Customer Reviews

Intermatic ST01AC Heavy Duty In-Wall Timer with Astronomic Feature, Almond

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

A rather ambiguous title for this review, but this timer has earned it. Overall, this is a delightful product, easy to install (don't believe the electrician who reviewed it), with a great, efficient program that changes dawn and dusk times automatically and even adjusts for daylight savings time.

However, as many of the reviews state, it is not the most reliable of switches. I have been using these for over five years, and sometimes a switch will last two or even three years, and other times for only a few months before reverting to a "No Op" mode, or back to the original unprogrammed mode for no perceivable reason. Of course, after a few months, no one will take the switch back. It also has a rather odd battery that is not widely available.

Unfortunately, I am rather stuck if I want this kind of timer, because the Aube timers (more reliable and easier to program, according to reviews) all require a white neutral wire to operate. Heck, my house's wiring is so old, they hadn't even heard of ground wires when it was installed. As far as I can tell, the Aube and the Intermatic are the only players out there. I would even be willing to pay a premium price for a timer that could be installed in my house and worked reliably for several years.

The irony is that, after writing this review, I will probably order a few more of these. I love the features of this switch enough to pay the price, as frustrating as I find the failures.

Purchased ST01AC for the porch light and it works great. Instructions are good, easy to install and program. Even comes with a quick program instruction sheet so you can have it working in minutes. I replaced a single pole switch with it but it can be used with a 3 way switch also. Can be set for the new DST and can even be adjusted. i.e.: I set it to come on at Dusk but I advanced the sunset time 15 minuets so it comes on 15 minuets after sunset (saves about 2 hrs. burn time a week) then turn off at a certain time rather than burn all night and turn off at sunrise, which it can also do. Overall a good switch for the money, I would buy another one and I just might for the driveway lights.

This is the absolute best in-wall timer I have ever seen. It has an excellent dusk-on/dawn-off feature that changes with the calendar. The randomization feature is an added bonus.

This is their heavy-duty timer, so it easily works with compact fluorescent lights.

It was easy to install, supports integration with a secondary switch (3-way), and was easy to program. While the display was a little small, and therefore a little difficult to read, it is not something that needs to be read every day.

To date, I have not been able to find its equal.

The three units I have installed are working great, and have been doing so for years.

I noticed another reviewer indicated the unit does not have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) marking; however, it does have the CSA International marking of "CSA" with a "C" and a "US. This web page has information about this marking: http://www.globalspec.com/reference/3297/Underwriters-Laboratories-UL-Marks

A call to my local electrical code enforcement agency told me that as long as the unit was marked with "CSA" and "US", it was fine.

I purchased the Intermatic STO1 in wall timer switch to replace older Intermatic timer switches installed in my home and which would not operate if energy efficient CFL lighting is used. I was attracted to the battery backup and astronomic features of the timer which will eliminate resetting the timer after power failures (or momentary spikes), change of seasons (dusk and dawn), and daylight saving time changes. The timer switch came with clear installation instructions and was easy to install and program. After installing the first of six switches that I purchased, I realized that the timer could be programmed after inserting the included CR2 lithium battery and prior to wiring the switch into the wall box which saved time in the installation. Over time (years), the battery for backing up the timer settings will have to be replaced, but this can be accomplished simply through the front access door of the switch without removing A/C power or going into the wall box. The only negative that cause me not to to give this product Five Stars was that the switch makes an annoying (clicking) noise as it turns "On" or as it turns "Off" the circuit which could be a problem if used in bedrooms to control night lights.

I was happy to come upon this switch, which I just installed a few days ago. I am using it for the outside post lamp and exterior garage coach lights. I wanted to use CFLs, for the savings and long life, and this is just perfect for that. I replaced a simple EJ351C, which only worked with incandescent bulbs. I like that you can 'tweek' the DUSK/DAWN times, since the default setting turned out to be sunset and sunrise where I am (Long Island, NY) which is acutally a little earlier than dusk and a little later than dawn.

I found it simple to install, no more difficult than any toggle switch. However it is a little challenging to program the first time. The display and the programming buttons are pretty small and not illuminated. You really need to follow the directions carefully. The programming is not intuitive at all. You actually have to enter 2 programs; the on and the off. Speed reading the directions does not work. Having successfully programmed it on my 2nd attempt, I am now good to go. Theoretically, once programmed it should be good for good.

I recommend this product for this type of application.

ADDITIONAL- I have been using this for about 4 months now. It works fine, except as others have noted, it does not keep accurate time over a few months. Mine gains about 1 minute a month, with I think is sort of strange for a digital timer. Still like it, though.

I have installed two Intermatic switches (both ST01C - the white version of the product) - one to control the porch light (CFL), and the other to control illumination for something hung over the mantel (LED). One of these installations was single pole, while the other was for a three-way switch.

Both switches have worked extremely well, one for over two years, and the other for about one year. I haven't had to replace the battery in either, and Intermatic has a very good safety record on them - even the original.

The installation is simple for the average DIYer, and the switch is easy to program. The switch can be controlled based on calculated sunrise/sunset times (based on the zone of the country you live in), or preset times. There is a random feature to turn the switch on/off randomly within 15 minutes of the preset times - to give a "lived-in" look when you're away.

There are over twenty individual on or off controls that can be set - this is overkill in both my installations - where I need just a single on-time and a single off-time.

All this is great - here's the one negative. The switches gain about 10-12 minutes every six months, which I fix when we switch to/from daylight savings time. This isn't a big deal for my applications - but it may be for others.

I found the instructions confusing in that the screen did not follow the directions. After 4 days of programming ( I had to try it to see it what I did worked) I got it to work and is working perfectly.

It would be nice if the programming was simpler and there was an easy way to review what had been program

I purchased this product and had it installed by an electrician. I am not a total dummy but I found the instructions fine until I got to the Programing Dusk On/Dawn Off. I can get the timer to work the ON part but I can not get the program to work the OFF part. I note that some reviewers say that the programing is a bit "tricky." I agree. The instructions mention go to a program but neglect to explain what the programs represent. To me, that is not intuitive and should have been explained in more detail.

After extensive research, I found this to be the only timer marketed for the old two wires electric line. I bought it thru Amazon, the price was lower that that offered by other retailers, it was delivered quickly, it was very easy to install (simple one,rwo three), and over and above all it works very well. I am very pleased with my choice, particularly the astronomic feature which automatically changes the off and on time based on the day of the year, namely shorter and longer days. My only disappointment was that the lithium battery supplied was dead, and I had to buy a new one at a cost of $12.

Nice product. Installation took some patience and close attention to the instructions, but things worked out. Like the Astronomic feature and and back-up battery. Quite pleased with this item.