Customer Reviews

Indoor Electronic Programmable Plug-In Timer with Front LCD (High Wattage)

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

 

 

I'm in the process of building a near infrared sauna (as per Lawrence Wilson). The sauna will be built on top of a bed, because one of the people using it is debilitated and can't be upright more than a couple minutes at a time. I needed a countdown timer that would shut the sauna lamps off for safety reasons after a certain time, in case the person in the sauna fell asleep. I looked quite a while before I finally found this item (I almost purchased a commercial Intermatic wall timer, which I would have had to wire into our power strip - lot of trouble). THIS PLUGIN TIMER IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED!!! We are now able to program right down to the second how long the sauna lamps will be on. This item is PERFECT! Another person who reviewed this timer gave it a very low rating, claiming they couldn't understand the instructions. I wanted to let prospective buyers know that the instructions are precise and correct, and not difficult to understand. (I have absolutely no connection with the company that makes this product.) This timer works exactly as it should, and is a great tool for us, with many more uses than what we bought it for. To program the countdown timer, press the DAY & red PRG buttons together, which brings you straight to the countdown timer mode. Set the time as desired. (DAY button sets the seconds.) If you want to zero out the numbers, press the small R (reset) button with the tip of a paper clip. If the timer is set to ON, then when the countdown timer finishes it will turn the power off; and if it is set to OFF, then when the timer finishes it will turn the power on. Press the CD (countdown) button in any mode, and your previously set time will begin counting down. So if you use the same countdown time over and over, you just press one button. How easy is that?

The directions that come with this unit are sparse. They tell you how to set a start time, but not an end time on any given program you want to set up. I can't quite figure out how to do it, either. I'm usually pretty good figuring this kind of thing out, but no luck this time. I'm returning it.

Easily handles every timing test I've ever thrown at it.

For example: I have an internet addiction. The timer is currently set to allow my router to be on from 9AM until midnight, OR when I push a button to ask for just 20 more minutes. Does both modes at once.

Or: I wanted to be able to run the electric heating pad for the first few hours after I go to bed, and then shut off. I go to bed at different times of the day and so just having one of those fixed-time daily lamp timers wouldn't work very well.

Down at the hardware store, the only type of countdown timer they have is the install-in-the-wall spring-crank tick-tock-tick-tock kind. Nothing available for plug-in, nothing without the loud tick-tock. Checked online. Nothing.

Except for this one. And one other on Amazon, which I have tried (search "programmable timer".)

Main downside: it can be very tricky to program. The directions are really cryptic. But five stars anyhow, for solving my timing when nothing else could.

When I received this product I had high hopes to use it as a timer but when I read the cryptic instructions, I lost my wits! It is not worth the price. I bought it last year and still have not used it. Maybe it's me?

This little timer does it all, count down, date / time, etc. Many other timers out there are missing one function or another but this little unit seems to have it all. True the instructions could've been written better, but playing around with it and you'll get it. I purchased one of these now wish I could buy three more but amazon.com is out (bummer!).

Good product. Easy to program and it has multiple settings. Very sturdy and well built.

I can't figure out how this thing works even after reading the instructions several times.