Socket with a timer: the main varieties

In modern homes there are many devices and appliances that consume electricity. Most of them, although often used, are not rationally used. As a result, an overspending of electricity is obtained and, as a result, large amounts for its payment. Smart sockets help correct the situation and save on light bills, and also make life much more convenient.

What it is?

A socket with a timer is a useful and affordable option for home automation. If you cannot fully afford a smart home system, then such a device can greatly facilitate your life by controlling devices according to a given schedule.

By and large, automatically turned off sockets can not be considered in the usual sense of such a device. It combines both a socket and a timer, resembling a block adapter. In its case there is an output socket, to which a plug of working electrical appliances is connected, as well as a plug that is inserted into a stationary power point. The device is designed to connect both household appliances and professional equipment at 220 V.

A socket with a timer is used to automatically turn on and off household appliances. They can be electronic and mechanical, programmed for a day or even a week in advance. The principle of operation is as follows: on the control panel of the outlet, the time for turning on and off the device connected to it is set.

A socket with a timer is an integral part of the smart home system, but it can also be used separately. This is a highly specialized device that transmits a signal to turn off or turn on household voltage to the terminals. The appearance of such devices allows them to be a decorative element of the interior and not to spoil it at all.

Due to the mobility of the device, any household appliance is connected to it. You can buy such a socket in any electrical store, and for its installation you will not need any additional knowledge or special skills. Just plug in the power outlet and plug in your chosen appliance.

What are they for?

The scope of application of smart sockets is great: they can be used both in the interior and in the exterior, because this is a way to remotely control any electrical appliances. A socket with a timer can be used to automatically turn off street lighting in parks and parking lots, which will help not to waste electricity in vain.

A smart outlet can be used at home or in the country to scare away unexpected guests and create the illusion of the presence of residents by setting the function of random inclusion. It will also be useful for turning on the lawn irrigation system in the evenings and early mornings, which will save you from early rises and the need to leave the house when you do not want to do this at all. Such outlets will also come in handy in rooms with animals for turning on lights and automatic drinking bowls.

Thus, the use of a socket with a timer allows you to simultaneously solve several problems, namely:

• manage electrical equipment (multicooker, fan heater, washing machine, boiler, etc.);
• turn on and off the light, heating and illumination of the aquarium, shed or pen with animals;
• automate agricultural work, watering plants, ventilation of greenhouses;
• save up to 40% on utility bills by reducing electricity bills.

A smart socket with a timer is not a whim or a tribute to fashion, but a profitable investment that can make life more comfortable and easier.

Varieties of sockets with a timer

Depending on the type of smart socket selected and its technical data, it is able to support the tuning of two programs to set timers. The range of regulation of the operating time is one of the criteria for determining the types of smart sockets. They can be:

• daily allowance: the process is limited to 24 hours;
• weekly: the beginning and end of work can be programmed for each day of the week.

Based on the method by which the desired time interval is set, smart sockets are:

• mechanical;
• digital.

Each of the varieties has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consider how the various types of sockets work.

Mechanical sockets with a timer

A mechanical timer outlet is considered the easiest to operate. Her program is based on the work of a clockwork. Turning on and off is set by pressing the special areas around the dial. After clicking on these areas inside the device, the spring is compressed, which drives the gears. The degree of compression and, accordingly, the duration of the timer depends on the angle of rotation. Similar mechanisms are used in washing machines to program the washing time.

Each division is equal to 15 or 30 minutes, depending on the model of the outlet, that is, you can install 48 (if the division is half an hour) or 96 (if 15 minutes) programs per day. Remember to also turn on the device itself so that the smart outlet can complete its task.

The main disadvantage of this type of device is the short duration of its operation, which is why it is called a daily mechanical outlet. Another big minus of mechanical outlets with timers is their direct dependence on an external power source. If there are power surges in the network, then the device may lose its settings, it will begin to “rush” or “lag behind”. Nevertheless, depending on the device on the network, you can see your plus: after an emergency shutdown, it will still perform its task, only a little later.

Electronic smart sockets

An electronic outlet with a timer performs the same tasks as a mechanical one, but uses a different switching method:

• time counter;
• programming board;
• LCD;
• relay.

This is a complex device, which is essentially a programmer, capable of providing from 140 or more operating modes. Most of these smart sockets have a built-in motion sensor that turns on in the dark. Thus, it is convenient to use electronic devices with a timer as an electronic switch.

This outlet is programmed by pressing the keys on the case, which can be from six to ten pieces. You can monitor the status of the device, the mode of its operation through a liquid crystal display, which displays all the necessary information.

In turn, devices of this type are divided into two groups:

• The socket with a timer is daily: the device’s operation cycle is set for 24 hours, it is repeated every day without changes. This option is not suitable for everyone, because in this case the daily routine is unlikely to be the same every day, which means that you will have to change the outlet settings in accordance with daily changes.
• Socket with a timer weekly: it is possible to program every day in different ways. Cycle programming of several days is also likely, combining them into the same schedule.

The principle of operation and advantages of electronic sockets with a timer

A weekly electronic outlet can simulate the presence of people in the house, selectively turning on the light in the house between 18.00 and 6.00. It is enough to connect it to a conventional lamp. If a mechanical outlet can be installed for 15 or 30 minutes, then an electronic outlet can be programmed for several different time cycles. Of course, using it is also a little more difficult, and therefore, before use, you should carefully read the operating instructions.

Almost all variants of electronic outlets can be used like a clock: the current time is constantly displayed on them. The built-in battery makes it possible to save the information set for the device for a long period of time, which eliminates the need for frequent reprogramming.

Many electronic sockets with a timer are able to automatically switch to summer and winter time, given the time zone in which you are. This should be considered when entering data into the device.

A significant advantage of the electronic form of devices is the absence of dependence on an external power source, as they are equipped with a battery that acts as a backup mini-power generator. Even with an emergency power outage, such a socket is able to work for more than 100 hours thanks to the battery without failures in the settings. However, do not forget to charge it regularly. To do this, the device must be connected to the network without any household devices connected to it.

Sockets with a sleep timer

There are smart sockets that assume only the device shutdown mode. Using them is extremely simple: to set the shutdown timer for half an hour, just pull the ring equipped with a special indicator. The indicator color differs depending on the device mode:

• yellow - used;
• green - sleep mode;
• red - increased power consumption or short circuit.

To establish the exact time for disconnecting the outlet, a graduated scale is located on it to help establish the exact interval.

Both an electronic and a mechanical outlet with a timer can be made in two versions: stationary, that is, as a full-fledged device, or in the form of an adapter with a separate plug, which can be inserted into any stationary outlet. Whatever type of device you choose, it will be a practical and necessary purchase.