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Using Electronic Timer for Metal-Halide lamps

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..

Reply to
raseelmusl
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What's the motor rating? The lamp rating?

Reply to
Homer J Simpson

hi, Homer

Lamp rat>

Reply to
raseelmusl

You can't run a lamp load of 750W with a switch rated for 150W.

Reply to
Homer J Simpson

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

Reply to
Graham Holloway

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.
Reply to
Don Foreman

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:

Reply to
Studio271

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.

Reply to
Father Haskell

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