Customer Reviews

Amertac TEO5W Decorative Indoor Weekly Digital Timer, White

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

We have a digital timer identical to this one except made by Timex. After a decade, the backup battery lost its ability to hold a charge for more than a minute, so we started looking for a new one. We thought, it's been 10 years, all digital timers these days must have the features we need. We were wrong. All the others we tried were inferior. What makes this one the best:

1) The display faces upward allowing you to easily see and modify settings while the timer is plugged into the wall. This helps a lot if the timer is plugged in behind a table, where it's not easy to see a display that faces forward.

2) The manual override button includes on, off, auto on, and auto off. Having both auto on and auto off lets you turn the timer on and off manually or modify the program times and then easily set the timer into the correct state afterward without having to wait for the program to activate.

3) The random feature is based off of your program times. Another timer we tried had a random feature that activated at completely random times. What use would it be to have a light turn on randomly in the middle of the day in broad daylight and then not turn on at night when it's dark?!

4) It has a daylight savings time feature so you can quickly add or subtract an hour.

This timer has all the features of our old Timex one and more. They've rearranged the button functions and added a countdown timer. You can both increase and decrease settings now (such as hours, minutes, etc.), whereas settings on the Timex only moved in one direction, and you had to loop around to access everything. Some settings need more button presses to access, but all the features from the Timex are still in there.

It might be more complicated than simple digital timers, but the instructions are detailed and clear. If you read carefully, you can figure it out. The features are well worth it.

Great device w/rechargeable battery to keep correct time and settings thru power outages. Can set 20 on/off events over any 7 day combination you can think of. Much superior to pin type, and other external battery backup units. Even accommodates setting time +/- 1hr for daylight savings. Random mode allows lights to turn on 1-30 mins offset for burglar deterrent.
Comes w/1yr Warranty. Can go online to www.amertac.com website to obtain programming instructions if lost. But I found it easier to program than most other programmable devices I've encountered. LIke all other timer units, The unit ties up a whole duplex socket outlet unless you plug it into an extension. Unit can be gotten for $9.95 plus s&h at www.amazon.com

So far, So good. I found this timer to be very reliable and easily programmed. Once the desired start/stop times have been entered the main thing to remember for the timer to function properly, is to push the OVER button located on the right side until the display reads AUTO. I use the timer to operate a pet food dispenser that required two on/off settings a day, at the same time, seven days a week. I had an analog woods timer that could be programmed with as many settings as this timer, but I found the start/stop times to be way to unreliable on a day to day basis to be used for a pet food dispenser.

This is my 4th attempt at buying a programmable digital timer. This is by far the best one. Easy to program and easy to overide. Has rechargeable battery to maintain settings during power failures.

Amertac TEO5W Decorative Indoor Weekly Digital Timer, White

GREAT . HAS RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SO IF YOU LOSE POWER IT MAINTAINS PROGRAM.

I was a little skeptical that someone may have actually built a digital timer that is relatively affordable but every bit as good as the tried-and-true analog models. Well, this device is absolutely better. Although setting it up is a bit of a strain for my aging eyes, once it is set up (correctly), it seems to work very reliably, it provides substantially more flexibility, and the switch-over to Daylight Savings Time was a breeze.

I bought a Timex timer a few years ago which is almost identical to this, so I already knew how to program it. I always wanted a couple more so I could set them up with different lamps. I was unable to find the Timex ones so purchased these. I've been using one regularly for a lamp during the shorter winter months. It comes on in the early evening and shuts off about the time I go to bed. I use the random feature which is great as it varies the on/off time when we are not home in the evening so it looks like we are home. Once you understand how to program the timer, its easy to set multiple programs. Read the instructions - and follow them.

This is the perfect timer for your house. I have it hooked up to my espresso machine, it comes on at 5 AM and shuts off at 7 am...you can program in 20 different settings. It's also simple to over ride the settings without messing anything up. It's rated at 15 amps and has worked perfectly. Highly recommended.

I've had this timer for some time and it works great. It has way more function than I need for turning on a light, but it was the only one at the store at the time. I too lost the instructions, but the directions ARE on the AmerTac website.

This thing worked once it was setup, but setting it up was a very non intuitive process. I've built computers that were easier to assemble than this thing was to set. The biggest problem we had with this, is that if we wanted to manually turn it on temporarily, you have to toggle through the 4 modes: on/off/auto/countdown - it's a pain. Once it's off, you have to push the button two more times to get it back into auto operation. With the Intermatic one there's a separate button for on/off without changing the mode, making it easy to turn on temporarily... so in closing: go with the Intermatic DT620CH70 timer with the rotating knob on the front, it's much easier to set (you wont' need the manual every time you need to change something, doesn't block the other outlet, has two outputs, AND you can easily manually override the on/off without changing the mode.