The main issue with old-school outlet timers is that they are not reliable and offer very little flexibility and control. They are limited by their mechanisms and minimum time. That means they are not suitable for shorter tasks.
Not being usable on shorter tasks will result in higher energy bills and a potential threat to your wallet in the long run. So having a programmable timer outlet makes sense. It times your appliances on a schedule of your liking.
Does it sound interesting?
It can also keep your home safe when you are on vacation and it can be a cheap way to automate your home The benefits are endless. The problems arise when you go online to buy them.
There are hundreds of options. if you are not careful, you can end up with the wrong product. That is why there are certain parameters that you need to keep in mind to get the best programmable outlet timer on the market.
Let’s get started.
Choosing the best programmable outlet timer
Starting with the research is a step in the right direction, find the top products, read reviews make comparisons, and filter them out through some parameters and you will end up with a good product at the end.
Through the whole process of researching, evaluating, and making comparisons. I think the Fosmon digital timer is the best programmable outlet timer in terms of brand recognition, functionality, and affordable price tags.
Below is the list of parameters based on which we selected the above product.
a. Type
There are mainly three types of timers on the market. There is a mechanical plug timer that uses mechanical mechanisms to perform the intended function on a timer.
Digital and smart plug timers use electronic circuits. Which are accurate and controllable. Smart plug timers allow you to control your appliances from anywhere in the world.
b. Compatibility
Make sure the plug timer that you are purchasing is compatible with the appliances in your home. Two things must be chicken for it to be compatible.
The Voltage rating should be according to your country’s standard voltage. In America its 120 volts. The type of port and prong should be according to your country’s standards as well.
c. Programmability
Make sure you get this part right from the start because this is immensely impacting the usability, compatibility, and versatility of the device.
Mechanical timers don’t offer much programmability. Digital and smart plug timer timers offer much more time sittings which you can play around with and see what works for you.
d. Use case
They are mainly used either indoors or outdoors. Outdoor timers have a cover that protects them from the environment and usually have a higher voltage rating.
Indoor timer outlets are designed with style and aesthetics in mind and they have a standard voltage rating of 120 volts to work with all the appliances that are used indoors.
e. Timing accuracy
Timing accuracy is the accuracy at which the timer sits off. Tasks such as cooking or baking require accurate timing. A minute off and you got yourself an overcooked bread.
98 percent accuracy is best for digital and smart plug timers. If you got a mechanical timer then you should be looking for 95 percent accuracy.
f. Number of ports
Having a lot of ports is always a good idea. So get as many as you can. Having a lot of ports will allow you to hook as many appliances as you want without having any issues.
While you are at it, also, look for the type of port as well. Make sure it’s a standard American-style outlet port or you will end up with a device that you can’t hook anything to.
g. Build quality
Build quality is the only factor that would directly impact the longevity of your plug timer. So make sure it’s on point. It should last you a long while before you would need another one.
Look out for PVC or ABS plastics. These are the most durable and environment abuse-resistant plastic on the market.
List of the top programmable outlet timer
Down is the list we made of the best outlet timers on the market.
Our selected: Fosmon programmable digital timer
Founded in 2007, Fosmon is a company that specializes in home automation and appliances. It is dominating the market with its robust, functional, and charismatic line of products.
The Fosmon programmable digital timer (Amazon link) is the best programmable outlet timer on the market because there is nothing like it currently when it comes to digital timer plugs.
The Good
Below are some of the good aspects of this programmable outlet timer.
It is a digital timer plug: Which means it has a lot fewer moving parts. It is very accurate which makes it perfect for cooking and other tasks that require high timing accuracy.
It is highly compatible with indoor appliances: It has a 120-volt voltage rating. Which is the standard voltage rating in America. So it would work on all of them without any issues.
The port and prong are also according to the American standard which means you can hook any appliance to it with ease. It would not have any compatibility issues with your appliances.
This plug timer is programmable: This simply means you would be able to set it to what your situation requires. It’s very flexible when it comes to programmability. You can easily program it with the help of buttons.
It is meant for indoor use only: Yes it is meant to be used indoors with indoor appliances. The design is very pleasant to the eye and does not stick out like a sore thumb which is perfect.
The voltage rating is also designed for indoor appliances. This means you would be able to run your coffee machine, lights, and humidifiers with this device with ease.
This plug timer is accurate: This makes it the perfect choice for cooking where timing is important. In baking, if you are just a minute off, you will not get the intended results.
Due to its accuracy, it’s perfect for that sort of task and other tasks such as aquariums or indoor plants, or the night light for your kids when they go to bed.
The build quality is good: It’s made out of PVC plastic which makes it less likely to get damaged when dropped or abused in shape or form. That means it would last you a long while before you would need another one.
