Timer

[my way]

I'm looking for a timer that will shut OFF the power for up to an hour. I want to be able to turn off my pumps without fear of forgetting to turn them back on. I did this once with disasterous results. I lost 3 fish due to lack of oxygen. Any ideas where I could find something like this, or build one?

 

[seahorse06]

coralife power center, it's a dau/night timer or a wavemaker timer, it has 8 outlets 4 timer controled and 4 constat power. we'r getting one for $25 maybe 2 if i can talk her into more powerheads for the 90g. to make it a real surf tank

 

[sandiegan]

Forgot where I read about it, but they sell timer switches of the kind you often find at hotel hot tubs, where you twist for up to an hours worth of the swtich being on. They also sell these switches w/ the default position as on and the timed part being off.

 

[jakebtc]

those 5 $ ones from wall mart might work for what u want

 

[my way]

I guess I should be more specific. I don't want one that shut's things off at a preset time every day. I want one that I can use when I feed the tank, which I don't do at the exact time every day. sandiegan, I'll have to research hot tub timers, thanks.

 

[scsinet]

I don't think the product you want exists outside the realm of aquarium controllers and DIY. Here's one cheap way to get a solution though.
Get yourself an ordinary Intermatic/etc timer from just about anywhere. Get the kind that you have to insert the little plastic "on" and "off" clips onto the wheel. Next, remove all of the "off" clips and all but one of the "on" clips. Stick the "ON" clip anywhere on the wheel... say... 12:00AM. Plug your pumps in and turn the manual on/off toggle until your pumps turn on.
When you feed, dial the timer's wheel to (using the above example) 11:00 PM to allow yourself an hour, 10:00 PM to allow yourself two hours, etc, and manually toggle the timer to "off". When the hour, two hours, whatever passes, the "On" clip will turn the timer back on and you'll be in business. Since there are no "off" clips on the wheel, your timer will run and run and never shut the pumps off. As long as the timer is ON, the ON clip can pass by with no effect. Simple.

 

[sandiegan]

SCS has a good idea too. If you just take at trip to HD and try to explain to them what you want in the electrical/lighting dept. then they should have what you need.