The benefits of having a timer outlet are endless. You can automate your home, save money, and make sure your home is protected when you are away at work. It’s an excellent investment but what’s the point if you don’t know how to set an outlet timer?
The setting process is simple. You will need the device itself. Plug the timer into a normal power outlet, plug the appliances into the plug timer, set the timer and that is it.
How you set the timer depends on what type of timer you use. If you have a mechanical device then push the pins up to set the timer, each pin represents a certain amount of time. Digital ones use screens and buttons and a smart timer uses your phone to program it.
Don’t worry it just sounds a bit scary but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to set up.
In this article, we are going to talk about how to set an outlet timer and walk you through the step-by-step process to avoid any mistakes.
How to set an outlet timer?
To ensure you get the most out of your plug timers, you need to know how to use it properly. There are some essential steps that you need to follow to get the desired outcome.
It is a relatively easy process and it does not require any additional knowledge, it’s pretty straightforward. Just follow the steps and you will be fine.
Outlet timer
You can pretty much get the idea from the name. This device controls the current that goes through your outlet and times it on a schedule so your appliances can turn on and off automatically.
These devices come in three forms. Mechanical, digital, and smart. They all do the same job. The main difference is the technology each one uses and the features that come with those technologies.
Mechanical timer outlets mainly consist of mechanisms that use gears and springs to do the intended job. Due to these gears, it’s not very accurate and the spring sometimes develops rust, making them very fragile.
Digital devices use electronic circuits that are far more efficient and accurate. You don’t have to worry about it developing rust because there is no moving part, making it very durable.
Smart devices combine hardware with software and use your phone to control and program the outlet. You can control the device from any part of the world as long as you have wifi.
Why do we set an outlet timer?
As attractive as the uses sound, knowing whether to use and set an outlet timer is essential to get the full picture and sort of see what it is all about.
To set the timer you just have to plug the timer to a normal outlet. Then plug the appliance into the outlet to the plug timer, set the timer and that is it. You are set and ready for action.
There are several reasons why we set and use an outlet timer.
1. Energy saving
Saving energy is important. We waste a lot of energy daily because we forget to turn off things when they are not in use so having a timer can save you energy in the long run.
Having a plug timer makes sure things are turned off when they are not in use which results in efficient energy use.
2. Home security
Setting up an outlet timer to turn the lights on and off randomly throughout the night can make sure your home stays safe when you are away on vacation or generally outside.
It is a very affordable way to keep the bad guys away from your home and make sure no one breaks into it when are away at work on vacation.
3. Convenience
People love convenience, it’s also the reason why most appliances are designed with absolute convenience in mind, and an outlet timer can make your life more convenient because it does things for you without your presence.
You just plug the appliance you want to automate to the outlet timer, set the timer and the timer will take care of the appliance for you. You can use it on your coffee machine, lamps, etc.
4. Plant care
You can take care of your plants without you being there. We all know proper watering, lighting, and moist soil is essential for healthy plants. But the problem arises when you are either busy with life or forget to water them on time.
Having an outlet timer can solve that problem. Just use an outlet timer on the sprinklers. Set the timer to multiple schedules throughout the day and the device will take care of it for you.
5. Outdoor light decors
You can set the timer to turn the outdoor decoration light on and off on special occasions such as Halloween or Christmas. You are not born to outdoor lights only. You can also use it for indoor lights as well.
You can use it on lights, lamps, LEDs, night lights, and incandescent lights. You can use it on any kind of light around your house and automate it so you don’t have to worry about it.
What you will need to set an outlet timer?
There is not a lot that you need to set the outlet timer. You only to have the device itself with you because you would not be able to set an outlet timer if you don’t have to begin with.
Step-by-step process
The process for each one is going to be different. If you have a mechanical outlet timer then you are going to mostly deal with dails and pins. It’s a much simpler process and it is very easy to learn.
Digital outlet timers use buttons and screens which can be a bit tricky to wrap your head around especially if you are not a technical person like me.
Smart devices on the other hand use your smartphone to set the timer and it’s a much more seamless process than the above two. You just have to connect your phone to the smart timer and you are all set.
1. Process of Mechanical outlet timer
The process of setting up a mechanical outlet timer is very simple you just have to follow these simple 3 steps after you have located a convenient power outlet.
Here are the three simple steps
- Turn the time dial to the current time of the day.
- Push the pins to set the time.
- Plug your appliance into the outlet timer.
Make sure you follow these steps in sequence to get the ideal outcome. Doing these steps out of order might not affect the result that differently but it’s always a good practice to follow the steps in order.
2. Process of Digital outlet timer
The process of setting up a digital outlet timer can be a bit more technical because there are screens and buttons involved in the sitting process but once you get the handle on it. It’s pretty easy to set up.
The first thing that you need to do is reset the timer so all the preprogrammed schedules get erased and you get a fresh start. Do reset the timer just push that little round button with something pointy like a pin of a tooth pic.
After you have done that it’s time to begin the setting process. In this step, you have to set the clock to the current time of the day. Make sure you put in the exact time because you made an error the timer would set off at the wrong time.
You can set the clock by pressing the button that has written clock on it. After that, you can set the timer to any day of the week or any hour of the day with the help of the hour, week, and minus buttons.
If you want to set the timer to multiple times then you just set the time and hit the button with prog on it. Prog is a short form of program. With the help of the program button, you can set the timer to as many schedules as you wish.
After that, you just plug your appliance into the outlet timer, plug the outlet timer into the normal power outlet and you are all set and ready to go.
To make sure you remember what you read. Here are the summarized steps that you need to get the best outcome.
- Reset the timer first.
- Press the clock button and set it to the current time of the day.
- If you want to set multiple timers then use the prog button after you set a timer.
- Plug your appliance into the outlet timer.
Follow these steps in the proper order to get the best outcome. Missing any step will result in confusion. To avoid any unnecessary frustration, follow the steps.
3. Smart outlet timer
Smart outlet timers use your phone to set up. First, you plug the timer into a normal power outlet timer to let the device turn on because if it’s not powered on it would connect to the app on your phone.
The second step involves downloading the app. You would typically get the app with the QR code on the back of the packages but if that is not there, then as soon as you connect your phone to the device it would forward you to the Play Store where you can get the app.
After that, it is pretty simple just program the outlet timer to whatever schedule that you want. It’s very easy to do after that. The problems are mostly in the connecting phase after that it’s just straightforward.
After that, the process is just like that of the above devices. You just plug your appliances into the smart device and that is it.
To summarize. These are the simple steps you need to take to set a smart outlet timer correctly.
- Locate a convenient outlet.
- Plug the smart outlet timer into the power outlet.
- Download the appropriate app.
- Set the schedule
- Plug your appliance into the device.
Follow these steps in sequence to get the ideal outcome.
Conclusion
We all know how good and energy-efficient they can be but what is the point in having a timer outlet if you don’t know how to use it? That is exactly why I am here to teach you how to set an outlet timer.
The setup process is pretty straightforward. You just need the device and a normal power outlet in a convenient space close to the appliance you want to use.
You plug the timer into the normal power outlet, set the timer, and then plug the appliance into the plug timer and that is it. You are all set and ready for action.
Make sure your hands are not wet don’t teach the metal part of the prongs and keep your fingers away from the outlet to avoid any kind of accidental shock and discomfort.
There are a variety of reasons why we set and use outlet timers. For instance, you use it to save energy, keep your home safe, make your life convenient, take care of your plants, and help you with home decor.
That is it. That is how you can set your outlet timer to add convenience to your life.
Other useful posts
