Growing plants can be very fascinating and interesting; however, not all plants thrive well under all environmental conditions due to the insufficient supply of specific plant’s needs such as water, light, and lots more.
All plants require the specific need for efficient growth and development, even the same plants but different species requires different environmental condition that will support their growth and development.
Light is a major necessity for plants is required in different amount by plants and giving the right or appropriate amount of light to plants is one of the best ways to ensure an efficient growth of the plant and in environments where the need of the plant cannot be met, the use of grow lights is the best bet to give additional light supply.
The use of grow lights to enhance the amount of light supplied to plants in different environments is a perfect way to grow plants that will not perform well under your local environmental condition and the regular management of this tool can be time-consuming, and it sometimes skips the mind of users to operate.
However, with the use of a timer, the use of grow lights in enhancing plants’ growth is considered more efficient and capable of handling the hard works involved in regulating the grow lights.
Timers make the use of grow lights easier and more efficient and they are considered capable of handling jobs over a period of time and the capability of timers varies depending on their design and functions.
There are numerous timers in the market that can be used for controlling the use of grow lights and choosing the best of them all is a priority to us, however, you will definitely find the best type of timer for grow lights that will meet your desired need.
If you are a busy person or a traveler of some sort, making use of timers to handle the operation of your grow lights is one of the best and perfect way to get the whole job done as some of these tools have preset settings that can last for a week; just say they make growing plants of any kind convenient and easy.
Are you looking for the right timer that can be used to regulate your grow light? Do you need a tool that will make the regulation of your grow light easier, efficient, and effective?
If the response to any of these questions is YES then this is the right place for you to be. In this article, we will take you through some of the things to consider when choosing the best timer for your need as well as a detailed review of some of the best timers for grow lights out there. Have a nice time reading!
What are the things to Consider when Choosing Timers for Grow lights? – Buying Guides
When choosing the right timer for your plants’ growth needs, there are certain things that you need to pay very good attention to for effectiveness.
Timers ensure the proper growth and development of plants and it is important to choose a timing tool that is efficient and capable of getting the job done with so much ease and with less demand.
In this section, we will give a concise explanation of some of the things to focus on when choosing a timer for your grow light.
Below are some of the things to focus on when choosing timers for grow lights:
Type of timers:
Generally there are two types of timers which are the mechanical timers and digital timers. These two types of timers have varying functionality; though the mechanical type works well, they cannot be compared to the functionalities of the digital timers.
#1 – Mechanical timers:
This type of timer features control knobs or dials that are used for setting the timers. They usually feature mainspring devices that operate the device but do not possess any form or kind of safety feature. This type of timer has a big limit to its use and cannot be used once there is a power failure – this limits their functionality greatly.
#2 – Digital timers:
This type of timer is better in functionality and level of operation. They usually feature control buttons with a wide number of built-in functions and they can be programmed over a range of time. This type of tool is usually very versatile and it is very easy to navigate and use.
Mode of connection:
There are basically two types of operations that timers for grow lights follow and these are the plug-in and direct connection. These types of connections have their differences and it is important to note when making your choice.
The plug-in types are believed to have the ability to work well as soon as they are connected to a stable source without an installation required while the direct connection types require installation or connectivity with the grow light you want to use it with.
Top 5 Timers for Grow Lights – Reviews
There are a number of timers in the market that you can choose from offering almost similar functions; however, the products listed here are some of the BEST products that you can find around with awesome functionality.
Below is a review of the top 5 timers for grow lights so you should read through to learn more about them.
BN-LINK 7 Day Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer:
This tool features about 8 programs with a convenient battery. This tool is designed to remember all settings even after a power outage and it also has pre-set that makes it convenient to use without having to make any changes except the plant you are growing requires separate settings.
This tool also has special features such as Vacation mode, Daylight savings, etc. and it is very easy to setup.
What we like
- It is very affordable.
- It has two functional outlets and a backup battery.
- Each day of the week can have specific settings.
What we dont like
- The two outlets work together so they cannot be placed on different timers.
BN-LINK 24 Hour Plug-in Mechanical Timer Grounded:
This mechanical timer features buttons integrated into the device and they are used for controlling the tool compared to the conventional mechanical timers known.
This tool is very easy to set up and it is graduated at an interval of 15 minutes and it has a functional duration of 24 hours so there is a need to set the time up manually daily. It is very easy to use and easy to understand.
What we like
- It has a simple design.
- It has buttons that cannot be lost.
- It can be set up within 2 minutes.
What we dont like
- It has a single outlet.
- It cannot be scheduled over days.
- It makes noise.
Urban Farmer Weekly 7 Day Programmable Dual Outlet Digital Timer:
This tool features dual, simultaneously controlled outlets which makes it very easy and convenient to control two grow lights with just a single timer.
This tool features a digital screen that is very easy to read and they can also be scheduled over a period of seven days. It also makes it easy to use this tool when the user is not around as long as it is already set to function.
What we like
- It features up to 8 different programs.
- It can be scheduled for a week.
- It has two functional outlets.
What we dont like
- It is very expensive.
NEARPOW Dual Digital Light Timer:
This tool comes with two independent controller outlets with well-defined buttons that are easy to use. It features a fireproof ABS insulation which makes it safe to use as well as a rechargeable battery that is long-lasting.
This tool also features a vacation mode that makes it easy to schedule the light when not around as well as a power-saving Daylight saving mode that makes it long-lasting.
What we like
- It features 18 scheduled programs.
- The timer has 2 independently controlled outlets.
- It does not make noise and it has an extra backup battery.
What we dont like
- The instruction material is not very easy to use.
DEWENWILS Indoor Outlet Grow light timer:
This tool has well-designed control buttons that include on, off, hour, minute, reset, etc. that makes it very easy to operate. This tool is very easy to program and it has a compact design that makes it lightweight.
It features an LCD readout that is clear and easy to understand. This tool can be used with almost all kinds of grow lights and it will never miss any schedule whatsoever.
What we like
- It is versatile; compatible with almost all types of grow lights.
- It runs quietly.
- It is lightweight and easy to program.
What we dont like
- It lacks a manual override.
Conclusion
Choosing the best timer to use with your grow light can be very time consuming, however, selecting the best tool is also of great essence.
These timers are all considered to be of great quality, however, we recommend the NEARPOW Dual Digital Light Timer due to its awesome functionalities and capabilities.
On behalf of the author, thank you so much for taking the time to read this article !
