Customer Reviews

ART-DNe - Adjustable Cycle Timer

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a useful and quite rare timer design. It has fully adjustable ON and OFF times and both have very large and useful time ranges from a short delay or run time to quite long runs if you want.

It has a Light to indicate the ON cycle and uses an internal relay to switch the loads so it can handle a fairly robust load or motor with no issue. I have 2 of these with no problems yet on the first one that's 2 years old. I use one to run a water pump that needs to run at fixed intervals and this is one of the few products that is adjustable enough to do it. It's also very easy and quick to adjust the settings.

I wouldn't change a thing except maybe a way to lock the dials so no one bumps the setting. They have a very smooth operation which is higher quality than expected these days so I wouldn't want to change that, but a way to lock the dial would be useful.

Update: Feb, 2011.

The internal relay quit working after 1 month on my 2nd unit while running a small 1 amp water pump.

It's rated for 15 amps so it should have handled that small load forever. The timer still worked but there was no AC output.

After waiting shipping and for the seller to test the switch they replaced the unit for free and indicated they haven't had any of these go out before.

Update 5-2011

After many design changes and permutations the best control solution for my setup was to use an adjustable electronic water level sensor for the pump ON signal (Wayne brand makes one). So that turns it on and it runs until the original sump float switch drops down with the water. This has several advantages:

It always turns on when actually needed vs using a timer that doesn't know the level.

If there's a problem and the water doesn't drop below the ON sensor fairly quickly the level sensor alarm goes off.

I can set the ON water level height anywhere I want while you typically can't do with a float switch.

It always turns OFF when the water level is down since it's still using the original pump float switch for the OFF function (while a timer may go too long).

This also allows longer pump life by reducing the number of stop/start cycles since I can artificially set the ON position a little higher than usual. Then when it does finally go it sends a bigger load of water and remains off longer between cycles. I was careful with this to make sure levels remained with safe levels.

So I'm not using the timer right now but it will come in useful for some project.

i spent 3 years looking for a timer that could be adjusted for the "on" time and the "off" time. they only products I could find where several hundred dollars. until finally this product came along. and THANK GOODNESS! we use it to control our heat tape on our water pipes. we save tons of money on electricity now, because instead of the heat tape always being on in the winter, I can adjust it (depending on the temperature) to be on for 30 min, then off for 1 hr, without any worry of my pipes freezing. (they are VERY WELL INSULATED).

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product for people with a similar application. I don't want my heat tape to be on 24/7 when the temperature is 30 degrees. and I can't afford to replace all my heat tape with thermostatically controlled heat tape.

We have been using this product for 4 months now, and not one single product failure, or frozen pipes. this product has already payed for itself, considering we pay 18 cents per kwh in ALASKA.

We are using this timer to run two small hydroponic pumps 1/2 on, 1/2 off. It is working fine. Two other brand timers, locally available, stopped working in a few days--this one has been working fine for several weeks. You get what you pay for.

This timer did not work right out of the box. The unit keeps turning on after 20-30 seconds with the "Off" cycle setting on any value. That is not the way that it is supposed to work.

I am purchasing this product, having read some of the reviews concerning it, I feel I should offer some advice. In my job I have used similar products. Most of them contain relays that switch off and on what ever device is plugged into it. From my experience small relays and electric motors don't get along well even if the motor is with in the amp rating of the relay. Motors cause relays to ark and often cause the contacts to stick together. I will be using this Timer to control a small electric pump but I will be using a contactor to actually control the pump. A contactor is a heavy duty relay designed for motors. The timer will turn the contactor off and on, and the contactor will control the motor. Look for a contactor with a 120volt coil.

Works very well. Got it for a hydroponics system I put together. Does a fine job and love the control that it gives.

This thing is great, rugged quality, and easy to use. It is very straight forward and well labeled. Just a quick glance and you can understand how to set this up. It has been very reliable for me. I use it to power a water pump for hydroponic strawberry towers.

Initially the unit would buzz and click very loudly and turn on after only a few seconds being off no matter the off-timer setting. After resetting a few times it started working somewhat better, although it was still clicking many times before it would kick on. At first I thought this was just how it was supposed to operate, but after a while it stopped clicking multiple times and would kick on the first time the relay triggered. At this point I thought I was out of the woods, but before long, say 15 minutes, it started clicking again and would not turn on at all. Returning the item.

Received a replacement unit from seller but it behaves in the exact same manner. Tried it with a small lamp and it worked fine. It did not work with my small hydroponic pump, or even my tiny air pump. From the manufacturer's website: "The ART-DNe timers have a wide range of uses including controlling hydroponic pumps, simple CO2 controller, turning on and off ozone generators, running exhaust fans, etc." Complete crap.

Simply a terrible product.

I bought this to work in conjunction with a thermostat control for my existing high ceiling hot air scavenge system.

The 2 fans used to run nearly constantly now they run approximately 30% of the time. The comfort level at the lower level is the same because the run time is moving warmer air. The device works great and is saving me 70% of the running cost of the fans. This switch is easy to install & use.

I use it for a rose cloner root mister. It has done a good job but I think I might go back to other ways of setting roots.