Description
Feed Little and Often Instead of Drowning the Pot
The Imperium Feed Duration Timer comes in two models. The Standard is a single outlet feed duration controller that gives you irrigation timing down to the second. The Imperium unit works alongside a segmental timer, which handles when a feed starts, while the controller sets exactly how long it runs, anywhere from 1 second to 15 minutes. There are 28 feed duration options and a push button to switch between minutes and seconds, so you can match feed length to the life stage of the crop and change it as roots develop. The Plus is a self-contained double outlet unit with a Grasslin segmental timer built in and two sockets, so one box sets both the frequency and the duration of every feed. Both are made in the UK by Global Air Supplies.
Key Benefits
- 1 second to 15 minutes of adjustable feed duration from one dial
- 28 feed duration options, enough resolution to tune a schedule properly
- Minutes/seconds push button for quick changes without recalculating anything, with an LED showing which mode is set
- Matches feeds to life stage, from short bursts on young plants to longer runs in late flower
- Larger yields from shorter, more frequent feeds, using your existing segmental timer (Standard) or the built-in Grasslin timer (Plus)
- Cancel Feed setting stops a feed that has already started, and the next one runs as normal
- Up to 800 W of connected load, ample for a feed pump or solenoid valve
Are Your Roots Sitting Wet Between Feeds?
Standard segmental timers bottom out at a 15 minute feed, which is why so many growers end up feeding 15 minutes, twice a day. That leaves media saturated and oxygen starved, giving weak roots, poor nutrient uptake and low yields. Splitting the same volume into shorter events, for example 5 minutes, six times a day, keeps the root zone moist without going anaerobic. Better oxygen at the roots means stronger root development and steadier growth in coco, rockwool and other drip-fed media.
How to Use
- Standard – wire in line between your segmental timer and the pump or solenoid, setting start times on the timer as usual: plug the Imperium into the timer, the timer into the mains and the pump or solenoid into the Imperium, then push out one segment per feed
- Plus: set the clock on the built-in Grasslin timer, push out one segment for each feed start, set its switch to the timer position and plug your pump or pumps into the two sockets
- Select the duration on the Imperium controller, from 1 second to 15 minutes
- Use the push button to switch the display between minutes and seconds (press the dial); the MIN or SEC LED lights to confirm the mode
- Propagation and early veg: short, frequent feeds of a few seconds to encourage root searching
- Established plants: lengthen the duration as root mass and pot size increase
- Check run-off after any change to the schedule
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Imperium (made in the UK by Global Air Supplies)
- Type: feed duration controller
- Duration range: 1 second to 15 minutes
- Duration settings: 28 options
- Controls: push button for minutes/seconds; Cancel Feed position on the dial
- Indicators: Power, Min/Sec and Feed Pump LEDs
- Maximum load: 800 W
- Power supply: 230 V AC ±10%, 50 Hz, pre-wired 3-pin UK plug
- Plug fuse: 3 A
- Use: indoors only
- Warranty: 2 years (maker's terms)
| By size | Standard Single Outlet | Plus Double Outlet, Built-in Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Outlets | 1 socket | 2 sockets, dust covers |
| Segmental timer | separate, not included | built-in |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Standard and the Plus?
The Standard is an inline controller with one socket that only sets how long each feed runs, so it needs a separate segmental timer to start the feeds. The Plus has a Grasslin segmental timer built in and two sockets, so one unit sets both when feeds start and how long they last.
Do I need a separate timer?
Only with the Standard model: plug it into a segmental timer that has one segment pushed out for each feed. The Plus does not need one, because the timer is built into the unit.
Do the two sockets on the Plus run on separate schedules?
No. Both sockets are switched by the one built-in timer and the one duration dial, so they turn on and off together. That suits two pumps, or a pump and a solenoid, feeding on the same schedule.
What can I run from it?
Any mains device under 800 W, which in practice means a feed pump or solenoid valve on a drip or dripper system. On the Plus, keep the combined load of both sockets within 800 W.
Can I stop a feed once it has started?
Yes. Turn the dial to Cancel Feed to stop the running cycle, then turn it back to your chosen duration and the next feed runs as normal.
Works Well With
