What Are Lighting Timers?
Lighting timers are used to control lighting throughout your home. With a light timer device, you determine when lights are turned on and off. Turning your lights on and off at scheduled times reduces energy usage, helping you save on your electricity bill. Using lighting timers in conjunction with other security measures like cameras and alarms help keep your property safe inside as well as outside.
Benefits of Lighting Timers
When it comes to energy consumption, turning lights on and off repeatedly throughout the day — like each time you walk into a room you turn a light on, then turn it off when you leave and repeat that 10 times a day — results in a significant amount of energy consumption. Lights with timers eliminate the need for you to remember to turn lights on and off. There are many benefits to automating your home with timed lighting, including:
- programming lights to turn on and off at random times to give your home a lived-in appearance (helpful if you travel frequently, work late, etc.)
- extending the life of light bulbs
- using your lights more efficiently
- enhancing security for your home
- automatically controlling your indoor and outdoor lighted holiday decorations, like Christmas tree lights, outdoor inflatables and other outdoor decorations
Plug-In Light Timer or In-Wall Light Timer: Which One Do I Choose?
There are two basic types of timers for you to consider: plug-in or in-wall. These two types include mechanical timers and digital timers.
Plug-In Light Timer
Plug-in lighting timers, which are either mechanical or digital, are easy to use, require no installation and they plug into any standard electrical socket. Plug-in light timers are plug and play — plug the timer into a socket, then plug the lamp or other lighting into the timer and set your schedule.
In-Wall Light Timer
In-wall lighting timers are more multi-functional than
plug-ins and
select models include LCD screens. They’re hardwired into your home’s electrical system and allow you to control more devices, including wall lights and ceiling lights. In-wall timers work on a 24-hour, 7-day week system, giving you flexible and precision timing control. With in-wall timers, you can set different schedules for different days on the same light.
Depending on the model of your in-wall timer, it may display the day of the week, time of day and, in some cases, the timer’s maximum wattage load. In-wall lighting timers may require professional installation.
When controlling multiple devices on a plug-in timer, make sure you don’t exceed the rated wattage of the timer. Doing so may cause damage to the timer and/or the lighting device. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what the wattage limits are on your timer before use.
Mechanical Timers
Although they have limited programming options available, the simplicity, affordability and ease of using mechanical timers make them a popular choice. They tend to be larger in size and their power consumption rate is lower than a digital timer. Mechanical timers are manually set and are operated by a 24-hour analog clock mechanism that tracks the time.
Digital Timers
One advantage of digital timers is the programming capabilities you have. This means you can control more lights and set more on/off scheduled intervals at the same time, even for the same light. You can also program multiple times for different days of the week. Some in-wall timer models can be programmed weeks or months in advance, too.
How to Set Light Timers
The steps for setting mechanical and digital plug-in timers share similarities, but there are differences. For ease and convenience, look for timers with preset times that are activated with the touch of a button. We’ll cover the basics below on setting lighting timers, but our helpful guide, How to Set a Light Timer, walks you through the steps more thoroughly.
Not all lighting timers are the same and models may vary. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on setting timers for your model.
Setting a Plug-In Light Timer
Plug-in mechanical light timers are all generally set the same way, while plug-in digital timers give you a bit more flexibility than their mechanical counterparts.
Mechanical Timers
Many mechanical light timers consist of a dial (shaded to indicate AM or PM) and pins (used to indicate the time frame), which are in 30-minute increments. The connected device(s) must be in the “Timer On” position to be turned on by the timer. Alternatively, the switch can be in the “Outlet On” position to provide continuous power to the connected device(s).
Turn the face dial until it aligns with the current time. Push down on the pin where you want the timer to start and push down the pin where you want it to end, then push down all the pins in between. You can program additional timers for the same devices in a 24-hour period. Plug the timer into an electrical outlet, then plug the lamp(s) into the timer. The manual switch button should be in the “Timer On” position. Test the timer to ensure it’s working properly.
Digital Timers
With digital timers, your lights can be programmed on a 7-day schedule. To program, start by setting the clock to the current time, making sure to correctly select AM or PM. Settings vary by model, but there should be a setting like TIMER, then select ON. Select the days of the week and times of day to turn the lights on, then select OFF for the days and times to turn the lights off. Repeat until you’ve set all desired timers. Connect your light(s) to the timer, making sure the light is powered on, then plug the timer into an electrical outlet. Test the timer to ensure it’s working properly.
Remember, all devices plugged into the timer will be turned on/off at the same time.
Setting an In-Wall Light Timer
In-wall light timers vary from one model to the next. Some may be easier to program than others. For accurate, step-by-step instructions, refer to your model’s manual.
Things to Consider When Buying Lighting Timers
When considering what type of light timer you need, remember that not all timers are created equal.
- Decide whether you want the ease of a plug-in mechanical lighting timer or the accuracy of an in-wall digital timer. Do you want a timer with certain features, like the ability to program random on and off settings? Each type of timer has its advantages.
- How many light timers do you need? There are many distinct types of timers; some are stand-alone with an outlet for one lamp, while others contain multiple outlets, giving you the ability to plug in more than one lamp, nightlight, etc. Plan on the number of outlets you’ll need before buying.
- Keep your lifestyle in mind. Are you typically away from home and want more than one light to be turned on? Or are you only occasionally away from home and would use timed lighting infrequently?
- Do you want the lights to come on at the same time every day, or would you rather mix it up and set random schedules?
- When selecting a lighting timer, make sure it’s compatible with the bulbs you intend to use. Some timers may only be compatible with certain bulbs like incandescent, LED, halogen, fluorescent, etc.
- Ensure that you’re buying the correct timer for its intended use. For indoor lights, use indoor-only timers. The caveat is that you can use indoor timers to illuminate holiday lights and decorations outside, but the actual timers should remain indoors and out of the elements.
- If you’re not confident with installing in-wall timers yourself, contact a licensed professional to do the job for you.