Description
Switch a Bank of Grow Lights Safely From One Simple Timer
The LUMii BLACK Contactor Timer pairs a mechanical 24-hour timer with a relay switch, so every light plugged into it comes on and goes off together. The timer only tells the relay when to switch and the relay carries the load, so the start-up surge from HID ballasts never passes through the timer. Ballasts plug into lightweight, flexible 4-socket power bars – one on the 4 Way, two on the 8 Way – each rated at 13 A. It is a simple, low-cost way to automate the light cycle in a grow tent or grow room.
Key Benefits
- Protects the timer – the relay takes the ballast start-up current, not the timer contacts.
- 15-minute programming – push down a pin for each on period around the 24-hour dial.
- 13 A per power bar – up to 3 × 600 W, 4 × 400 W or 4 × 315 W lights on each 4-socket bar.
- On, off and timer modes – override the schedule by hand while you work.
- Flexible power bar – sockets sit by the ballasts, with no extension leads across the floor.
Why Plug-In Timers Fail Under Grow Lights
An HID ballast draws a sharp surge of current each time it strikes. Plug several into an ordinary segment timer and those surges pit and weld its contacts until lights stick on, stay off or drop out mid-cycle. Missed or doubled light periods upset the photoperiod and stress plants through vegetative growth and flowering. With a contactor, only a small control current runs through the timer and the relay switches the heavy load, so the schedule you set is the one your plants get.
How to Use
- Set the timer: push down a pin for every 15 minutes the lights should be on, then turn the dial to the current time.
- Select timer mode: move the switch to its centre position.
- Connect the lights: plug ballasts or LED drivers into the power bar within the per-bar limits above.
- Power up: use a 13 A wall socket for each power bar, never an extension lead or adaptor.
- Position it safely: keep the unit and power bar off the floor, clear of water and irrigation lines.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: LUMii (BLACK range)
- Type: contactor timer – mechanical timer with relay switch
- Timer: 24-hour mechanical dial, programmable in 15-minute increments
- Switch modes: on, off and timer
- Outputs: UK 3-pin sockets on flexible 4-socket power bars, 13 A per bar – 4 Way: one bar (4 sockets); 8 Way: two bars (8 sockets)
- Recommended maximum per 4-socket bar: 3 × 600 W, 4 × 400 W or 4 × 315 W
- 8 Way at that maximum: 6 × 600 W, 8 × 400 W or 8 × 315 W across its two bars
- Mains input: one 13 A UK plug for each power bar – the 8 Way needs two 13 A wall sockets
- Suitable for: HID ballasts (HPS, MH and CDM/CMH) and LED grow lights on UK plugs
- Housing: enclosed unit with a clear timer cover and cable glands
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lights can I run from one power bar?
LUMii recommend no more than three 600 W, four 400 W or four 315 W lights on each 4-socket power bar. That keeps the bar inside its 13 A rating with headroom for the ballasts' start-up current.
Can I use it with LED grow lights?
Yes. Any grow light on a standard UK plug can be switched, as long as the total stays within 13 A per power bar. LED drivers also draw a brief surge at switch-on, so the relay protects the timer in an LED room too.
Can one unit run two different light schedules?
No. Every socket follows the one timer. A vegetative area and a flowering area on different photoperiods each need their own contactor timer.
Works Well With
