Omega Widow Timer & Relay Contactors — Professional-Grade Light Control Without the Premium Price
Best for: Growers running multiple HID lights who need reliable power control and timer protection
Our thoughts
If you're running multiple high-powered lights, a contactor isn't optional — it's insurance. The Omega Widow range does the job properly without overheating or failing when you need it most. Professional-grade performance at a sensible cost, assembled right here in the UK.
The Omega Widow Contactor is the intelligent switchboard between your power supply and your HID lighting system. Available in 2, 4, 6, and 8-way configurations, it gives you complete control over multiple fixtures whilst protecting your timer from the electrical surges that come with firing high-wattage lamps. Built from premium components and assembled in the UK, these heavy-duty relay contactors have been trusted in the hydroponic industry for years — and they'll run reliably day in, day out.
Why you actually need a contactor
Here's the thing: if you plug a ballast or heater straight into a standard timer, you're asking for trouble. When multiple HID lamps fire simultaneously, the surge in electrical draw will arc out your timer's pins, leaving your lights permanently on (or off). You don't find out until your crop's already stressed.
A contactor moves the heavy lifting off your timer. Your timer activates the contactor instead, which then switches the mains power to your ballasts. Your timer stays safe. Your lights come on and off when they should. No surges, no failures, no crop damage.
How it compares
The Omega Widow sits firmly in the professional mid-tier for contactor performance.
- Premium components and UK assembly — not cheap plastic contactors that overheat and fail
- Rubber-moulded plugs that actually survive real use (not brittle plastic that snaps off)
- Switchable sockets for flexible control without rewiring your entire setup
- Minimal heat sync design stays cool under load
- Steel housing with hanging bracket for straightforward installation
- Professional-grade timer that doesn't drift like budget models
Compared to budget alternatives, you're getting reliability. Compared to premium brands, you're cutting out unnecessary markup. This is the sweet spot.
Usage guidance
Basic setup
Your timer plugs into the wall as normal. One contactor socket connects to your timer input. The other connects directly to the mains. Your ballasts, heaters, or pumps plug into the contactor's switchable sockets. When your timer triggers, it activates the contactor — which then powers your equipment directly from the wall, bypassing the timer altogether.
Multi-light systems
The 4, 6, and 8-way versions let you run multiple HID fixtures from a single timer without stress. Each socket is independently switchable, so you can organise your grow room tidy with everything plugged in and labelled in one place. No cable sprawl across the floor.
What to plug in
Ballasts, heaters, circulation fans, and pumps all work perfectly. Anything drawing significant current needs to go through the contactor, not your timer. The whole point is protecting your timer from heavy electrical loads.
Protection benefit
By moving high-wattage switching off your timer, you're eliminating the risk of arcing, pin failure, and permanent on/off states. Your light cycle stays consistent. Your plants stay on schedule. Your equipment stays safe.
Technical specifications
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Available configurations: 2-way, 4-way, 6-way, and 8-way socket options
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Components: Premium-grade relay contactors, professional agricultural-grade timer
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Plugs: Rubber-moulded (heavy-duty), designed for continuous use
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Sockets: All independently switchable
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Housing: Steel construction with minimal heat sync
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Installation: Includes hanging bracket for wall or pole mounting
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Assembly: UK-manufactured from premium components
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Timer accuracy: Professional-grade mechanism, precise and consistent (no drift)
Who this is for
- Growers running 2+ HID lights who've learned the hard way that timers need protection
- Professional and semi-professional setups where downtime costs money
- Anyone who wants all their high-wattage equipment plugged in safely and tidily in one place
- Growers tired of extension leads, power cubes, and messy cable management
- Those upgrading from budget contactors that overheat or fail under load
Our take
A contactor isn't fancy — it's fundamental safety and reliability. The Omega Widow does the job properly without overheating, arcing, or failing when you need it. Professional-grade performance, UK-built, assembled from components that actually last.
If you're running multiple HID lights and don't have a contactor yet, good time to sort it. If you're replacing a budget unit that's started acting up, this is worth picking up while stock lasts. Does exactly what it should, day in, day out.
