I just got an eight outlet timer for my lights. See picture for layout. Pic is of an aqualight brand, but I have a plain ge model from home depot (the black one). I want to set it up where the lights come on and off automatically but can’t seem to figure out how the cycles relate to the outlets, It has seven programmable settings but still can’t seem to get them to work. Any help would be awesome.

I saw the black one at HD today, 4 of the outleats are controlled...all on or all off. The other 4 are always on. It is not the same as the white timer you show.

The white one, I'm just going to guess since the closest thing I've used was a Coralife dual mechanical timer, the white outlets are always on, and the yellow and blue outlets alternate on and off. i.e. if the yellow outlets are on, then the blues are off. If the blues are on, then the yellows are off. I don't think the blues, and yellows can be both on or both off.  Not sure about the 7 cycles...

Tim

Yea thanks for the reply. After closer inspection I realized with the black one there is no separating the lights. The four are just controlled by one time that you can set to turn on and off multiple times a day. I'm going to take it back and go with plain old school mechanical timers. I will get better control that way.

IMO the electronic timers are better than mechanical ones, usually more precise. With plain timers mechanical, or electronic versitility is still pretty limited. Coordinating multiple timers is easier with the elctronics too.

Good luck,

Tim

i bought a mechanical one at meijer that has 4 constant and 4 switched outlet it uses the old fashion pegs to control the on off it cost me i think $16 i use two of them for all my tanks love the things have never had a problem they are with the extension cords and vacation timers there.