{"product_id":"black-box-contactor-timer","title":"Black Box Contactor Timer – Grow Room Light Controller","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSwitch a full bank of grow lights from one timer, safely\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eBlack Box Contactor Timer\u003c\/strong\u003e is a wall-hung metal controller that switches several grow lights on and off together from one built-in \u003cstrong\u003eGrasslin segment timer\u003c\/strong\u003e. The timer only tells the unit when to switch; a \u003cstrong\u003eheavy-duty contactor\u003c\/strong\u003e carries the lighting load, so the start-up surge from \u003cstrong\u003eHID ballasts\u003c\/strong\u003e never passes through the timer's own contacts. Choose the \u003cstrong\u003e4 Way\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003e6 Way\u003c\/strong\u003e to suit your grow room, with a total capacity of \u003cstrong\u003e26 A\u003c\/strong\u003e fed through two supply leads.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtects the timer\u003c\/strong\u003e – the contactor takes the inrush current that burns out or welds the contacts of ordinary plug-in timers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUp to 26 A of lighting\u003c\/strong\u003e – four lights of up to \u003cstrong\u003e1000 W\u003c\/strong\u003e each, or six of up to \u003cstrong\u003e600 W\u003c\/strong\u003e on the 6 Way.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt-in Grasslin timer\u003c\/strong\u003e – set the light cycle once and every connected light follows it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoulded plugs and rubberised leads\u003c\/strong\u003e – tough cabling for a humid grow room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntegrated hanging bracket\u003c\/strong\u003e – mounts on a wall or batten, off the floor and away from water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy do plug-in timers fail on HID lighting?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHID ballasts draw a sharp surge of current at ignition, far above their running load. Plugged straight into a domestic timer or extension, that surge overheats the timer's contacts until they fail, leaving lights stuck on or off and the light cycle wrecked. A contactor splits the job: the timer switches a small control current and the heavy-duty contacts carry the lights – and the tangle of extension leads comes off the grow room floor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHang the unit on its bracket near the lights, off the floor and clear of water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the \u003cstrong\u003eGrasslin timer\u003c\/strong\u003e segments for the hours the lights should be on.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlug each ballast or LED driver into one of the timed sockets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlug both supply leads into wall sockets – the unit needs \u003cstrong\u003etwo plug-in points\u003c\/strong\u003e – never into an extension lead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the total load within \u003cstrong\u003e26 A\u003c\/strong\u003e: 4 Way up to \u003cstrong\u003e4 × 1000 W\u003c\/strong\u003e; 6 Way up to \u003cstrong\u003e6 × 600 W\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003e4 × 1000 W\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-specs\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e contactor timer with built-in Grasslin mechanical segment timer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVersions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 Way (four timed sockets) or 6 Way (six timed sockets)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4 Way capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 × 250 W, 400 W, 600 W or 1000 W lights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6 Way capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6 × 250 W, 400 W or 600 W lights, or 4 × 1000 W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum total load:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26 A\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupply:\u003c\/strong\u003e two leads with moulded UK plugs – two plug-in points required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSockets:\u003c\/strong\u003e UK 3-pin, switched by the timer through the contactor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeads:\u003c\/strong\u003e rubberised\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e integrated hanging bracket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStandards:\u003c\/strong\u003e built to CE standards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eHow many lights can I run from the 6 Way?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eSix lights of up to 600 W each, or four 1000 W lights. Whatever the mix, the total connected load must stay within 26 A.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhy does it need two wall sockets?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eThe unit has two supply leads so its 26 A capacity is shared between two sockets rather than loading one. Plug them into two wall sockets, never into an extension lead or adaptor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eCan I use it with LED grow lights?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eYes. Anything on a UK plug can be switched, and LED drivers also draw an inrush current at switch-on, so a contactor protects the timer in a room of large LED fixtures too – keep within 26 A.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eCan I run two different light schedules from one unit?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eNo. Every socket follows the one built-in timer. For a vegetative room and a flowering room on different light cycles, use a separate contactor for each.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWorks Well With\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-related\" style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin:12px 0 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/omega-black-600w-dimmable-kit\" style=\"flex:1 1 240px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;background:#fff;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/600w_Omega_BLack_Kit.webp?v=1752063840\u0026amp;width=160\" alt=\"Omega Black 600W Dimmable Kit\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:64px;height:64px;object-fit:contain;flex:none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"display:block;\"\u003eOmega Black 600W Dimmable Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:#008d37;\"\u003eDigital HPS kit to run from the timed sockets\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/omega-pro-v-600w-mechanical-light-kit\" style=\"flex:1 1 240px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;background:#fff;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/Omega-Pro-V-Mechanical-Lighting-kit-600w-medium_landscape.jpg?v=1746904655\u0026amp;width=160\" alt=\"Omega Pro-V 600W Mechanical Light Kit\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:64px;height:64px;object-fit:contain;flex:none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"display:block;\"\u003eOmega Pro-V 600W Mechanical Light Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:#008d37;\"\u003eMagnetic HPS kit – high start-up surge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Black Box","offers":[{"title":"4 Way","offer_id":53929870065930,"sku":"LGT-BLOX-001-01","price":54.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"6 Way","offer_id":53929870098698,"sku":"LGT-BLOX-001-02","price":74.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/black-box-contactor-timer-4-way-1.jpg?v=1792261074","url":"https:\/\/hydrocropshop.co.uk\/products\/black-box-contactor-timer","provider":"Hydro Crop Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}