Reef Menu

Site Search

Advertisement

Lighting System Gallery

AB Aquaspace Cooling System
AB Aquaspace Light
DIY (Do it Yourself) Dual T5 SLR Light Hood
Dual T5 SLR Light Hood Lighting Fixture Hanger
AB Aquaspace Light - Rewiring Project

IceCap Digital Timer

I used to control my metal halide lights with the IceCap, Inc. digital timer. If you have been in this hobby for a while, I'm sure you have blown several timers. The generic timers just are not able to withstand sudden current draw of a high powered lighting system like metal halide or VHO. (It could be that most timers are just cheaply made.) One solution for this is to use a heavy-duty application timer. These are sometimes used to power air conditioner units and other high current applications. I used heavy duty application timers before on other reef tanks I had in the past. They worked well for VHO lights.

In setting up my 180 gallon tank. I knew I wanted to use metal halide lights. I knew I wanted to try IceCap's Electronic Ballasts. I figure what better timer to use than IceCap's? It's a nice solution when you can get all your parts from a single vendor. No finger pointing when something stops working.  One timer controls one lighting ballast.

Features of IceCap Digital Timers

  • Program up to 6 settings per day
  • Single or multi-day time settings
  • Easy to read liquid crystal display
  • Back-up battery to maintain the timer's memory
  • Automatic recharge for the back-up battery
  • Contact terminal block for easy installation
  • On/Off Switches
  • Built-in LCD back-light, used to read in the dark.