Electric Timers for Lights while Away (Home Depot, installing, living room, lighting)

[MysteryMT]

I travel each week for 4 days on average sometimes for 10 days at a time but have to come home to cut the grass.

My question is are there timers that can turn on exterior lights? For instance, I have a light over my garage that I'd like if it turned on each night and off during the daytime.

I currently have a timer set for a lamp in my office and one in the living room, but something on the exterior would be nice. I am considering putting in those solar lamps around the walkway, and maybe even a pair of the flood lights that are also solar powered but haven't pulled that trigger yet.

Guess I'm looking for any suggestions, but I would like to be able to have the garage exterior light turn on and off. TIA.

[Bydand]

If they are on a switch they can be put on a timer. I like Intermatic personally so here are a few I have used in the past with good luck.

Digital 7-Day Time Switches | Intermatic, Inc.

Compact Programmable Timers | Intermatic, Inc.

Electronic 7-Day Astro Time Switches | Intermatic, Inc.

[Jim280]

Here's another option, rather cheap and easy to install. no timer needed. Turns on at dusk and off at dawn. You can get these at Lowe's, Home Depot.

http://www.watthackers.com/wp/instal...to-save-power/

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Jim280

Here's another option, rather cheap and easy to install. no timer needed. Turns on at dusk and off at dawn. You can get these at Lowe's, Home Depot.

» Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power - WattHackers | Save Power | Go Solar | Live Green

Remember though, place the photocell where there isn't going to be light shining directly on it or a strong reflection of light onto the photocell when the fixture turns on. Don't know how many times I have "Fixed" a broken outside light by moving the photocell so it didn't "cycle" the light on-off-on-off because of reflected light from the fixture itself.

[Donn2390]

I have the innermatic that follows the sun. You set it up for your time zone, so it knows when dusk is, and it comes on one minute later ever day, so as the sun stays up longer going into spring, the light follows. As you go into fall and the days become shorter, the light turns on one minute earlier every day. So it always looks like you are inside flipping the switch at dusk every day..
You set it to go off whenever you wish. Mine is set to go off at midnight.
I have another one on my "Holiday Package", the outlet that is designed for Christmas lights. It's already set so in December when you plug in your Holiday Lights, they come on at dusk, and off at midnight.
You can do all kinds of fun things with timers... HD has them, around $30 bucks...

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Remember though, place the photocell where there isn't going to be light shining directly on it or a strong reflection of light onto the photocell when the fixture turns on. Don't know how many times I have "Fixed" a broken outside light by moving the photocell so it didn't "cycle" the light on-off-on-off because of reflected light from the fixture itself.

I agree about the photocells. My neighbor has one in his driveway that works erratically. It will occasionally get caught in a pulsation where its reflection off of the eave causes it to rapidly dim and then intensify. Very annoying.

[texdav]

Slaor powered lights basically just charge a battery.Most are just for looks or marking boundaries than for providing light to see by.Mpost pathionghts used to light paths are transformer powered with 12 volts and no batteries.Most systems come with a light sesor switch that turn on at dusk and off at dawn. One sensor controls all lights on on etransforemr and si separate from the lights them elves so can be place. near the transformer away fro the light.Yes you can buy timers that can be wied into outside lightand are either for outside weather often used with christmas type displaces. Or you can wire one into you wiring were protected.Most thuihg depend on a clock run but the power so if electricity goes off the timing goes changes like a clock.

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

I agree about the photocells. My neighbor has one in his driveway that works erratically. It will occasionally get caught in a pulsation where its reflection off of the eave causes it to rapidly dim and then intensify. Very annoying.

Sounds like your neighbors light has not been properly installed. I have three outside lights all on photocell and they work like they are suppose too, installed them two years ago and no problems at all with them.

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Remember though, place the photocell where there isn't going to be light shining directly on it or a strong reflection of light onto the photocell when the fixture turns on. Don't know how many times I have "Fixed" a broken outside light by moving the photocell so it didn't "cycle" the light on-off-on-off because of reflected light from the fixture itself.

True, A photocell can't be installed just anywhere and work properly.

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by Donn2390

I have the innermatic that follows the sun. You set it up for your time zone, so it knows when dusk is, and it comes on one minute later ever day, so as the sun stays up longer going into spring, the light follows. As you go into fall and the days become shorter, the light turns on one minute earlier every day. So it always looks like you are inside flipping the switch at dusk every day..
You set it to go off whenever you wish. Mine is set to go off at midnight.
I have another one on my "Holiday Package", the outlet that is designed for Christmas lights. It's already set so in December when you plug in your Holiday Lights, they come on at dusk, and off at midnight.
You can do all kinds of fun things with timers... HD has them, around $30 bucks...

We have our Christmas lights on a timer also, I put three lights in the house on a timer also for when we will be away from home for a day or so...works great.