Good Plug Timers

[Alex.]

Hi guys,

Can anyone recommend good, reliable plug timers to use to control my lights and air pump?

Ive got two digital ones from maplin which weren't exactly cheap at £10 each, but they're terrible. After learning to program them, they've consistently let me down and I've found myself manually controlling the lights etc until I find some better ones.

Money isn't an issue as long as they work! The ones I have don't even work now when I put them on the permanent 'on' setting!

 

[Jimbo1984]

I got a couple of decent one's from Homebase years ago which are still going strong. I recently got a couple from B&Q too which do the job! I've had a dodgy one too though, would randomly reset the timer, change time etc. Very annoying!

 

[Alex.]

Are yours the digital ones from b&q? Annoying thing is I saw these before I got the maplin ones!

I'll give them a try anyway, the maplin ones are good for nothing.

 

[mattlee]

argos do or did a triple pack for £15 that are great. they are digital with a battery back up so any power cuts and you dont have to re set them. they are also narrow enough to get a plug in the next socket on an extension which is very usefull.

 

[Jimbo1984]

Yes, they stock quite a few different ones. They had some on offer around Christmas. The dodgy one was square shaped and a nightmare to program, stay clear!

 

[200sx]

i brought mine from b and q they had them on over for £2 each so brought 15 to keep me going and spares not had to do a thing to them since set them up over 6 months ago only thing i have noticed is one has gained a min and one lost a min but thats not really a problem and there also small enough to stack nect to each other and have battery back up just had a quick look and they dont sell them anymore i will get the make tommorow for you

 

[tribalbrit]

I have been using this one from Hong Kong. One timer controls 5 appliances + 1 live socket. Once set up it's very good (ebay)



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[OldMan47]

Forget the complications of electronic timers. I buy mechanical timers that are more or less nothing but electrical clockwork for my lights. They can only be adjusted to about 15 minute intervals and are as crude as can be but mine have been running flawlessly for many years now.

 

[Welshweeks]

I bought 1 from wilkinsons on the weekend, it was £5.97. Had a good variety of programs (mon-fri, sat-sun induvidual days etc) and was easy to program. The only downside is that if you put it into a 4 gang your unable to put a plug next to it. I got around this by pluging a 2 way double adaptor.

Digital timer;

http/www.wilkinson...S49VztZhg%3D%3D

2 way double adaptor;

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-WAY-HOUSEHOLD-PLUG-DOUBLE-ADAPTER-UK-13AMP-250VAC-FREE-P-P-/220930234712?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item337077d958

 

[DJH584]

Forget the complications of electronic timers. I buy mechanical timers that are more or less nothing but electrical clockwork for my lights. They can only be adjusted to about 15 minute intervals and are as crude as can be but mine have been running flawlessly for many years now.

Agree with you on this one - use the KISS principle and it will work every time - no pun intended and mine cost me £5.99 (about $9.00 at the current exchange rate) and yes it runs flawlessly.

Regards

 

[shrimply]

While I agree with keeping it simple, I disagree with mechanical timers for a couple of reasons.

I use square timers like the ones like to from Wilckinsons although branded differently and they are fantastic, nice size for fitting in tight places. Battery back up is a big benefit, and so useful and they also switch between daylight saving time and back again with a button press ( well two at the same time actually).
Very easy to set up and much more flexible than mechanical ones.

And finally I've heard several stories of mechanical ones jamming and causing fires etc