Customer Reviews

Intermatic EJ351C 120 Volt 24-Hour Programmable Mechanical Security Timer

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

These work great! it is a little intense setting it up the first couple of times but they usually work very well. i have 3 in my current home and they operate my outside lighting, which by the way are all cfl's. the power outage reset is a drawback, but think of it as an oportunity to stay trained on how to set it up. if it is not working correctly, remember to reset it and a very important step is rotating the dial ALL the way around.
Set-up: 1) push the reset lever to the right and hold it to a count of 5 and release. 2) Set the time: determine if the white is before lunch and black is after lunch, the colors change at 12 noon or midnight, whatever. Spin the dial at least 360 degrees, do not push in while turning, stop at the current time. push in and release, current time is now set. 3) ON Time: Next turn the knob 360 degrees+ stopping at the "ON" time, push in on knob. Look at the light, is it on? If yes move on, if not, start over. 4) Set OFF time: Turn knob at least 360 degrees stopping at the time you want the light to go off, push in on knob. Look at light, is it OFF. Good Job! 5) Not done yet, turn the knob at least 360 degrees, where you end is unimportant. All done. Remember, rotate knob 360 degrees each time, only push knob in to set times, current time, "ON" time and "OFF" time. that should do it. i love them because they fit in a standard wall plate. Normally outside lights are in 2, 3, or 4 gang boxes and replacing all the switches and wall plate with the deorator unit so you can use the new type timer is more than i want to invest.

I have two of these. It wasn't too difficult to install, just make sure you turn off the circuit breaker to the wall switch before you start for safety. After installation, once you get the hang of programming it, you won't need the instruction sheet. Just be careful NOT to press the dial AND rotate--only one or the other at any one time. Once set, just push the dial to manually turn the light on or off at any time; it doesn't disturb the programming. Time is not precise, of course but I didn't need fine adjustment; plus/minus half an hour is good enough for me. I'd estimate the timer to be within 15 minutes of your settings. The LED indicates whether you've a blown bulb, which is a handy indicator. Since it doesn't have independent (battery) power, after a power outtage you will need to redo your settings. It's good enough for my other property which I check weekly. When I go over there, I look for an indication of whether there as been a power outtage and I check to see if the bulb is still good. I've had them for over two years with no problems.

More information at manufacturer's site:[...] their specs indicate that it cannot be used with flourescent bulbs or anything with ballasts.

5/5/2010 update: The first one I installed failed because I had used a CFL bulb (doh!). These are not meant to be used with CFL bulbs. I now have a digital timer switch sold at the local hardware store. I am happier with the replacement; check out the newer switch timers.

My landlady installed this timer for the exterior lighting. My problem: I can't figure out how to even make the blasted thing turn the lights on. I downloaded the manual, which specifies that the timer will operate like a light switch once it is in automatic mode. But I can't get it into automatic mode - when you turn it on, it is in "being programmed" mode and you have to program it before you can do anything. I've tried both ways to program it suggested by the manual but the steady red light indicative of automatic mode simply doesn't appear.

The profusion of modes in this innocuous-looking little timer (manual, automatic, rapid programming, 24-hour self programming, program review) is a user interface nightmare and far too complex to express effectively with a single red light. Without the manual it's unlikely you could even figure out that most operations are done by depressing the time dial. Advice to the manufacturer: next time do some usability testing.

I bought this four years ago and have had nothing but problems. Three problems:
1. EVERY time there is a power outage you need to reset the schedule.
2. It is difficult to set and understand how to program it. Several times I've confused AM and PM causing my light schedule to not work properly.
3. Even when I know I set the timer correctly, it doesn't always work properly.

I'm now on the hunt for a new mechanical timer that hopefully works better.

From past experience, these Intermatic Timers used to be well-made/reliable. However, after recently installing two timers and having to return them for replacements, I have concluded that the current defects were not a fluke. The quality control on these timers has apparently been abandoned. The first timer wouldn't turn on, the second timer literally fell apart when I was pushing it back into the electrical box, and the third timer (soon to be returned) has developed a mind of its own...turning on and off when it feels like it. Not only do these timers waste consumers' time to install and having to return them to Amazon (great return policy), it is a safety issue.

Timer worked reliably, so far as it is designed to, for a year or so and then began to turn on the light that it controlled earlier and earlier each cycle---clearly defective. Of course, the warranty expired two weeks before this began happening, so I am in the market for a new timer.

Reliability issues aside, I will not be purchasing another timer of the same model due to the fact that it was a pain to have to regularly reprogram the timer to follow a dusk-to-dawn schedule anyway (it's a moving target), so I am now searching for a somewhat higher quality, self-adjusting timer.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I'm sick of everything having to be digital! I have manual timers on a couple of other switches in the house, so when I wanted one more, I went to two different home centers and a hardware store - nothing available except digital. So I bought a digital GE one, took me forever to program it, then after about 3 months - like so many things digital - it died.

I finally found this one on Amazon, and it's perfect. It installed easily, and contrary to what some other reviewers said, I found the programming to be a snap. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and I set my start and stop times with no problem. And that's exactly what I wanted - a timer that turns my porch light on and off - not one that knows the phase of the moon in Tibet and the train schedules in Siberia and whatever else manufacturers try and cram into digital products these days.

Fast shipping, a good price, easy to install, easy to program, and works exactly like it's supposed to. What more can you ask from a product? Definitely five stars, and thank you Amazon for continuing to carry products like these when the retailers have all gone digital (are you listening Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace?)

I have to agree w/ several of the reviews previously posted on this product. Firt just let me say I'm not claiming to be a lic electrian. However I can wire a ceiling fan, light switch, outlet box with easy and have done many of these in the past. I just tried to install two timers and I could not get the Red Light functioning on either timer to even tell how to program it. One unit seemed to not work at all. The 2nd unit was able to control the lights (lights actually came on) but without the indicator light it was impossible to tell how to program it. As troubleshooting for each unit I completely uninstalled the unit and started over again, checking connections, re-reading the instructions for error, I wound up doing this 5 times and still couldn't get it to function. I'd stay clear of this product unless you have successfully used in the past and have a very high confidence level with the installation. It is NOT an intuitive product and appears cheaply made. I also wasn't happy with the cheap, loose, plastic control dial as it didn't appear to be rugged. I attempted both thinking maybe the first unit was a dud but then had problems with the second timer as well so I just uninstalled both. Maybe the older ones were a little sturdier and more reliable from seeing some other posts but I'd never buy another one.

I've bought a half dozen or so of this model and its immediate predecessor model over the last 18 years. My complaint: Used on a floodlight, it is apt to blow out when a bulb fails. When I finally switched to 130V bulbs, I stopped blowing timers, mostly. Then I lost one when I had a power outage. Note that every circuit in my house is protected with a GFI, so it doesn't take much to blow these timers.

The latest unit seems to forget its settings after a few days and then comes on three hours early.

Why do I keep buying them? No one else makes a simple wall switch timer. I bought another Intermatic ultra-sophisticated unit with longitude and latitude settings and date setting for automatic on/off adjustment according to the time of year. Took me an hour and a half to program it initially, then when it lost its program, I couldn't find the directions again. I've also had photocell switches, but I have too much shade now for them to work--they just stay ON.

This kindof reminds me of my last Dodge--a good design, if only they could build it better...

I received the Intermatic EJ351C 24hour wall timer and called an electrician to install it. He said it did not work because it was defective. I then had to order another one and pay shipping again. When I receive the new one I will have to pay the electrician again. My cost for install and postage will be more than the cost iof the timer. Not happy