I figured out a way to control my lights to turn on/off as per sunrise/sunset but without an expensive controller and it works great!
I bought these programmable outdoor controllers from Lowes for $20 each. I don’t have the specific part number, but these controllers allow you to set on/off based on sunrise/sunset of specific locations. When you program these units, you add you location so that it can calculate the sun rise/set times. I used Hawaii, but I guess Florida or parts of Mexico would work too. Then you can set it up to turn the lights on/off based on actual sunrise/sunset. Each controller has 2 outlets to plug in lights. Then what I did, since I want my lights to not come an all at once, is I programmed one unit to be 2 hours behind the other and plugged it into the spare outlet of the first controller (call it the master controller). When the first controller turns on it turns on my Power Compact lighting AND provides power to the other controller (note these all have battery backup for time keeping when not powered by 120 v). Then, 2 hours later my first 400 W metal halide comes one. My second 400 w metal halide that I am using to simulate mid day sun comes on with a standard timer for 4 hours in the middle of the day. Then, when the master controller shuts down at dusk, it also shuts down the other metal halide.
Sounds complicated I know, but it works. And if I were to buy another controller I could get the first metal halide to shut off 2 prior to dusk to also provide a more gradual transition.
Fun stuff!
