Outdoor lights on timers are an easy and affordable way to control outdoor lighting in your home. They are convenient and effective in improving security in your home.
Whether you are just away from your home or going on a trip, having an effective outdoor light timer will improve safety in your home.
Although they are easy to install and use, fewer people understand their importance.
There is also the need to choose the right outdoor lights on timer, which is not an easy task.
That is why we have prepared this review to help you understand these useful devices and recommend the best ones. So, let’s get started.
What You Need To Know About Outdoor Lights On Timers
An outdoor light timer is a gadget that regulates when electric devices like lights turn on and off.
For instance, you can set your outdoor lighting to turn on at sunset and off in the morning.
This automation will ensure that your lights are on only when needed, increasing security in your home.
It is also convenient as you can set the timer to operate automatically even when you are away from home.
Here are additional things that you need to know about these light timers:
Available in Multiple Sizes
Light timers are available in different sizes and can come with effective controls ranging from digital settings to circular dials.
Another thing to note about them is that they are stand-alone devices with a single electric unit. It might contain several outlets and be linked to a security system.
It is a Plug-and-Play System
For most cases, you will need to plug the timer into a power outlet and then plug the lighting into the timer.
All you need is to turn the light on and leave it on. What it does is that the circuit in the timer will take over. It will turn lights on and off based on your settings.
Just set the times, and you are good to go. It is also important to note that you can use these timers to control more than just lights.
You can plug in radios and TVs to give the appearance that somebody is at home.
Many Choices
There are many different types of timers with unique features. So, how do you determine which light timer to use?
Ideally, you need something that will adapt to your lifestyle and routines, thus making your life easier. So, pay attention to these things:
- Timers with multiple outlets are useful for desks and entertainment centers.
- Timers with a single outlet will work best for floor lamps.
- Integrated systems let you check the status of lighting in your home via the internet or your smartphone.
- Digital timers allow you to configure multiple times for various days of the week.
Potential Drawbacks
Outdoor lights on timers are a great addition to your home. However, just like any other devices, they are not infallible.
Here is why:
- Your time won’t work if you forgot to leave the lights in the on position. The reason behind it is that the timer functions only as a communicator between the light and power source.
- Moreover, if there is a power outage, the light will go off. The good news is that there are some timers that come with a backup battery. But this will have less impact on whether lights will be on or off. It is mainly a matter of retaining settings.
- Finally, outdoor lights on timers can’t read weather reports. They will only work according to the settings you fed into the device. It won’t make adjustments for rainy or dark days. It can’t also switch off lights during the day unless you configure it to do so.
Types of Outdoor Lights on Timers Work
Here is how they generally work:
- Digital Timers: These timers usually have a digital display and buttons to allow you to program the on/off times. They are also more flexible than the mechanical timers because they let you configure multiple settings.
- Mechanical Timers: You operate these timers via a dial. So, you will need to manually rotate the dial to choose the on/off times.
- Smart Timers: These are the modern timers that connect to WiFi and smartphones via an app. They also obey voice commands. The good thing with these timers is that they allow for remote control and can integrate with other smart devices and systems.
Why Do You Need an Outdoor Lights Timer?
There are several advantages to using outdoor lights on time. Here are just a few of them:
1. Convenience and Ease of Use
First, it will help you keep a few outdoor lights on at night, thus offering more security. You will have peace of mind knowing that nothing can harm your loved ones.
The best thing about it is that you can ‘set it and forget it.’. Once you program and install the timer, there is no further work required.
And when you are on vacation, your outdoor lights on timer will automatically keep your home bright as if someone was living there.
In fact, there is a smart setting that allows you to set the light to be on and off at random times.
2. Improve Camera Visuals
Another reason why you may need outdoor lights on a timer is that it will support your cameras to capture clear videos at night. For instance, if you have a driveway camera, you may keep a few lights on. This way, it will capture images with better resolution.
3. Enhanced Security
Besides ease of use and improved video recording, having outdoor lights on timer will make your home more secure.
The reason is that lights will be on when they are meant to, irrespective of whether you are around or not.
As you may already know, homes with poor outdoor lighting, especially at night, can become a target for crimes.
Conversely, a well-lit home will obviously deter some criminals who are afraid of being caught.
Having lights also gives an impression that someone is living there, even when you are not.
4. Save Energy
Another rarely mentioned advantage of using outdoor lights on timer is reduced energy consumption.
Leaving your lights for manual control is not effective, as you can accidentally leave lights on all day.
This is obviously a waste of power, as outdoor lights are not useful during the day.
Having an outdoor light on a timer will ensure that your lights will be on only when needed and go off when you don’t require them.
For instance, you may set your time to keep the lights on up to 11 PM on weekdays and possibly 3 AM on weekends.
In other words, you can customize everything according to your liking.
Installation and Use
In most cases, you will need to plug in the timer into an outdoor power outlet and then plug the light fixtures into the timer.
Some may need hardwiring into the electric system. And once set, you can now configure your desired times for lights to turn on and off.
Smart timers and digital timers allow for more customizations. These include different schedules for weekdays versus weekends.
Five Great Options of Outdoor Lights on Timers
1. Honeywell Programmable Light Switch Timer
From our research, we found out that this Honeywell light switch timer stands out in many ways. It had a rating of over 4.7 on Amazon with over 8000 reviews.
The best thing about it is that there is no minimum wattage required. So, it is compatible with most LED bulbs. We also loved it because it has a backlit display that will help you see at night.
On top of this, it comes with a sunrise/sunset feature that automatically switches lights on and off at appropriate times. This feature comes in handy if you forget to turn off your lights.
2. Kasa WiFi Light Timer
Kasa WiFi Light Timer is super easy to use. All you need is to plug the light timer into the outlet before adding the lighting fixtures.
Just make sure that it is on a separate power source than the filter. After which, follow the instructions on the Kasa app. It is from here that you can schedule your lighting preferences.
3. Alion TB Outdoor Lighting Timer
Alion has been one of the leading manufacturers of light timers. With over 25 years of experience in delivering high-quality products, you expect this outdoor light timer to be refined.
And truly, it is. It comes with a number of key features, including 96 switching segments. This feature allows you to set different on/off schedules.
It also has a single-channel control, making it possible for the timer to control one circuit. This makes it easy to target one specific application: light driveway lighting.
4. GE Cync Outdoor Smart Plug
This smart timer will allow you to control your lighting system via the Cync app. You can also control it via voice commands.
Another likable thing about it is that it is weather-resistant and has a 5.9-inch three-prong power cord.
The set offers two independently functioning outlets. The good thing is that you can set the plug to control both outlets and set them to work independently.
5. BN-LINK 7 Day Outdoor Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer
This BN-LINK 7-Day Outdoor Heavy-Duty Digital Programmable Timer is the best outdoor light timer; it is so versatile and customizable, which is why it is among the best sellers on Amazon.
It allows you to set up to eight on/off programs.
Just set and go or even switch to a daylight savings mode. The best thing about it is that it is weatherproof for outdoor use.
Closing Remarks
Using outdoor lights on timers will significantly enhance convenience and efficiency in how you manage lighting in your home.
They not only improves security but also leads to energy savings, which is often associated with manual controls.
So, don’t hesitate to invest in the right outdoor lights on timer. Hopefully, you have found the best timer for your home from the above recommendations.
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