You might get more responses if you log in as me, than as a new person. Just don't pi$$ the guys on the board, they are all a bunch of great guys.
Scott

 

[fulcrum]

Thanks for the assist Scott. As it turns out I found a digital timer yesterday and it works like a charm.
I'm still pretty certain that the mechanical switch was the culprit.
Either way...problem solved.
Thanks guys

 

[serpentine5]

FALCUM,
Being an electrician, from what you have told us, I am guessing that the GFCI (GFI [Ground Fault Circut Interupt]) plug is being shorted by the old timer you were using. The GFI is not a circut breaker like the breakers in you electric panel are, but at the same time they are. A GFI is to prevent you from being shocked by using something that shorts out and causes a ground. I am guessing that at the time the timer is clicking off, it is also causing a ground short, therefore tripping the GFI. If you could trip the main breaker for that circut, remove the GFI and insert a receptical with a 20 amp rating I think that would take care of your problem. Seeing as you have replaced the timer already, Take the old timer and plug it back into the same GFI, set the timer to go off. Do not plug anything into the old timer. Let the timer go off, it should trip the GFI. If it does, plug it into a separate plug and do the same thing to see if it tripps the main braker. I dont think it will, but if it does you know that the Timer is real screwed. If it only trips the GFI, you know its just a little screwed, but in need of servicing/replacing. If it does not trip the GFI, then you are in need of looking into your light setup.
Post back after trying the experiments, and let us know how it goes.

 

[fulcrum]

Thanks Serpentine-
Unfortunately I am in an apartment, thus unable to do any rewiring myself.
This is also what prevents me from plumbing my own RO unit.
The new solid state timer works very well. I think the problem is solved for now.