I love that it has it's own batteries to keep time. We lose power a lot where I live and it is a pain to have to update all my mechanical timers after going without power. I'm sure I'll have no problems with this, but if I do, I will come back to update. I'm also interested to see how long the batteries last for keeping time. They appear to be calculator-type batteries, so I'm sure they are inexpensive.
I love that it has an override "on" switch. There is no override "off" but I would never use it anyway. This only offers ONE on/off set of times, so if you need something to turn on/off more than once a day, this won't work for you. Also, this will only accommodate a 2 prong plug.
Overall, I thought this 2-pack was incredibly affordable and I'm completely happy with this product. I am buying more and switching out all my mechanical timers for these. I can't give a better recommendation than that!
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UPDATE: September 22, 2009
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We lose power at my home all of the time and lost power for several hours yesterday. Our power came back on only a couple of minutes before the timers were scheduled to come on. I am happy to report that the timers kept perfect time throughout the power outage and turned the devices on at the programmed times. I am completely satisfied with these timers, but will still be interested to see how long the batteries last. I will be back to report when the batteries have died or if I have any other issues.
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UPDATE: October 21, 2009
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I've lost power 3 more times since the last update. Once for 30 minutes, the other 2 times were less than 1 minute. Timers are still set PERFECT! Haven't missed a single second and turn on at the exact same times each day :) Yeah! I've ordered more, but got a 1-3 week delay. Everyone is buying them all up. lol
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PROS:Easy to Program
Easy to Read Display
User Replaceable Backup Batteries (Two L44 button cell)
Runs Without Batteries
Takes Only One Slot In a Vertical Two Slot Socket System
Time and Switches can be set by as little as one minute
Override On Switch
No bright light emitting from the device
CONS:
No Override Off Switch
Limited to only turn on and off once per day
Can take up two slots horizontally
No temporary backlit display feature
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
I've owned a Woods digital timer and it worked fine until the internal battery died in it. The bad part about the Woods timer is that the battery wasn't user replaceable! As soon as I opened the package and saw the battery compartment I was excited to see this feature! I first bought this because it was the cheapest digital based timer switch I could find and it didn't mention anything about a backup battery in the unit or that it was user replaceable.
My main concern about this item was if I could set it to turn off in one minute and turn back on. I have a skype phone which works fine, but every now and then it needs the unit to be reset (power turned off and on). So this device fit the bill perfectly with added features I didn't expect. Since it is digital it doesn't make any sound as a manual based timer (the ones with a circle based clock with plugs or pins you'd place to set it). Again the user replaceable battery feature is nice because obviously you can replace them yourself and it remembers your settings if the power happens to go out.
It is rather simple to program as in to set your times by just holding down either the TIME or ON or OFF button and then press the hour or minute button to set it. Since the display isn't backlit then you might want to program this in a well lit area or take your flashlight when trying to program it. This really isn't a bad thing since I'd prefer the display to be off during the night, but it would be a welcome feature to have when programming the device. the device does also offer a override on switch, but no off switch. Not a big deal for me, but if you want to forcefully turn it off then you will have to unplug it. It isn't very tall so it doesn't take up that much space in a two slot socket, but in a six based socket it might about two sockets worth of space horizontally.
It uses two button cell batteries (LR1130) 1.5 volt or more commonly known as L44 which aren't that expensive to get and used in most devices such as laser pointers, led keychains, etc... You can also extract these type of batteries from an A23 Energizer 12 volt battery which contains 8 of these button cell (1.5 volt) batteries, but just hidden inside the energizer wrapper. So it is fairly easy to obtain these batteries, but I can't comment on how long they will last in the device. The device seems to be able to run without the batteries plugged in as well and that is a plus if you don't care if it remembers your settings (especially if power outages isn't that common in your area).
Other technical details left out were that it can power supposedly a 600 watt device at 5 amps. This unit has only two prongs and only accepts two prong devices which can be a plus or minus depending what you plan to do with this device. Also lastly I can't really comment on the reliability, but so far so good and it appears to be a good solid construction.
