Sylvania SA170 15 Amp Zip-Set Digital Wall Switch Timer
by Sylvania
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List Price: Our Price: $21.26 You Save: $16.24 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Sylvania SA170 15 Amp Zip-Set Digital Wall Switch Timer
Customer Review: Easy to use and install; read below for a BIG catch
Summary: 4 Stars
This switch is good looking and very easy to use. The ZIP-set feature is especially useful if you use it to control outdoor lighting - it calculates the sunset time and turns on automatically at dusk. No more manual resets throughout the year. Installation is easy and the instructions are clear. It switches compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs.
However read this VERY CAREFULLY before you purchase this switch: it needs to be connected to a NEUTRAL wire. Many 2-pole light switches only switch the hot wire of the circuit and you may not be able to find the necessary neutral wire to connect this. Look into your junction box to confirm the presence of the neutral wire if you are replacing and existing switch. If you find only 2 wires of the same color connected to and around the old switch, you probably won't be able to swap in this one (or any other CF-capable digital timer switch) without rewiring the circuit.
Customer Review: Works with compact fluorescent bulbs
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this timer to replace an Intermatic timer that could not handle compact fluorescent bulbs. This one handles them, no problem. The automatic sunset tracking feature is very nice, as is the prominent "On/Off" button on the top to use as an override.
One thing bugs me, though... Why does it not let you specify the turn-off time? Instead you have to program how many hours you want the lights to stay on. Where we live in the Pac NW, sunset varies from 9PM local time to 4PM. We'd like the lights to go off at 11PM, every night. Nice that it keeps track of the turn on time, but I need to manually adjust the turnoff time every few months to make that happen. What were they thinking?
It also would have been nice if you could have it turn on at, say 5:30AM, and turnoff at sunrise. But there's only one cycle per day, so no go.
Customer Review: Just what my CFL needed!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought an outdoor light fixture with a CFL and built-in photocell. Well, it was burning through CFLs prematurely and flickered on and off every night around dusk, so I looked for a better way to control it. This timer switch was the answer. You need a neutral to wire it, but it's a straight-forward job for any do-it-yourselfer. It's not the most attractive thing because it sticks out of the wall about an inch, but this also makes it easier to fit all the wires in the box. Programming the unit is not exactly intuitive (hence the 4 stars instead of 5), but it offers a useful range of features for most any situation -- more so than the Leviton model I was also considering. Most importantly, the CFLs don't burn out after a few months like they used to. Problem solved.Customer Review: Can't find a better timer with the options this one provides
Summary: 5 Stars
We own one of these that we bought at ACE hardware. We have not been able to find this timer anywhere else since our first purchase. I surfed amazon today to find this because I love the options this one gives. Just like the last reviewer stated the zip code option automatically updates for daylight savings and we currently have this timer controlling our front door outside light. We are going to order one for the back door light. Installation was pretty easy, but just be aware that you need that neutral wire.Customer Review: Wish there were more options.
Summary: 3 Stars
It works just as it should, I just wish it had more features.
If I set the lights to come on at sunset, I have to choose how long they should stay on rather then having the option to turn them off at a specified time. I'd like to be able to have my lights come on at sunset and turn off at 11:00, but instead I have to have it turn off in 2, 4, 6, or 8hrs after it turns on. Which means I still have to reprogram the timer in the winter to stay on longer.