Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer

The Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer (model APCTART2) is a cycle timer controller designed to automate 120V grow-room devices on a precise, repeating schedule. Its built-in photocell detects ambient light levels and restricts or enables the cycle to daytime, nighttime, or continuous 24-hour operation — making it a practical tool for hydroponic pumps, CO2 injection systems, exhaust fans, misters, and other interval-driven equipment. A Memory-lock feature preserves your configured ON and OFF set points even if the adjustment knobs are accidentally disturbed.

Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer Specifications

All specifications below are drawn directly from manufacturer documentation for the APCTART2.

Specification	Value
Model Number	APCTART2
Input Voltage	120V AC
Maximum Load	15 amps
ON Duration (adjustable range)	1 second to 60 minutes
OFF Duration (adjustable range)	1 minute to 14 hours
Operating Modes	Day only / Night only / 24 hours (all day)
Light Detection	Built-in photocell
Memory-Lock	Yes — retains set points if knobs are accidentally bumped

Why Choose the Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer

Cycle timers serve a different purpose than standard 24-hour outlet timers. A standard timer lets you set a fixed daily on/off schedule — turn the lights on at 6 a.m. and off at midnight. A recycling timer runs a repeating on/off sequence continuously throughout a window you define. This distinction matters for applications like flood-and-drain tables that need to flood every 30 minutes for 15 minutes, or CO2 injection that pulses in short bursts to maintain target PPM without overshooting.

The APCTART2 addresses the practical needs of growers who run interval-dependent systems:

• Wide ON-time range: The adjustable ON duration spans from 1 second to 60 minutes, which covers everything from a 2-second misting pulse to a 45-minute nutrient-pump flood cycle. Most basic recycling timers offer a narrower range.
• Long OFF window: The OFF duration extends up to 14 hours, so you can set a system to run once in the morning and not again until the following day — without needing a separate 24-hour timer stacked in series.
• Day/Night/24hr mode selection: The built-in photocell lets you restrict operation to a specific light period. If you only want your CO2 system cycling while lights are on, you set the unit to Day mode. If you want exhaust fans cycling only after lights-out, you use Night mode. The 24hr setting ignores the photocell entirely.
• Memory-lock feature: Once you dial in your intervals, the Memory-lock holds those values in memory. Accidentally nudging a knob during a routine inspection won’t reset your timing — the stored set points remain active until you deliberately change them.
• 15-amp capacity: At 120V and 15 amps, the APCTART2 can handle most standard grow-room loads directly, including pump motors, inline fans, and CO2 solenoid valves, without requiring a relay or intermediate power strip.

These characteristics make the APCTART2 a straightforward choice for growers who need repeating interval control tied to their light cycle rather than a fixed wall-clock schedule.

Best Uses for the Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer

The APCTART2 is well-suited to any 120V device that needs to cycle on and off at regular intervals within a defined time window. Common applications include:

• Hydroponic pump control: Flood-and-drain (ebb and flow) tables require the nutrient pump to run for a set flood period, then remain off long enough for roots to access oxygen before the next flood. The adjustable ON and OFF ranges accommodate most common flood intervals for small to mid-size tables.
• CO2 injection: CO2 systems paired with a solenoid valve benefit from short, repeating bursts rather than continuous flow. Set the ON duration to a short interval (seconds to minutes) and the OFF duration to match your grow space’s CO2 depletion rate to avoid waste. Use Day mode so injection only occurs when lights — and therefore photosynthesis — are active.
• Exhaust and oscillating fans: Some growers prefer intermittent fan operation rather than continuous airflow, particularly during lights-off periods when temperature management is less critical. Night mode allows the unit to cycle fans on intervals only after the light period ends. For compatible oscillating and pedestal fan options, see the Active Air HD 18″ Pedestal Fan.
• Misters and foggers: Aeroponics and propagation chambers rely on short, frequent misting cycles to keep roots or cuttings humid. The 1-second minimum ON time is sufficient for most misting nozzle setups.
• Supplemental lighting controllers: In light-supplementation setups, supplemental fixtures can be cycled to reduce heat load during peak daytime temperature. If you also run a dedicated lighting controller, the Autopilot PX2 Advanced Lighting Controller handles full lighting schedule management as a complement to cycle-based control.

Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer vs Standard Mechanical Outlet Timers

A standard 24-hour mechanical outlet timer divides the day into fixed 15- or 30-minute segments that you program by pushing down pins on a rotating wheel. You can set it to turn a device on at a specific hour and off at another — but it cannot repeat a short cycle multiple times within an hour, and it has no awareness of your light period.

