Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Just buy a short interval timer on Amazon. They're $10.
Testing HLG's far red light
- Thread starter Thegermling
- Start date
Keesje
Well-Known Member
OK, but does that have a light sensor as well?
I think it is important that the timer reacts to 'lights out'.
Otherwise there is a chance that the far red leds will be turned on when your main lights are still on.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Sure does if you get the century. Or the Titan controller. They're only $30=
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Keesje
Well-Known Member
This one only will work like this:
ON & OFF REPEATED: Set your appliance to cycle in intervals, turning on between 5sec - 30min, and off between 5sec - 60min
So when your main lights will turn off, perhaps this timer will turn on your far red leds. They will stay on for example for 5 minutes and then turn off. But after a maximum interval of 60 minutes they will be turned on again. That is not what you want.
You need a timer that 'recognises' that the main lights are off, and then immediately will turn on the far red leds for 1,2, 5, 10 or 15 minutes. And then will turn off, and will not be turned on again for 24 hours.
On Amazon I did not find such a timer.
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Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Just do it the way I do it.
Get a mechanical timer like you got on your lights, with 15 min intervals.
Once lights out is getting close, turn the timer to click on to the ONE SINGLE tab that's pushed up.
Then you can set length of time to what you want.
I waited 5 minutes, then manually turned the main light timer to click off. Far reds stay on for 10 more minutes.
I check it every week and they stay perfectly synced.
Keesje
Well-Known Member
If they stay synced this is a good way to do it.
But I am wondering if they are that perfect. They look so simple.
But to be honest, I never timed them.
I modified a lot of timers (the ones with the pins) from 24 hours timers to 38 minute timers. And when you open them up, it looks like some plastic stuf that you expect in a cheap toy.
But I am wondering if they are that perfect. They look so simple.
But to be honest, I never timed them.
I modified a lot of timers (the ones with the pins) from 24 hours timers to 38 minute timers. And when you open them up, it looks like some plastic stuf that you expect in a cheap toy.
So you have an overlap of 5 minutes? (where both your main lights and far red lights are on)
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Yep. That's right. Plus I've used these same harbor freight timers for years with zero issues. I think just running a good power Brick surge protector off it to plug everything into is the way to go.
Thegermling
Well-Known Member
I have two of these timers (https://www.amazon.com/Multifunctional-Infinite-Programmable-Appliances-Energy-saving/dp/B01G6O28NA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12I9Z7SSJMEN6&keywords=nearpow+timer&qid=1554340601&s=gateway&sprefix=nearpow+,aps,248&sr=8-1) and plan on using it to make a new far red light until I get an answer from hlg on where to buy the photosensitive circuit.
You can set those timers to go on after lights go out for even a second if you wanted to. They can be programmed to go on for up to 3 times a day. I was initially going to use them for drip irrigation but 3 daily timings was too low.
You can set those timers to go on after lights go out for even a second if you wanted to. They can be programmed to go on for up to 3 times a day. I was initially going to use them for drip irrigation but 3 daily timings was too low.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Those are the Exact ones I was mentioning at first. They come with Orange Buttons, too
Thegermling
Well-Known Member
End of week 2 for the sundae driver today.
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Shes already tripled in size. This week Ill leave her alone and shell grow even more quadrupling in size. As you can see far red at certain time lengths can let you put in plants smaller than expected and they will blow up depending on length of how long the far red is on. These plants get fed every two hours as well and they are in a one gallon "fabric bag" that offers very good air supplementation to my coco. The bags are called Radicle bags. I grow in pure coco too. Maybe its all these things that have made my plants grow that big.
Anyone else have plants do this? Air walker and random blame, do you guys see this much "stretching/growth" with far reds?
Day 8
Day 9 Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Shes already tripled in size. This week Ill leave her alone and shell grow even more quadrupling in size. As you can see far red at certain time lengths can let you put in plants smaller than expected and they will blow up depending on length of how long the far red is on. These plants get fed every two hours as well and they are in a one gallon "fabric bag" that offers very good air supplementation to my coco. The bags are called Radicle bags. I grow in pure coco too. Maybe its all these things that have made my plants grow that big.
Anyone else have plants do this? Air walker and random blame, do you guys see this much "stretching/growth" with far reds?
Observe & Report
Well-Known Member
Yes they are complete crap inside but the most critical part, the frequency standard, comes from the power and is identical for both timers.
At least thats how I think they work, using the AC frequency to drive the mechanism. If they were just using a motor and a mechanical escapement then they would diverge really quickly. Even a fine Swiss mechanical watch can be off by several minutes a month.
TheTinkerer
Active Member
I made this little cutie today. 12 watts. Ignore the wirenuts, wagos are on the way.
I won’t start using it for another week or so.
I won’t start using it for another week or so.
Attachments
TheTinkerer
Active Member
I’m ready to flip, today or tomorrow. I’ll shut off the light at the end of their day and I’ll give them 24-36 hours of dark.
When should I start using the far red? At the end of their last day of veg, or at the end of their first short day?
Also, they’re on 18.5/5.5 currently; shall I go right to 13.5/10.5 , or should I start at 12/12 and gradually shorten the nights? Probably just go right to 13.5/10.5, yeah?
When should I start using the far red? At the end of their last day of veg, or at the end of their first short day?
Also, they’re on 18.5/5.5 currently; shall I go right to 13.5/10.5 , or should I start at 12/12 and gradually shorten the nights? Probably just go right to 13.5/10.5, yeah?
Thegermling
Well-Known Member
Why would you do that?
I had my plant in 24/0 and put her straight into the flower chamber as soon as it was ready to go in.
Theres a few light schedules I want to try.
Heres captain morgans far red schedule (I think he was 5 minutes of far red)
and groerrs light schedule
Im on 12/12 and as captain morgan has stated, it still finishes faster. I think Ill try his other schedule after im done with the comp. He added the 14 or 13.5 hours in the middle of flower and it added more weight to his flowers.
TheTinkerer
Active Member
It is commonly believed that 24-36 hours of darkness will speed the flowering initiation process. Do you think otherwise?
Thegermling
Well-Known Member
End of week 3 today on the sundae driver. Here is this weeks photos.
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 15
Day 16 Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Thegermling
Well-Known Member
Ive never heard of that. Ive heard that plants in 20/4 light schedule do initiate flower faster so id have to look into it.
TheTinkerer
Active Member
I can’t find any science that supports the theory that a prolonged darkness will speed flower initiation. As usual, I find lots of opinion and anecdotal evidence.
But I’m probably gonna do it on this run.
But I’m probably gonna do it on this run.
That's right, mechanical timers have synchronous motors and the AC frequency is very closely controlled.... generators on a grid must stay in phase!