Homemade feeding timer

[Echale3]

If anybody is interested, here's how to make a feeding timer using parts you can get on Amazon or Lowes/Home Depot.

You'll need a 2-gang box similar to this one: https://www.lowes.com/pd/TayMac-2-G...ard-Switch-Outlet-Wall-Electrical-Box/4005491

Extension Cord: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-8-ft-16-3-Outdoor-Extension-Cord-in-White-277563/301132618

(cut the outlet end off, you'll use this to power the feeding timer)

Wall Plate like this one: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-2-Gang-White-Wall-Plate/1003201118

Outlet (can use a GFCI if you want): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-White-15-Amp-Decorator-Outlet-Residential-Outlet/1001438384

Push Button Timer like this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/TORK-Digital-Countdown-Lighting-Timer/1000341275

Waterproof conduit fitting like this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sigma-Electric-ProConnex-1-2-in-Cord-Grip-Connector-Conduit-Fitting/3150211

Power Relay, 120V SPDT, I used this one: https://us.rs-online.com/product/american-zettler-inc-/az2280-1c-120af/70132401/

You can also find the same relay on Amazon.com or eBay.

Female Disconnectors (to attach wires to the relay): https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-12-Count-Disconnects-Wire-Connectors/3127721

I've attached a drawn schematic in .pdf format to use.

As for the relay, the Com, NO (Normally Open) and NC (Normally Closed) on the one I used are marked as such, but the two sides of the coil (where the red and white wires attach in the schematic) aren't marked. I attached a picture of the relay I used showing the connections -- the solenoid coil connections are the unmarked ones on the left.

The cool thing about this is that you can press any of the preset timer buttons, and shut off whatever's on that circuit for the amount of time the preset is for. If you need to turn the power back on early, just push the big button at the bottom of the timer I linked to and the power comes back on.

The way I hooked this up was to plug the timer into the wall, and run a power strip off the outlet the timer controls. I plugged my return pump and my power heads into that power strip, so with the push of one button, I can turn them all off for a preset amount of time.

I also made a delay on timer with a different relay that I have my ATO and my protein skimmer plugged into. It allows you to set the amount of delay between the pump and powerheads coming on and the ATO/skimmer coming back on. I hated having to unplug the ATO each time I hit the pump shut-off to keep the alarm from going off, so I made the equivalent of the Reef Octopus Skimmer Delay timer that has two outlets. I'll do up a parts list and a schematic in a separate post.

 

[blaxsun]

So what does the end product look like?

 

[Nano_Man]

 

[Echale3]

I'll post a pic of the finished product when I get home from work...

 

[Echale3]

This is what it looks like... Just an electrical junction box with a wall plate on it, the timer, and the outlet that the timer controls. The cord you see plugged into the outlet runs the power strip that all my pumps are plugged into. The cord that powers the feeding timer comes out the bottom and is plugged into the wall.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

This is what it looks like... Just an electrical junction box with a wall plate on it, the timer, and the outlet that the timer controls. The cord you see plugged into the outlet runs the power strip that all my pumps are plugged into. The cord that powers the feeding timer comes out the bottom and is plugged into the wall.

Pretty neat idea!