hi, Recantly i purchased one Electronic timer with 25 A load capacity (25A relay contact to switch the AC line) for my hoarding lighting. I am using 5 150W Metal-Halide lamps for hoardings, so total load of 750W. I set the on-time 6.00 PM and off-time as 10.00 PM. When the timer switching on the Lamps (Metal halide) the timer is getting reset to zero. Again i set the time and tested. But the same problem happaned. So i removed the timer and tested by connecting 10 100W bulbs. But the timer was not showing problem with Bulbs. It worked perfectly. Is this a problem with timer or Metal halide lamps? Please help me finding a solution for this..
Using Electronic Timer for Metal-Halide lamps
Sep 18, 2006
7 Replies
What's the motor rating? The lamp rating?
hi, Homer
Lamp rat>
You can't run a lamp load of 750W with a switch rated for 150W.
It might be the lamp ignition that is causing the problem. A bit of either conducted or radiated EMI. Try fitting some form of suppression at the timer.
Graham H
Metal halide lamps can generate a lot of RFI/EMI. They may have an electronic ballast, and they all use some sort of hi voltage ignition. Your electronic timer may be susceptable.
Possible remedies:
*line filter (that can handle the power) between lights and timer *line filter just on timer power, use the timer to drive an external relay *use a cheap electromechanical timer 5 bux at WalMart.I was having a similar issue with using some metal-halides with an outdoor motion-sensor recently. I just went back to incandescents and ignored it, figuring it was just trying to draw too much power from the motion-sensor's switch/relay. :-/
-Drew
snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:
Surge? If so, you'll need something with adequate duty contacts or some way such as a sequencer to turn each lamp on one after another instead of all at once. At least, put each HID unit on its own relay.
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required