I have done it with 1K HPS lights in the past, one ballast two bulps and had zero issues.
I see no reason this shouldn’t work just as well, even the low current should limit the risk of relay failure as well.
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I agree, though I have been warned not to hot swap the DC side of a driver. Again, like you, I doubt the momentary switch will be a significant change in load.
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I would agree with that. The company I work for manufactures lighting controls, and a big part of it is being LED-compatible on the relays, which means dealing with high inrush current across the contacts (significant arcing). We accomplish that by using zero-crossing, that is switching the relay latch at the moment of zero-ac-potential, at the middle of the ac cycle.
This is done one of two ways - either we time the relay latching and unlatching, accounting for all the delays associated with that process (comparator, coil, frequency, etc), or we shunt the load through an oversized triac.
On the DC side, there is nothing to time, so a shunt would be ideal. Another consideration is that the driver may in fact have its own current management on startup built in, which will not be active if you were to switch the load over in one go.
IMHO, i would shut off the driver with a relay, flip flop the space, then power up the driver again. Should not be hard to accomplish with just relay logic.
$0.02CAD
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Thanks for the input @ReikoX and @HappyHemper
We will see how it works out, my biggest worry is the arc wear on the relay flipping them hot.
But it’s a 500 V relay, and it’s only running 49V at 500 mA. But I don’t think the arc will be strong enough, to “arc weld” the relay shut or open.
If I run into any issues, I will fix them on the go.
Setting up a timer to turn the drivers off, while the relay’s flip, should not be that big a problem.
Once I get my replacement timer, I will set it up like that.
I was gonna use two timers for the waterings, but I will just use a flipflop for the two water pumps. Use the 2nd timer to flip the relays and the 3rd timer to turn the drivers off, a minute while the flipflop activate.
Anyway for now I only really have two fully working timers, so it will have to work like that until the replacement arrives.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: Equipment buying and reviews
Replied while the question was split of -
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This was the solution I was going to work with. In the end, I just bought a second set of drivers. This gave me more flexibility in the end.
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There isn’t room in the budget for more drivers atm, but it’s something that will be upgraded on a later point.
And I don’t need a bunch of flexibility, I just need it to run 12/12 and the fact one if on and the other is off.
Is only a plus as I see it, as the heat from the drivers will be used to heat my lung room.
As a result it should make the temp more even in the cabinets, no matter if it’s day or night.
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Yes, I found this to be true when running my two sides of the workbench on opposite schedules like that. 
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Another busy day at the groffice
Closed up the light traps, and mounted IR reflector on the back wall.
Hung the last light and got it connected, now the light should be fully working once I program the FlipFlop timer.
Got started on making the drippers this evening, then tomorrow I’ll try to get the watering hooked up.
And finaly I need to hook up the exhaust ventilation, then cut the final front pannels and it’s about done.
A few more days of work!
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Onward!
Installed the 2nd feed pump, connected it to a Flipflop with the right side pump.
One timer will then run the watering 24/7, and the flipflop will make sure only the closet with lights on will be watered.
The hose, is a reinforced suction hose.
Tested the flipflop and everything is working, minus the broken timer.
Almost done with the drippers, stil need to poke the drip holes.
But they have straightend, and the ends have been melted close.
The heatgun is very handy for this, might take a little time but it’s well worth it IMO.
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Forgot the daily picture of the test grow yesterday, was too busy working that I totaly forgot.
Today I got around to take a picture, but I have been busy working as well and haven’t done any gardening. No pH or Ec readings, just looked at the plants and they look okay, then work work work.
Day 49 Cheese
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Nice! Everything is coming along nicely.
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Yeah it’s moving forward
Just had to order an industrial carbon filter, the UV-ozone bulps are not up to the task.
They have done a better job, at eleminating the smell up to week 7, compared to the Eco carbon scrubber.
The eco carbon filter is over powered, by the cheese smell around week 5 already.
Now the plan is to install new and better carbon scrubber in the attic, venting out the ozone treated air from the grow rooms.
Hoping this will eleminate the strong smell from the cheese factory, as of right now when then wind is wrong. I can be smelled out infront of the house, so I deffently have to get that delt with.
Lucky me I don’t live on a busy street, and 99% of the trafic is just car’s passing by.
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Borring work - maybe even more boring then trimming.
Good thing it’s a one time only, making the drippers and once done they are done.
Taped them to a table top, downside up and plugged the soldering iron into the wall.
Poked a f**k load of holes, while wearing a respirator mask.
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Almost done!
Still need to connect the ventilation, clamp a few hoses and it’s almost done.
Got to buy Canopy fans, but im waiting for a budget boost.
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Day 50 in the Cheese factory - Budrot was found in a single plant, but it was heavy infected.
It was in the bottom cabinet, where the canopy fan have been installed, so turned that on!
The fallen Sister or whats left of her, she wasn’t one of the “big” ones.
Ec 1.7
pH 5.77
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