Intermatic Digital 7-Day Wall Switch Timer Beats the Clock and My Memory
Written: Nov 05 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: acts as a light switch without negating timer setting, digital, comes on "near" set time
Cons: absolutely, positively NONE
The Bottom Line: For home safety and ease of use, this timer/switch does the job dependably and flexibly -- no more waiting for timed lights to come on, just use the switch!
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| mind-full's Full Review: Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Ti... |
The Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer SS7C first came into my life on a visit to the in-law's house. Like four tiny sentries they stood at shoulder height alongside the front door. Knowing my father-in-law's propensity for quirky gadgets, I dismissed them as something "overboard" and didn't think anymore about them . . . until Husband of Mine brought one home the day after we moved into our new home.
What Is It? Just Another On/Off Timer?
The Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer is not your average "plug-in, dial-up-to-set" lamp timer.
Mainly the difference between this and plug-ins is that this is wired directly to a light switch, whether it's new or already existing. If you are not electrically savvy, ask someone who is or a professional electrician to hook the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer up for you.
Another big difference is in the function of the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer. Once you set it you are not bound to wait until your pre-set time comes around again before using the light that functions on this switch. Just push the clear plastic face-plate of the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer and your light comes on with a little whirring noise from the timer. Conversely, if your light is on and you wish to turn it off before the pre-set time lapses, just push the face plate. Light's off!
One very security-minded aspect of this timer is that you can choose to have it go on/off around the times you set. If you hook up the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer to your front porch light and set it to come on at 4:00 p.m. and go off at midnight in the "random automatic" mode it will come on a few minutes before or after 4:00 and go off a few minutes before or after midnight -- and at varying intervals around your set times each night.
Why? To throw off anyone who might be casing your house and checking to see if your lights are timed to go on/off at the same time each night. Great concept, and it works well. Our front lights go on somewhere around 4:30 p.m. As for break-in's, we've never experienced one, whether that is due to the timer or not.
Personally, I think would-be thieves know we have nothing worth stealing.
Not Bad-Looking, but Different -- People Will Ask Questions
The Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer looks different than any other light switch you've used previously. After all, it has a digital clock and a tiny, 6-button pad for setting it, plus that clear face-plate to protect the settings and allow you to push the switch to use the on/off function. Remove the clear face plate (put a fingernail or small coin in the slot along the top and pull toward you -- plate pops out) and you will have access to the keypad.
The visible part of the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer is about 2-1/2 inches high and an inch wide. Hardly a large appliance, but you'll come to love this little wonder. After a year of use I'm still in awe of it.
People will look at it, ponder, and sometimes ask, "Ah . . . What is that?" Most people get a sudden urge for a run to the home improvement warehouse after discovering what "that" is.
How It Works -- or Really, How You Get It To Work
The key pads are gray with choices of:
mode
on/off EVENT
reset
Day
H
M
Mode offers the clock set function (using the H and M for hour/minute settings), day of week settings, programming on and off times, and shutting the timer off completely, as well as a choice between standard "automatic" in which the timer will go on/off at the exact time you set or "random automatic" which varies the time within a few minutes of those you've set.
The On/Off EVENT button allows you to override the preset functions without leaving the timer mode. By pushing this button, you can turn the light on or off, just as you would a regular light switch, and the timer settings will still be in effect. The face plate has a small cross-shaped projection on the inside that rests against the On/Off EVENT button so that when you press the face plate it pushes this button. You don't need to remove the face plate every time you want to turn on or off the light manually.
The reset button is just what it says. It will cancel all your settings and allow you to start from scratch. So that you won't accidentally bump it, the pad is flush with the base of the keypad and you must really push in on it to use this function. This is a good precaution, especially with such a small keypad.
The Day, H and M buttons are used only in conjunction with the mode button to set the day and the time.
Digital Display -- Small Space
Thankfully, we don't have to set the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer often. We reset it for the change of the clocks in Spring and Fall, but for 6 months out of the year, it's pretty much set! ;)
Why am I happy? The digital display is small. It has to be -- if it wasn't, this timer wouldn't fit on a standard switch box and no one would want it. Who wants an obtrusive timer?
The clock display is roughly 3/8-inch high, and isn't bad to read, but the displays for setting the clock/day/timer/mode are quite small. In poor lighting it takes some focus to read them, but this is hardly a drawback or a "con". I use a flashlight, since there isn't good lighting beside our front door. No problem, just part of the drill when setting the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer.
Installing One of These Wonders in Your Home
First WHERE to put it:
• on any light switch that controls a light that you'd like to have controlled by a timer instead of controlling it yourself in your probable absent-mindedness about safety-related issues even though you want to be/feel safe and know you are doing a good thing for you and yours (whew!)
• on any light switch that controls a light that you know you'll forget to turn on or off, but want both functions without it being nerve-wracking
• on any light switch that controls a light that is in an often-used area, like an entry way, garage, or driveway
• on any light switch that controls a light that would be good to have on when you are not at home but make it look like you are. You can put one of these in several rooms in your home and keep it in "off" mode unless you are traveling. Remember, you can still use the switch for normal, daily function.
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The Electrical Aspect:
If doing the work yourself, the directions are clear and easy to follow. ***BE SURE TO TURN OFF POWER TO THE LIGHT SWITCH BEFORE STARTING THIS PROJECT*** And, be sure you're hooking up black to black and white to white and don't forget the ground wire. If you open the light switch receptacle and meet with a tangle of wires or old-looking cloth-covered wire, you may want to consult or hire someone with electrical know-how.
Otherwise, follow the clear-cut directions for wiring the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer to the switch receptacle, pop on the cover plate and you're set to set it.
How This Safety Timer Has Worked for Us
We are getting a few more of these for indoor switches for use at vacation times and for some lighting we'll be putting in outside our home. They work that well and easily.
While there's no reason to have an Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer on every light switch in your home, strategically placed ones are a great idea, even if it's only at your front door for the entry light.
Since we do most of our living in the back portion of our home, we don't always get to the door before visitors or remember to turn on the porch lights at dusk on a regular basis.
Since installing the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer we no longer have guests arriving on a dark doorstep. We have nothing to do with lighting their way, other than the initial installation and remembering to reset the clock every October and April.
So, with the Intermatic Heavy-Duty Digital 7 Day Wall Switch Timer we have
safety: lighted porch/walkway to see and be seen
security: timed on/off of switch-controlled lights (in a random pattern, if we so choose -- and we do)
And, we should have stock in the company for as many people as we have sent out in search of these for their own homes.
Recommended:
Yes
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mind-full
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Member: Amy
Location: Same Place as Ever
Reviews written: 320
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Faith is like electricity. You can't see it but you can see the light.
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