Need help troubleshooting Helix DBS1000!

[Bristen]

Hi everyone,

I've recently received my first two Helix DBS1000... I setup my DBS1000 on my rack to control my hotspots... I have a timer cord and a digital programmable timer (3-pin) setup as well for night-time drops.

The folks at Helix (which I will attempt to call on Friday if I can't resolve this before that time.. I doubt I will be able to call them sooner), said that digital timers prefer to have a load on them so I had initially plugged a 4W "night-light". Because things did not work properly, I plugged in a 40W red bulb instead, but this did not rectify the problem.

The problem appears to be that once the timer kicks on at 5pm (to trigger the night-time temperature drop on the hot spots), it seems to be on only for a few hours then it kicks off. If I manually set it back on, it appears to be ok for a little while, but I'm suspecting that doesn't keep the night-time temp drop all night... this is bad because my hotspots are probably too warm at night and all this bouncing around is probably not good for the snakes in the rack :-(

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Bristen.

[BoidKeeper]

They told me at Helix to use a machanical timer. I have to set it up in reverse. When the timer clicks on it turns the helix down.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Bristen]

Originally posted by BoidKeeper
They told me at Helix to use a machanical timer. I have to set it up in reverse. When the timer clicks on it turns the helix down.
Cheers,
Trevor

hmm.. interesting.. mechanical instead of the digital one.. I had the digital one already, so that's why I used it.. they didn't tell me on the phone not to use it though...

as far as having it setup in "reverse", there is no option there.. that's what I have also.. when the timer goes on, it triggers the night-time drop... however, it appears like it won't stay on very long... the timer worked fine by itself, it only started acting weird once plugged into the Helix... not sure why...??

Thanks,
Bristen.

[BoidKeeper]

Like I said it was Jeff at Helix who told me not to use digital timers. I told you this already a long time ago in an email and yet here you are complaining about your digital!lol Tisk tisk tisk.
Lead a horse to water...
Just kidding man,
Trevor

[Bristen]

Originally posted by BoidKeeper
Like I said it was Jeff at Helix who told me not to use digital timers. I told you this already a long time ago in an email and yet here you are complaining about your digital!lol Tisk tisk tisk.
Lead a horse to water...
Just kidding man,
Trevor

hehe.. everybody wants to be a comedian for some reason heh...

I also talked to Jeff, and he just told me to make sure the digital timer has a "load".. he said plugging in a small bulb will do the trick... he did not tell me NOT to use the digital timer, but did say a mechanical one is what they normally recommend.. oh well, I'll just get a mechanical one on the weekend I guess...

later,
Bristen.

[BoidKeeper]

but did say a mechanical one is what they normally recommend..
And on that note if I was still a mod this thread would be closed.lol
Cheers,
Trevor
PS
I tease cause I care Bristen. When I stop teasing that means we're in a grade school style fight!

[Bristen]

lol, no sweat.. even though I'm a small man, I have thick skin :-P

Unless I hear something else from Helix themselves, we'll consider this thread closed heh.

Thanks,
Bristen.