GB2504748A

GB2504748A - Power supply with timer

Info

Publication number: GB2504748A
Application number: GB1214210.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Green
Original assignee: Hydrogarden Wholesale Supplies Ltd
Current assignee: Hydrogarden Wholesale Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-09
Filing date: 2012-08-09
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Also published as: GB201214210D0

Abstract

A power supply apparatus 4, which can be a lighting ballast for use with plant grow lighting, comprises a control means for supplying power to an output terminal and operable in an ON state in which power is supplied at a first level and an OFF state in which power is supplied at second, lower, level. The apparatus also comprises an in-built timing means configured in use to cycle the control means between the ON and OFF states for different predetermined ON/OFF timing periods dependent on which one of a plurality of user-selectable modes is selected.

Description

Power Supply with Timer

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a power supply apparatus with built-in timer, particularly, though not exclusively for use in powering grow lighting.

Background of the Tnvention

Artificial lighting is used for indoor plant growth, e.g. in hydroponics. Typically the lights are fluorescent and/or high intensity discharge (HID) lamps which are mains powered.

A so-called lighting ballast is usually used with such gas-discharge lamps, connected between the power supply and the lamp's bulb/tube.

A lighting ballast is a piece of electrical equipment for controlling the starting and operating voltages of the lamp and is particularly important to operate HID lamps because such lamps have negative resistance and are therefore unable to regulate the current that passes through. Without a ballast, the lamp could fail.

Various types of lighting ballast are known, including electromagnetic and solid-state types.

In indoor plant growing, it is known to use different lighting cycles to promote growth at different stages of the plant's life.

There are two main stages, namely vegetative and flowering, which are determined by the presence of a flowering hormone in the plant.

Typically, so long as the plant is exposed to light for longer than 12 continuous hours, the amount of the flowering hormone will not be high enough to induce flowering. For example, an on/off cycling time of 18/6 hours is used in the vegetative stage. When flowering is to be induced, the lighting on time is reduced to a figure in the region of 12 hours or less, and so an on/off cycling time of 12/12 is typical.

Achieving the desired on/off cycling time is conventionally a manual process or one which employs a standard timer pug in which on/off times have to be manually set relative to an internal clock.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a power supply apparatus for use with lighting, the apparatus comprising: control means for supplying power to an output terminal and operable in an ON state in which power is supplied at a first level and an OFF state in which power is supplied at second, lower, level; and an in-built timing means configured in use to cycle the control means between the ON and OFF states for different predetermined ON/OFF timing periods dependent on which one of a plurality of user-selectable modes is selected.

The in-built timing means may be configured in use to operate in first and second user-selectable modes, selection of the first mode being operable to cause cycling of the control means between a first ON period followed by a first OFF period before repeating the cycle, and selection of the second user-selectable mode being operable to cause cycling of the control means between a second, different, ON period followed by a second, different, OFF period before repeating the cycle. That is, the first ON/OFF periods are different from the second ON/OFF periods. Either the ON or OFF period can be commenced initially upon user selection, although it is more likely that the apparatus will start in the ON state.

The in-built timing means may be configured such that the ON and OFF periods in a given mode sum to 24 hours, approximately. The in-built timing means may be configured such that the first ON period is set to approximately 12 hours or less. The in-built timing means may be configured such that the first ON period is set to approximately 12 hours and the first OFF period is set to approximately 12 hours. The in-built timing means may be configured such that the second ON-period is set to greater than 12 hours. The in-built timing means may be configured such that the second ON-period is set to approximately 18 hours and the second OFF-period is set to approximately 6 hours.

The in-built timing means may be further configured to provide a contmuously-ON mode.

In the preferred case, to be explained in detail below, the following modes are provided: Mode 1: 12 hours ON, 12 hours OFF; Mode 2: 18 hours ON, 6 hours OFF; Mode 3: continuously ON.

The in-built timing means may be configured, in response to user selection of a given mode, to commence the start of the ON-period corresponding to that mode. That is, in the event of a user switching from one mode to another, the preset ON time commences from that point in time.

