Aube by Honeywell TI034-3W/U Solar Time Table, Programmable Timer Switch, White

by Aube by Honeywell

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This Aube by Honeywell solar programmable timer switch features convenient Sunrise and Sunset activation-ideal for lighting. Works with incandescent and halogen lighting (40-Watt minimum). LCD shows time, day and load status. Manual override enables load to be turned on and off without affecting program. multi switch (3-way) connection enables use with 3-way switches. Built-in rechargeable battery. Programming protected during power outages

Product Description

You don't have to spend hours adjusting the programmed on and off times on a light switch timer as the seasons change with the Smarthome Aube 40-500w Solar Timer Switch. With the Smarthome Aube 40-500w Solar Timer Switch you can program your lights to turn on at sunset based specifically on your area with the Aube Solar Timer Switch, 40-500W, an attractive Decora-style timer switch that can control incandescent, halogen or fluorescent lighting.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00027EWN2
• Item model number: TI034-3W/U
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,049 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best light timer by far, November 27, 2007

By 

Lurfy's Ma (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

As far as I know, there is nothing even close to this on the market.

I have had a few of these for many years. None have ever failed. Setup is straightforward and programming is reasonable.

Having the lights automatically adjust for sunrise/sunset is great. If we leave the house at 4pm and come back at 9pm, the front lights are on.

There is a little bug in the programming (TI034). It screws up if it is programmed to turn on before midnight and turn off after midnight. I forget now how it screws up, because I changed mine to turn off just before midnight. I think it just stayed on.

I would like more flexible programming, but that usually comes with complexity. There isn't much space there for a display.

1. Be able to set an offset (sunset +/- nn minutes).

2. A random feature where it would vary the actual on/off times by +/- nn minutes. This is a minor point, because it already vary some because of changing sunset/sunrise times.

3. Automatic adjustment for daylight savings. That may be a problem, because they could change the cutover date, so maybe it's better as it is.
This also allows me to synch the clock twice a year. The timer does not keep perfect time, which is surprising. I would think it could use the 60 Hz from the grid to stay perfectly in time. Maybe an upgraded model could include a received for the time signal from Colorado? :-)

This is one of my favorite gadgets. It used to be very hard to find. I am glad that Amazon is now carrying it. I often give them away as gifts.

07/30/10 Update: Aube makes quite a few models. It took me awhile to figure out the differences and I bought one wrong model. Some of them are designed for more heavy-duty work and controlling motors (033 & 035). I see that they now have a few new models with more programming options and higher wattage ratings. Most of mine are the 034. These are fine for porch lights. Our front porch light is also wired in with the front outside plug so it can control external Christmas lights. The 500 watt max for the 034 is limiting. I may get the new 071 or 072 to replace that one.

Here's a summary of the model from the Aube website (aubetech dot com). Please excuse the (. . .). That's the only way I could find to make a table.

. . Model . . . . . . . . . . . Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Programs
. TI032-3W . . . 500 W @ 120 V, 40 W minimum . . 7 manual
. TI032-3W-5 . .500 W @ 120 V, 40 W minimum . . 7 manual
. TI034-3W . . . 500 W @ 120 V, 40 W minimum . . Sunset/sunrise
. TI070-3W . . . 500 W @ 120 V, 40 W minimum . . 7 manual + Sunset/sunrise
. TI073-3W . . . 500 W @ 120 V, 40 W minimum . . 21 manual + Sunset/sunrise
. TI033 . . . . . . 2400 W max., 1 HP @ 120 V . . . . 7 manual
. TI035 . . . . . . 2400 W max., 1 HP @ 120 V . . . . Sunset/sunrise
. TI071 . . . . . . 1800 W @ 120 V, 0 W minimum . . 7 manual + Sunset/sunrise
. TI072-3W . . . 1800 W @ 120 V, 0 W minimum . . 21 manual + Sunset/sunrise

The 3W means 3-way. The -5 is almond color.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as advertised, but 40 watt minimum is too low., September 30, 2009

By 

S. Power (Detroit, Michigan, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aube by Honeywell TI034-3W/U Solar Time Table, Programmable Timer Switch, White (Tools & Home Improvement)

This product performs exactly as advertised. The reason I only give it 3 stars is that the 40 watt minimum is way too low for this type of product. I am going to return these, and buy a different product that is as similar as possible, but without the 40 watt minimum. I bought these despite the 40 watt minimum, because I was thinking that the minimum might not really be a factor for my application. It was a factor. The clock in this switch doesn't keep accurate time at all, when used with lesser wattage bulbs.

I have 4 sets of outdoor lights, and planned to replace two of them, and their associated switches with this product. One of them powers my front door light fixture, and the other powers lights that are on either side of my garage door. Neither circuit has enough draw to meet the 40 watt minimum requirement.

My 1st fixture holds two small, chandelier type bulbs. Since these are on for a long period of time, they are florescent, each drawing 9 watts, for a total of 18 watts. Most fixtures that people use in this location, either have 2 of these types of bulbs, or 1 standard size CFL bulb which are typically at most 23 watts. You could of course get to 40 watts by using less efficient incandescent bulbs, but with amount of time that this type of fixture is on, you would be better off leaving LED of CFL bulbs on 24x7, than using a 40 watt incandescent bulb for 12 hours a day.

My 2nd circuit that I was going to use this product on has two fixtures, identical to the one I just described. I currently have LED bulbs in them, drawing 1.5 watts each. 1.5x4 is 6 watts total. I knew that this wouldn't be close enough to the 40 watt minimum to work, and they aren't really bright enough anyway, so I had fully planned to switch these bulbs to four 9 watt CFLs. Even this would be 4 watts shy of the 40 watt minimum. Depending on how returnable the switch I already opened is, I may use it in this location, assuming that 36 is close enough to 40.

If you want to use these switches for fixtures that are being 40 and 500 watts they are perfect. You set them up, and never have to touch them again. For less than 40 or more than 500, don't even consider them.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solar Timer Switch works as promised!, November 12, 2006

By 

Derin S. Rominger (Decatur, IL) - See all my reviews
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Aube Solar Timer Switch was easy to order, easy to install, and easy to program. I have used other "automatic" timers that I have to adjust every few weeks for changes in daylight as sunset shifts throughout the year. These switches do it all. They come with lists of nearby cities to calculate your local latitude and longitude to establish local sunset times. You can also get the same information readily on-line or from a GPS navigation radio if you have one... The only other feature I can think of to add would be if the switch could automatically adjust for daylight savings time. But if I only have to mess with the thing twice a year, I guess I shouldn't complain. Great product!