Newbie Question: Putting Lights on a timer.

[maybabybeardie]

So I've been reading posts for weeks, but have never posted before!
Hello!
My daughters are dragon lovers, and now so am I! We started out with Crested Geckos(2), and we have 2 dragons, I think we will have a 3rd after the show in Reading this weekend- I'd like to put all the lights on a timer, I've read here alot of people use them. I haven't been able to locate any- Lowes and Home Depot were sold out in December....Christmas lights! So I'm not sure what to look for.
The girls have convinced their dad to build them a Dragon Condo, I want something I can use now and when the condo is built. Each dragon has their own 55 gallon tank- and 3 lights- uvb, basking, and regular bulb for cool side- oh and the 2 share a CHE( have it on a light stand) for when the room temps are really cold at night to keep it around 68- this doesn't need to be on the timer.

Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks
Judy

 

[remi1]

Hello!
So I bought my timers at walmart. They can be found in the lighting/hardware-ish section. I had troubles finding it the first time I looked and just asked the guy at the paint counter. Last time I looked they had two that weren't digital, I got the one that has a gray dial and a plug in for a grounded power strip (three holes instead of two like the other one). Hope this helps!

 

[maybabybeardie]

Thank you- I'll check Walmart. I did try Target but didn't see anything there.

 

[egriep6]

I ran around and around before I could find my timer last summer. The first timer I tried was from my parents garage (had to be at least 10 years old)... it didn't work, at all. So I thought I'd be fancy and buy one of those digital timers where you can set the on and off time precisely... the problem with those that I found is that they store and internal battery. Beware on these that if the battery comes loose the timer will stop all together. I finally settled on the old fashioned clicker type(push in the buttons when you want it on, pull them up when you want it off). And now that I think of it there is the peg type too. It's slightly less expensive but theres a chance you might lose a peg. Both of these will make a ticking noise as the dial spins( which is sometimes annoying if you're trying to sleep in the same room). Hope I could help with some of the pros and cons to each style.

Rosie

 

[maybabybeardie]

Thank you- I remember we had one hard wired to our pool filter that had the pegs you were talking about.
We don't sleep in that room- its the Lizard Lounge.....!

 

[beardieluv]

I was just at walmart and some some non digital light timers for less than 3 bucks! Look in the hardware section

 

[diamc]

Moved here from General Discussion forum