The apparatus may further comprise a mechanical switch for input selection of the user-selectable mode to the in-built timing means.

The mechanical switch may be movable between first, second and third positions to input selection of the first, second and continuously-ON modes. The mechanical switch may be a rocker switch.

The apparatus may further comprise an ornament or legend on or adjacent the switch indicative of the different modes.

There may also be provided a ballast for a gas discharge lamp incorporating the power supply apparatus according to any preceding definiton, the power supply apparatus receiving power from the ballast and controlling its input to an associated lamp.

There may also be provided a multi-gang socket unit incorporating the power supply apparatus according to any one of the preceding definitions thereof, the power supply apparatus being configured to receive power from a mains supply and to control its output to a plurality of sockets into which external devices can be connected.

A second aspect of the invention provides an apparatus, the apparatus having at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one proce3sor: to control the supply of power to an output terminal and being operable in an ON state in which power is supplied at a first level and in an OFF state in which power is supplied at second, lower, level; and to cycle between the ON and OFF states for different predetermined ON/OFF timing periods dependent on which one of a plurality of user-selectable modes is selected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a timer ballast, being a first embodiment of the invention, connected to a HID lamp; Figure 2 is a close-up schematic view of a rocker switch as used on the timer ballast shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the timer ballast shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a 5chematic view of a multi-gang socket unit, being a second embodiment of the invention, to which may be connected one or more HID lamps with associated conventional ballasts.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a timer ballast 4 used as part of a HID lighting system 5 for use in, for example, an indoor plant growing environment.

The timer ballast 4 receives a.c. power from a source 2 and supplies a regulated voltage and current to a connected HTD lamp 6. The timer ballast 4 is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, specifically three, which are user selectable by means of a rocker switch 8 provided as part of the timer ballast 4.

Within the timer ballast 4 is circuitry which controls whether the current supplied to the HID lamp 6 is high (ON) or low/zero (OFF) and therefore whether the lamp is on or off. The circuitry further includes an in-built timer module which determines, dependent on the selected mode, the timing characteristics of a repeating ON/OFF cycle for that mode.

More specifically, in a first mode of operation, that is when the rocker switch 8 is switched to position "T", the timer module causes the timer ballast 4 to be In an ON state for 12 continuous hours, followed by an OFF state for 12 continuous hours. The cycle repeats to the ON state again, assuming the mode has not changed, and repeats. Timings are approximate.

In a second mode of operation, that is when the rocker switch 8 is switched to position "II", the timer module causes the timer ballast 4 to be in an ON state for 18 continuous hours, followed by an OFF state for 6 continuous hours. The cycle repeats to the ON state again, assuming the mode has not changed, and repeats. Timings are approximate.

It will be appreciated that the ON/OFF cycles for the first and second modes correspond respectively to the known flowering and vegetative lighting cycles, as mentioned in the introduction. A single combined ON/OFF cycle adds up to twenty four hours and so, if the mode switch 8 does not change, then the lighting cycle repeats on a daily cycle.

The ON/OFF timings for the first and second modes are predetermined either by circuitry or by programming a microchip or microcontroller within the timer ballast 4.

Alternative timings for the first and second modes can be used.

Generally speaking, the first (flowering) mode will be no more than 12 hours long and the second (vegetative) mode will be significantly greater than 12 hours long.

When selecting a mode, i.e. by switching the rocker switch 8 from the first mode to the second, or vice versa, the timer ballast 4 commences the ON part of the ON/OFF cycle from the start of the respective period.

In a third mode of operation, indicated by the reference numeral "0" in Figure 1, the timer ballast 4 outputs the ON voltage/current continuously.

All the above operations assume there is a master ON/OFF power switch (not shown) Figure 2 shows a close-up view of an alternative three-way rocker switch 8' which includes pictorial legends indicative of the first flowering mode and the second vegetative mode.

Figure 3 shows an example of a circuit providing the aforementioned timer ballast 4. The circuit is broken down into three separate sections, A, B and C for ease of reference.

