Omega Contactors

A heavy-duty, no-nonsense way to put your grow room lights on a fixed daily schedule. Omega's contactor units pair an agricultural-grade mechanical timer with a relay, so the lights are actually switched by the relay rather than through the timer's own contacts. That is the part that matters: a bank of HID ballasts draws a heavy surge the moment it fires, and switching that load through a domestic plug-in timer is how timers fail.

The timer sits on top of the unit under a clear hinged cover, so you can see and set the programme at a glance without opening anything up. The switched 13A sockets are on the front face, the mains lead comes out through a strain-relieved gland, and there is a bracket on the body so the unit can be hung on a wall or tent frame rather than left on the floor.

Setting one up takes a minute. Programme the timer for the hours you want the lights on, plug your ballasts into the switched sockets, and plug the unit into a 13A mains supply. The sockets switch together on the timer, and the unit can be flipped to constant if you need the lights on outside the schedule.

Built with rubberised moulded plugs and quality components throughout, with minimal heat build-up in normal use. Designed specifically for controlling HID lighting.

Specification

• Professional agricultural-grade mechanical timer, mounted under a clear cover
• Relay switching, so ballast inrush never passes through the timer
• Switched 13A UK sockets
• Rubberised moulded plug and strain-relieved cable gland
• Hanging bracket on the body
• Steel enclosure, minimal heat build-up
• Available in 2 Way, 4 Way, 6 Way and 8 Way

Which one? Count the ballasts you need to switch, not the lights you own today — it is worth having a spare way or two so the next light does not mean a new contactor. As a guide, allow for the total load across all the sockets staying within the unit's rating.