Best Deals for Stanley 38425 TimerMax Digislim Daily Digital Indoor Lamp Timer
This seemed like it would be better than the old-style mechanical wheel that slowly turns getting to the times you have set for automatic on and off. It's a compact electronic version--smaller, quieter, easier to use? Well, if only it were well made!First problem, basic design: There are two watch-type batteries in a little compartment in the unit. On one of mine, the battery was loose and fell into the main body of the unit. It's totally inaccessible in there. Why was this thing designed so that if the batteries aren't tethered in, they will end up loose in the unit, never to be seen again?
Second problem, quality: On one of the two units in the pack, one of the five control buttons is broken. It's as though the hour button is permanently depressed. That means if I press one of the other control buttons, the hours tick by, whether I want to advance hours or not. I can't set minutes at all. If I press the set-time, set-on, or set-off button, the hours advance Thus, were I to try to use this, it would be a challenge to set or keep it set properly. So one is directly into the garbage.
What about the one I can use? It's OK, but not great.
It seems one can only set one on-then-off setup. A better product would allow me to set multiple on/off sequences during a 24-hour period. Other timers I have had do offer this flexibility.
Pluses: I can set a precise period for "on" of however many minutes I want (rather than, for example, being restricted to one-hour blocks). It's small. It's quiet (actually soundless--I have had other timers that hum or are otherwise annoying).
Minuses: Battery compartment is poorly designed. Quality is low (for me, on one of two units one of five buttons was broken when I received it). Only allows for one on/off sequence per day.
I expected better from Stanley. I wouldn't buy this product and don't recommend it. I will not likely buy *any* Stanley product considering the very low quality of this one.
Honest reviews on Stanley 38425 TimerMax Digislim Daily Digital Indoor Lamp Timer
The display shown on the sales page shows "TUE" as if the timer can be set for different days of the week. PLEASE NOTE THIS CLOCK HAS ONE PROGRAM ON/OFF AND NO DAY OF WEEK OR CALENDAR FEATURE. There is only one pair of ON/OFF times, and it runs the same every day of the week.I received the model listed on this page (38425). The display in the picture is simulated, and not accurate. The display is harder to read, the buttons are different places, and there is a slide switch on the top. I will post a picture of my own.
On the top there is a slide switch which is not shown in the picture. It has two positions, "ON" and "TIMER". The "ON" position bypasses the timer, the "TIMER" position runs the program. There is no "OFF" position on this slide switch.
I was hoping for a device that was easy to override and turn off my devices earlier than the scheduled "OFF" time. When I saw the big "ON" and "OFF" buttons, I thought they would allow the override. UNFORTUNATELY, THE "ON" AND "OFF" BUTTONS ARE ONLY FOR PROGRAMMING. THEY DO NOT OVERRIDE THE TIMER.
I also found that I had to change extension cords because plugging into the side socket resulted in wires coming out forward. The holes for the cord prongs are vertical and polarized.
The timers have both lost several minutes each month... annoying to have to re-set them.
PROS:
Works well as a daily timer.
Leaves an open socket.
Battery operated.
Displays on/off status on the screen.
Low power consumption.
UL Rated, Stanley brand name
Good value, 2-pack
CONS:
Timers lose time (run slow)
Only overrides timer to "ON", no way to override "OFF"
Misleading image on sales page for calendar feature
Misleading image on sales page (display is less readable)
Two-prong devices only
Orientation and polarization of side plug may not work well in all app's
Covers adjacent socket on a 3-way adapter.
Uses 2 relatively expensive button cells
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Stanley 38425 TimerMax Digislim Daily Digital Indoor Lamp Timer
Was awoken by a loud clicking noise at 4.32 am, my bed room is on the second floor and the noise was coming from down stairs..."So it was Load, it could wake me!" When I went down stairs I found not just one but both of these timer turning on and off in rapid osculation...not quite a strobe light but not far from it. They were both very "HOT" and I had only had plugged them in 2 days ago. Maybe I got a bad one.....but both failing! Of course I had threw out the amazon box and packing slip so I am out the money. I should have known 2 timers for 12 bucks! to good to be true. Buy at your own peril.
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