In sections A and B of the circuit, Live (3) and Neutral (N) terminals are shown indicating a 240v a.c. input 2 to the timer ballast circuit 4. A LOUT terminal is shown which is connected to the HID lamp 6. Current is limited through Rl, and reduces the voltage through Cl. After rectification by Dl and regulation by 03, the power supply becomes 24v d.c., which provides power to the coil of relay Jl, in section B. In sections B and C of the circuit, the 24v d.c. power limits the current through R3, and reduces the voltage to 5.lv through 04.

This voltage provides a power supply to the integrated circuit (IC) in section B of the circuit. The output of this IC controls breakover, turn-on and turn-off of the relay Jl through transistor Qi.

In section C of the circuit, the three positions of the rocker switch 8 are indicated as I, II and 0. As indicated above, position I results in 12 hours ON and 12 hours OFF, repeating cyclically.

Position II results in 18 hours ON and 6 hours OFF, repeating cyclically. Position 0 results in a continuous (24 hour) ON state.

The timer starts to count from zero at power on, when reselecting the position of 1<1.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a power supply unit with built-in timer. Here, instead of the built-in timer circuit or module being combined with a HID lighting ballast, the built-in timer is provided within a multi-gang socket unit 14. The socket unit 14 receives its a.c. power 12 from a mains source in the conventional manner. A rocker switch 16 is provided on the socket unit 14 and works in largely the same way as that of the first embodiment, save that, here, one or more non-timed ballast devices 18 and their associated lamps 20 can be plugged into the unit 14 and controlled by a single timer circuit within said unit.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.

Claims

CLAINS1. Power supply apparatus for use with lighting, the apparatus comprising: control means for supplying power to an output terminal and operable in an ON state in which power is supplied at a first level and an OFF state in which power is supplied at second, lower, level; and an in-built timing means configured in use to cycle the control means between the ON and OFF stares for different predetermined ON/OFF timing periods dependent on which one of a plurality of user-selectable modes is selected.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the in-built timing means is configured in use to operate in first and second user-selectable modes, selection of the first mode being operable to cause cycling of the control means between a first ON period followed by a first OFF period before repeating the cycle, and selection of the second user-selectable mode being operable to cause cycling of the control means between a second, different, ON period followed by a second, different, OFF period before repeating the cycle.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the in-built timing means is configured such that the ON and OFF periods in a given mode sum to 24 hours, approximately.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the in-built timing means is configured such that the first ON period is set to approximately 12 hours or less.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the in-built timing means is configured such that the first ON period is set to approximately 12 hours and the first OFF period is set to approximately 12 hours.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the in-built timing means is configured such that the second ON-period is set to greater than 12 hours.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the inbuilt timing means is configured such that the second ON-period is set to approximately 18 hours and the second OFF-period is set to approximately 6 hours.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the in-built timing means is configured to provide a continuously-ON mode.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the in-built timing means is configured, in response to user selection of a given mode, to commence the start of the ON-period corresponding to that mode.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a mechanical switch for input selection of the user-selectable mode to the in-built timing means.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 8, wherein the mechanical switch is movable between first, second and third positions to input selection of the first, second and continuously-ON modes.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the mechanical switch is a rocker switch.
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising an ornament or legend on or adjacent the switch indicative of the different modes.
14. A ballast for a gas discharge lamp incorporating the power supply apparatus according to any preceding claim, the power supply apparatus receiving power from the ballast and controlling its input to an associated lamp.
15. A multi-gang socket unit incorporating the power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the power supply apparatus being configured to receive power from a mains supply and to control its output to a plurality of sockets into which external devices can be connected.
16. Apparatus, the apparatus having at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one processor: to control the supply of power to an output terminal and being operable in an ON state in which power is supplied at a first level and in an OFF state in which power is supplied at second, lower, level; and to cycle between the ON and OFF states for different predetermined ON/OFF timing periods dependent on which one of a plurality of user-selectable modes is selected.