Socket timer

[masona]

I was reading with interest from ellal post ": Is there a timer that will do this?"

I have a similar problem with my youngest son, when retiring to bed, the TV and bedside light is left on all night unless I get up during the night and turn it all off, what would be the best way to turn the light and TV off within an hour? The bedside light and the Tv is on a separate socket but I could extend the bedside cable to the Tv double socket if need be.

However... you can put all the pins into an "off" position. Thw switch has a manual override lever that you can use to switch it on, and then next time an "off" pin goes round, it will switch the timer off

If I understand this correctly, would this be the easiest option? from what JohnD is saying for example, switch the Tv on, it will switch off the timer on auto without the worry off switching it on again because the switch 'on' pin isn't there unless it switched on by manual?

 

[toasty]

What about one of those vacuum switches you sometimes see in hallways to operate the lights, the ones with the big round white plunger button in the middle?

Not sure exactly how long they can be set for, but wouldn't have thought an hour was beyond the realms of reason.

I think they even do electronic versions now.

http://image.abcaz.co.uk/productimages/26/2269978.jpg

Think they are about 10-15 quid, one of those and a suitably rated plug fuse and you should be there.
-Dan

 

[JohnD]

I think JohnD's idea is a really brilliant one, and i use it myself

 

[Lectrician]

I prefer my method

 

[JohnD]

I have a similar problem with my youngest son

And if he has difficulty getting up in the morning, you could put an "on" pin at, say, 6.30 a.m.

I bet he'll soon learn to turn the telly off!

 

[masona]

I have a similar problem with my youngest son

And if he has difficulty getting up in the morning, you could put an "on" pin at, say, 6.30 a.m.

I bet he'll soon learn to turn the telly off!

Hmm, not when he's 16 yrs old, 6' 4" and size 14 boot

 

[masona]

Some of the ordinary little plug in timers now have a 'countdown' facility where you switch it on manually and set a period for it just to switch off.
May be worth taking a closer look at what's available in the stores.

Found one here
I'm just wondering now if the TV is switched off at the socket before the on/off switch on the TV, would it damage the TV?

 

[HDRW]

Some of the ordinary little plug in timers now have a 'countdown' facility where you switch it on manually and set a period for it just to switch off.
May be worth taking a closer look at what's available in the stores.

Found one here

The only problem is its limit of "2A inductive" and the note that it can't be used for fluorescent lights - a television can be pretty inductive! This obviously has a solid-state switch, so you really want to find one that has a proper relay.

I'm just wondering now if the TV is switched off at the socket before the on/off switch on the TV, would it damage the TV?

It shouldn't matter, but if you leave the TV's switch permanently On, it may not degauss when you switch it on (depends on the design). In this case if the colour gets a bit smeary, switch it on/off a few times - not too fast! - and that should sort it out.

Have you thought of using X-10 devices? They can have automatic "Off" signals sent at a particular time of night, and use manual switching to turn them on when needed. I do this with a fan in my bedroom - I turn it on when I go to bed in hot weather, and the timer turns it off at 03:00 (it never turns it on).

It's not a cheap option, but it is expandable and doesn't need any wiring to be installed, and the controls are where you want them. You'd have a Mini Timer on the bedside table, and an Appliance Module each for the TV and lamp. If the lamp has a traditional incandescent bulb you could use a Lamp Module which would make it dimmable, but that's so 1970s!

Cheers,

Howard

 

[masona]

Thanks, that's interesting, does the Mini Timer have to be plugged in as well?

So the Mini Timer controller send the radio signal to operate the Appliance Module and does both have to be in the same room?

 

[breezer]

I think you will find it too plugs in and sends the information down the mains cable

 

[HDRW]

I think you will find it too plugs in and sends the information down the mains cable

Yes that's right - the MiniTimer is mains powered (but with a battery backup to cover power cuts) and it sends the commands via the mains - for the distances you're talking about it's pretty reliable. I wouldn't trust if from the house to a shed at the bottom of the garden, though!

Since I posted those links I've found a cheaper seller of them: http://www.letsautomate.com/index.cfm?&Nav=X10&
who apart from being cheaper to start with, have a 10%-off sale running at the moment!

Cheers

Howard

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If someone is only just starting down the road of automation, is X10 the way to go?

I thought there was at least one newer system?

 

[masona]

Is the x10 an old system?

Do you know one ban?

 

[bathjobby]

have a similar problem with my youngest son, when retiring to bed, the TV and bedside light is left on all night unless I get up during the night and turn it all off

Whatever happened to discipline ! like going to bed to sleep.....(fingers already in ears).

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Is the x10 an old system?

Yes, AFAIK it was the first successful one.

Being the oldest has it's pros and cons of course.

On the plus side, it's tried and tested and there are a lot of products out there.

On the minus side it is probably technically inferior to newer, as yet less well-established systems. But see my disclaimer below.

Do you know one ban?

Not offhand.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about home automation, except that X10 has been around for a long time, and transmits its control signals over the electrical cables.

I do know that there are newer systems around, and nobody is going to try to unseat a well-established system with a new one unless it is better. Or cheaper, I guess. But of course with something new you will be boldy going, and probably paying more.

I can only suggest you start visiting home automation sites, discussion bulletin boards, I'll bet there are some rec. usenet groups too, and begin to learn.

This always made me laugh: http://jokes.hotplugins.com/cgi-bin/2/jokepage1.cgi?jid=1620