Intermatic ST01AC Heavy Duty In-Wall Timer with Astronomic Feature, Almond
by Intermatic
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Our Price: $32.95 Availability: Usually ships in 6-10 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Intermatic ST01AC Heavy Duty In-Wall Timer with Astronomic Feature, Almond
Customer Review: Great Product - Difficult Installation
Summary: 4 Stars
Prior to buying this timer, I read some of the reviews and knew it wouldn't be easy. True to form it certainly wasn't. I am usually pretty good with dyi stuff - have done extensive electrical work in my house and setup a number of computer networks, but this timer was a challenge. The instructions are a bit confusing and the programming buttons misleading. Once you understand the concept the programming was easy. If you purchase this switch make sure you program ALL options - the confusion lies in that there are so many different combinations/options.
In my case I wanted the timer to go on at dusk and off at 1am. PROGRAM THE TIMER BEFORE YOU INSTALL IT. This timer runs on a battery and takes no power from the line. Of course I wanted to get it installed so I had it in the wall then realized about the programming. Make sure you have each setting saved and unused settings need to be erased completely for it to function properly (easier said than done).
I bought extra batteries on ebay- they are cheap $2-3 each as compared to $8 in Walgreens. Radio Shack didn't every have them.
The battery compartment is a challenge to open - be careful as you pry it open. Also, since there apparently is a capacitor to store power when the battery dies, it takes a while to build up (I needed to buy an extra battery)
Overall, once programmed, it now works great. It just drove my wife crazy for a few days with the light going on and off at random times until I got it right.
Customer Review: Wonderful but unreliable
Summary: 3 Stars
A rather ambiguous title for this review, but this timer has earned it. Overall, this is a delightful product, easy to install (don't believe the electrician who reviewed it), with a great, efficient program that changes dawn and dusk times automatically and even adjusts for daylight savings time.
However, as many of the reviews state, it is not the most reliable of switches. I have been using these for over five years, and sometimes a switch will last two or even three years, and other times for only a few months before reverting to a "No Op" mode, or back to the original unprogrammed mode for no perceivable reason. Of course, after a few months, no one will take the switch back. It also has a rather odd battery that is not widely available.
Unfortunately, I am rather stuck if I want this kind of timer, because the Aube timers (more reliable and easier to program, according to reviews) all require a white neutral wire to operate. Heck, my house's wiring is so old, they hadn't even heard of ground wires when it was installed. As far as I can tell, the Aube and the Intermatic are the only players out there. I would even be willing to pay a premium price for a timer that could be installed in my house and worked reliably for several years.
The irony is that, after writing this review, I will probably order a few more of these. I love the features of this switch enough to pay the price, as frustrating as I find the failures.
Customer Review: Intermatic ST01AC
Summary: 4 Stars
I was happy to come upon this switch, which I just installed a few days ago. I am using it for the outside post lamp and exterior garage coach lights. I wanted to use CFLs, for the savings and long life, and this is just perfect for that. I replaced a simple EJ351C, which only worked with incandescent bulbs. I like that you can 'tweek' the DUSK/DAWN times, since the default setting turned out to be sunset and sunrise where I am (Long Island, NY) which is acutally a little earlier than dusk and a little later than dawn.
I found it simple to install, no more difficult than any toggle switch. However it is a little challenging to program the first time. The display and the programming buttons are pretty small and not illuminated. You really need to follow the directions carefully. The programming is not intuitive at all. You actually have to enter 2 programs; the on and the off. Speed reading the directions does not work. Having successfully programmed it on my 2nd attempt, I am now good to go. Theoretically, once programmed it should be good for good.
I recommend this product for this type of application.
ADDITIONAL- I have been using this for about 4 months now. It works fine, except as others have noted, it does not keep accurate time over a few months. Mine gains about 1 minute a month, with I think is sort of strange for a digital timer. Still like it, though.
Customer Review: Works, but...
Summary: 4 Stars
From reading the description, I thought there'd be a way to set this so that it goes on/off relative to dusk/dawn. For example, turn on 15 minutes after dusk. It will in fact respect dusk, dawn, or a specific time setting but not allow setting a time relative to those times. However, it has a random mode to turn the switch on/off within +/- 20 minutes from the set time.
This unit requires an unusual battery to turn the power on/off - sort of pricey to replace but should be available in the camera section of Wal-Mart. I verified this with the instructions. I wonder how long the battery will really last? And the manual says if the battery is removed for more than a minute, it will lose the time and settings.
There is also a quite loud audible "click" when turning on/off. The almond version of this is not exactly almond but not white either. Programming was a little confusing at first. People must've complained because there are two sets of instructions (not counting the additional foreign language inserts) to try to explain how to set it.
Now the good points -- It works fine with a chandelier that has low watt LED bulbs in it, not drawing much power. The entire bottom button cover is also a switch that can be pressed as a manual override to turn the switch on/off. Installation was relatively easy and is pretty much like installing a dimmer.
Customer Review: A Timer That Controls Three Lights On One Switch
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this to replace an old-fashoned dial/spring function timer that died on me. Could not find a replacement and the digital timers didn't work with multiple lights. When I read a review for this timer that said it worked on multiple lights, I was sold but still doubtful. It arrived within a few days of my order and I installed it immediately. I just read the directions thoroughly and didn't have any problems. We have an older home with older wiring but that was not a problem - hooked up the wires easily and everything fit into the old box! Programming was very easy (be sure to read those directions and keep them right by you). I didn't think I'd use the dusk-to-dawn feature because it might be too confusing to program. I figured I'd set an exact time for on and an exact time for off like I have on an older digital wall-switch timer for our backdoor light -- the only problem is you have to constantly change the times to adjust for daylight hours. However, when you first start programming the timer, you insert all necessary information so that using the dusk-to-dawn feature is quite simple. Last night the lamp post and two porch ceiling lights came on and went off at dawn. Tonight: deja vue!! Life is good!
UPDATE 6/15: Last month I replaced the standard 40W bulbs with CFL's. Timer still works perfectly and my new electric bill went down by $10.00!