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Thread: Light Switch Timer

  1. #1
    Senior Member rewstar's Avatar
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    Default Light Switch Timer

    Hey Guys,

    I'm/getting my sparky mate at installing some light switch timers for when I'm away for holidays and when I intend to come home late at night.

    Just wondering if anyone has these installed and what type they use?

    I was looking at these ones from amazon, but not sure if they would work here?

    [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AP92N2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0 DER]Amazon.com: Honeywell Econoswitch RPLS740B 7-Day Solar Time Table Programmable Switch for Lights and Motors: Home Improvement[/ame]

    Cheers
    DM600 & 85cm Motorised Dish



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    Default

    Hey rewstar

    according to the package, those timers require a neutral wire

    When I was out there wire jerking the majority of homes only have a Twin active switch wire to the light switches which means you will need to get your mate to drop a double insulated neutral from the light to the light switch and will need to choose specific lights

    Not too hard but if they are planning just to change over the light switch then they might get a surprise

    They won't work on 2 way or 3 way light circuits either



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    Senior Member rewstar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by freakee1 View Post
    according to the package, those timers require a neutral wire

    They won't work on 2 way or 3 way light circuits either
    Thanks freakee, Ill have to wait a bit before I can check if the light switch I'm looking to install it on has a neutral wire, as there is currently tenants in the house till the end of April.

    By 2 way and 3 way circuits you mean a light that has 2 light switches right?

    Do you know if it will work on a single light switch that controls half a dozen down lights?

    Cheers
    DM600 & 85cm Motorised Dish

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    2/3 way circuits are those which you can turn lights on/off from more than one switch.

    Yes, if it's a single switch circuit, that switch will control all lights connected to it.

    Eg: if all the lights you wish to control are connected by a single switch, this will work.

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    I did a bit more reading on this and found out that it is a 120VAC not 240VAC so it is useless for us Aussies.
    DM600 & 85cm Motorised Dish

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    One thing to remember if your away for an extended period is that if you time the lights on and off at set times, some sharpy bastard may twig whats going on and enjoy your absence.
    Maybe you can be clever and just use powerpoint timers and table lamps in different rooms to create the illusion of being home.
    Outside IR lights with a big sign saying you have Video survelance cameras in use could perhaps help.

    I just had a thought if your really clever you could run a computer controlled internal light system not unlike those huge Dancing Xmas lights to turn on lights throughout the house on different days at different times.
    Last edited by gordon_s1942; 14-03-12 at 05:13 PM.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    It's might not appropriate in your situation, but for holiday homes or extended absences, something like the might work - it's a 16 amp DIN mount timer module.

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    Found something similar to what you were originally looking at.

    Look-up the HPM XL770T
    Should be about $100'ish



    The programming buttons are under the cover plate.


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