The APCTART2 differs in three substantive ways:

• Repeating cycle vs. fixed schedule: A mechanical outlet timer fires once per programmed segment. The APCTART2 continuously repeats its ON/OFF cycle for the duration of the active window. For a hydroponic pump that needs to flood every 30 minutes throughout the day, the mechanical timer would require 48 individual pin settings; the APCTART2 requires one ON adjustment and one OFF adjustment.
• Sub-minute ON resolution: The APCTART2’s minimum ON time is 1 second. Standard mechanical timers typically cannot resolve below 15 minutes. This matters for aeroponic misting, short CO2 pulses, and similar applications.
• Photocell-based mode selection: Standard mechanical timers run regardless of ambient light. The APCTART2’s photocell allows the cycle to be restricted to the light period or dark period automatically, without requiring you to also stack a separate 24-hour timer to gate the cycle window.

If your application only needs a simple on/off schedule tied to fixed times of day — for example, turning grow lights on at 6 a.m. and off at 10 p.m. — a standard outlet timer is sufficient and less expensive. The APCTART2 is the appropriate choice when you need repeating short-interval cycles, particularly those that should be synchronized to your light period.

Compatibility

The APCTART2 operates on 120V AC and is rated for up to 15 amps. It is compatible with any 120V device whose continuous draw stays within that 15-amp limit. This includes:

• Submersible and inline hydroponic pumps (verify pump amperage on its nameplate)
• CO2 solenoid valves and CO2 controllers with external solenoid connections
• Inline duct fans and oscillating wall or pedestal fans rated for 120V
• Ultrasonic foggers and misting systems with standard 120V plugs
• Any other 120V load at or below 15 amps continuous draw

The timer is not rated for 240V equipment. Do not use it to control devices that exceed 15 amps without an appropriate intermediate relay or power controller. For humidity management equipment that may require its own dedicated controls, see the Ideal Air Pro Series Dehumidifier Replacement Condensate Pump for related environmental control components.

The built-in photocell responds to ambient light in the grow space. For the Day and Night mode functions to work correctly, the unit should be positioned where it receives representative ambient light from your grow lights — not in a dark corner or directly under a high-intensity fixture that would skew the threshold. Placement near the canopy level, but not in the direct beam of a fixture, is typical.

Usage Guidelines

Before setting intervals, determine two values for your application: how long the device needs to run per cycle (ON time), and how long it should remain off between cycles (OFF time). These values depend entirely on the device and your growing system — there is no universal setting. Common starting points by application:

• Flood-and-drain tables: ON time is typically the number of minutes needed for the table to flood and begin draining (commonly 15–30 minutes depending on table size and pump flow rate). OFF time should allow roots to dry slightly before the next flood — commonly 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on medium and plant stage.
• CO2 solenoid: ON time is typically short (30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on room volume and CO2 flow rate). OFF time depends on how quickly CO2 levels drop between pulses in your room — start conservatively and reduce the OFF interval if levels are dropping below target between cycles.
• Misters and foggers: ON time for aeroponic root misters is typically 1–5 seconds. OFF time in active aeroponic systems is commonly 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Propagation chamber foggers typically run longer intervals.
• Mode selection: Use Day mode when the controlled device should only operate while grow lights are on. Use Night mode for devices that should only run lights-off. Use the 24hr setting for devices like reservoir circulation pumps that should run continuously regardless of light period.

Once intervals are set, engage the Memory-lock before closing up the grow space. This prevents accidental adjustment from altering your timing if the unit is bumped during routine maintenance.

How to Set Up the Autopilot Advanced 24hr Recycling Timer

1. Plan your intervals before installing. Determine the ON duration (how long your device needs to run per cycle) and the OFF duration (how long it should remain off between cycles). Write these down so you can set the knobs accurately.
2. Position the timer. Mount or place the unit where the built-in photocell receives representative ambient light from your grow lights. Avoid placing it in a corner that stays dark when lights are on, or directly under a fixture that would saturate the photocell.
3. Plug the timer into a grounded 120V outlet. Verify the outlet is on a circuit with sufficient capacity for your controlled device plus any other loads on that circuit.
4. Set the ON duration knob. Turn the ON knob to your desired on-time. The range spans from 1 second to 60 minutes. Markings on the dial indicate the approximate time; consult the included instructions for exact calibration markings.
5. Set the OFF duration knob. Turn the OFF knob to your desired off-time. The range spans from 1 minute to 14 hours.
6. Select the operating mode. Set the mode selector to Day (cycle active only during light period), Night (cycle active only during dark period), or 24hr (cycle runs continuously regardless of light level).
7. Plug your controlled device into the timer’s outlet. Ensure the device’s draw does not exceed 15 amps.
8. Power on and verify operation. Observe at least one full ON/OFF cycle to confirm the intervals match your intended settings. Adjust knobs as needed.
9. Engage Memory-lock. Once settings are confirmed, activate the Memory-lock feature to preserve the set points against accidental adjustment.

Sources & Further Reading