Customer Reviews

Stanley 31217 Digital Outdoor Photocell Light Timer, Black

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

 

 

At first, this timer (which I used to control Christmas lights) performed fine. I liked the photocell ON with a set duration of lighting. However, about two thirds of the way through the holiday season, it began to malfunction buy not turning itself off.Then, as I was taking down the lights, I could not get the plug from the extension cord out of the socket on the timer. I took it apart (4 small screws hold it together) to find the plastic on the inside had melted and fused the plug into its socket! If you DO buy one of these, I guess you better add up the wattage of the lights you are controlling.

This is a good device and does what is in the description for the product. I have not had any issues with it so far. But, it does have one annoyance. If you lose your power (or it is on a switched circuit), when the power is restored you have to reprogram it again as it defaults to a "no power" status. If you are controlling xmas lights then it is not a problem. If you expect it to do something more heavy duty such as turning on low impact lighting for outdoor steps, you need to shop for something else.

I bought the device to use at a vacation home and to be standalone without me having to reset something when the power goes off. As I am not at my home 365 days a year, I can't rely on it to do its simple job of turning on some lights for our outdoor steps.

If you are using at your home though and you are there 365 days a year, then you should have no problem using this device except for the occasional reprogram if your power goes out.

So buyer if you are looking for something that is hands free after the initial setting, this is not the device you want.

I don't understand why everyone doesn't use these things... especially when you can get them this cheap!
It not only saves money on electricity but you'll save the hassel of having to change burnt out bulbs as often.

I bought one of these timers and had it on the balcony. One day during the summer, the lights that were connected to it didn't work. When I looked at the timer, the plastic cover had melted! It's made from two halves of plastic, and when these melted the plastic got bent and there was a big gap between the halves exposing all the electric cords inside. I live on the coast in Northern California, where the sun can be strong, but the air is never very hot.
It is too bad that I cannot attach pictures. Don't buy this, it's dangerous!!

After reading reviews for this and similar products and comparing the specs, I chose this timer for my outdoor holiday lights. The reviews weren't very good but I took a chance because of the price and the 'Stanley' name. I live in CT and we have had about the worst weather in the history of this area. Below zero temps, several feet of snow, freezing rain, etc.

Through it all, my lights have come on...every night this season...flawlessly:-)

I will let you know the day it stops working, that is IF it stops working.

I bought 2 of these timers. One of them stopped working after only 1 week. The other one is still working after 2 months.

The timer works great, easy to set and goes on and off the way it should but any electrical glitch the timer has to be reset. I didn't realize that it didn't have a battery back up. I would not purchase another one of these timers unless it has battery back up.

This thing is a piece of crap. I've had to reset dozens of times in the five months that I've had it and it has now stopped working. The lights just stay on 24/7. It started having issues after about a month of use. Don't buy this. It is a piece of crap.

Product has been working for over a month outside on a daily basis... only had to reset once because of a power outage.

This item stopped working within a few days of using it. It is constructed of very poor cheap plastic and the display stopped working within days of getting it, thus I was unable to see which program the timer was on...