The Bad
Here are some of the bad aspects of this programmable outlet timer.
- The screen is not backlit which means it’s hard to navigate in the dark.
- The buttons are a bit flimsy.
These were the bad aspects of this timer outlet.
The Downright Ugly
There is one ugly thing about this plug timer and it is the lack of extra outlet ports. This timer plug has only one port if it stops working it will render the whole timer useless.
Also Great: Techbee TE02
Techbee is a relatively new company. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that they are not good enough. They are dominating the market Because they are outperforming almost everyone in the market.
The TE02 is a of kind programmable outlet timer. It offers functionality that goes head-to-head with some of the top brands on the market. It is a solid and great option to consider.
Important features:
- It is a digital plug timer. This means it is very accurate, making it perfect for baking and other time-constrained tasks.
- Standard American voltage rating of 120 volts and standard outlet and prong make it compatible with almost every indoor appliance in your home.
- It is very flexible when it comes to programming. It allows you to set the timer to whatever time you want.
- Meant for indoor use only. You can use it on lights, coffee machines, humidifiers, and much more.
- Very accurate because it uses electronic circuits to do the intended function. That means a lot fewer moving parts which results in high accuracy.
- It only gives you one outlet port.
- Made with PVC plastic which is durable and abuse-resistant. You don’t have to worry about driving it by accident because it won’t crack or stop working.
To sum it all up. The Techbee TE02 (Amazon link) is also a great programmable outlet timer on the market. It’s accurate, it’s compatible, it offers flexibility, and it is also very durable. It’s impressive how they manage to get all this functionality into such an affordable price point.
Also Great: POWSAV smart power strip
Powsav is a company that aims to make people all around the world better and convenient with their diverse and durable line of products that range from timers to power strips and much more.
The smart power strip will allow you to hook as many appliances as you want. You can even connect your phone directly and control it through there without having any issues.
Important features:
- It is a smart timer outlet. That means it allows you to control it from any part of the world as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
- The voltage rating is standard 120 volts and the prong is American which means it’s compatible with all the appliances around the house.
- This smart programmable timer plug offers you endless flexibility when it comes to programming. You can set it to whatever schedule your situation calls.
- Meant for indoor appliances only. It would work on lights, coffee machines,s and much more.
- It is very accurate.
- This smart power strip gives you 8 outlet ports out of which 4 are smart and 4 are normal. And they are independently accessible.
- This device is very durable because it’s made of PVC plastic. It would last you a long while before you would need another one.
In summary, the Powsav smart power strip (Amazon link) is also a great programmable outlet timer. It offers impeccable functionality and reliability at a very affordable price tag. It is accurate with a lot of outlet ports. It’s a solid and reliable smart timer outlet.
Conclusion
Timer outlets are an easy and affordable way to automate your home. It is a surefire way of making sure things are in the chick. A timer plug times your appliance on a schedule.
There are countless benefits of having a timer. You can save money on electricity bills in the long run and also keep your home safe from the bad guys with its security feature.
Sounds convenient right?
Yes, It can make your life a little easier. But if you are not careful you can end up with the wrong timer plug because there are certain parameters that you should keep in mind to get the best on the market.
Here are some parameters that you should keep in mind.
- Type
- Compatibility
- Programmability
- Use case
- Timing accuracy
- Number of ports
- Build quality
To cut it short, the Fosmon programmable digital timer (Amazon link) is the best programmable outlet timer. It’s a digital timer with very good compatibility and solid build quality. It is meant for indoor use and will work on all of the indoor appliances.
Alright,
This is it. I hope you enjoyed the article. If you did, then make sure you leave a comment.
Thank you and stay awesome.
Questions
Here are the most frequently asked questions about outlet timers.
Q1: What is a timer outlet?
A timer is a device that times your appliances on a schedule. So they turn off and on when a certain time comes. That is the simplest definition of timers.
Q2: What to do if a plug timer stops working?
In case your timer stops working follow the steps that I am about to tell you.
- Turn off the electricity to your whole home.
- Unplug the timer with the appliances still plugged in.
- Unplug the appliance from the timer.
- That is it. You can turn off the electricity after that.
Follow these steps to ensure the intended and ideal outcome.
Q3: Does a timer plug reduce electricity bills?
Yes, it does.
Having a timer in your home promotes efficient use of electricity. It makes sure things are turned off once they are not in use which results in efficient use and reduces electricity bills.
Q4: why are timer outlets important?
Timer outlets are important because:
- It saves energy
- It automates your home
- It keeps your home safe
- Frees up your time to do other important things
That is why having a timer outlet is important.
Q5: Can you use it for lights?
Yes, you can.
You can use it on all sorts of lights, from lamps to LED’s and incandescent lights to Halloween and Christmas decorations. It would work on all of them.
