Let’s examine How Much Electricity Does A Lamp Timer Use? Electric timer plugs can be creatively utilized to minimize energy consumption, even if they are frequently used to control lighting inside a house to make it look lived in or for other essential purposes. These timers can be utilized with appliances that we frequently keep on all day but may only use sometimes as a home energy conservation solution.
It is feasible to routinely turn these devices on and off using an electric timer socket or switch, so they are available when needed but not using energy when not in use. Plug-in timer switches make applying an ecological or green approach simple by turning as many gadgets off when they are not in use.
How Much Electricity Does A Lamp Timer Use?
The average mechanical timer uses 1 Watt per hour. That translates to 24 watts daily. Typically, a digital timer uses more energy. About 2 Watts per hour of power are used here.
The power used by the lights will be many times greater than that of a timer, digital or analog. When discussing digital timers, the difference is enormous. A modern solid-state timer won’t consume much power probably much less than half a watt (5v logic x 100ma usage).
It’s still considerably less than 7w in terms of mechanical timers; I hooked in all four of the mechanical timers I had on hand using a kill-a-watt, but the meter was still unable to detect the draw, putting their combined power at less than 3 watts.
In that batch, several brands exist, including one intermatic, two ikea, and one unidentified. Clocks these days are low-power, so imagine how long a little battery can power a mechanical watch.
What Are Timer Switches?
A timer switch is a timer managed by the electrical plug’s timing mechanism. Most timer switches allow you to program an interval when a socket receives electricity. Older mechanical ones that only went on from 6 pm to 11 pm were popular since they did this.
These short-timers are plugged into any electrical outlet, indoors or outside. We now offer digital timer switches for even more comfort and options. Later, we’ll talk more about this. An electrician may need to perform some handy work on some timers.
They are not simply inserted into any socket. They have direct access to the wiring that connects your house to the appliance or appliances they are operating. Installing a timer for your home’s hot water recirculation pump is an excellent example.
There may not always be a plug, so you require an electrician. It is worthwhile to get an electrician to install a timer switch on a device that may be wasting a lot of electricity, such as a recirculation pump. (Read more about recirculation pumps in our post.)
How Can A Timer Switch Save Money?
Automatically Turn Off After Session
Using a timer switch to turn on and off night lights is arguably one of its most obvious applications. This might be the yard lighting outside or the reading lamp you use to sleep.
This also applies to the television you always remember to turn off. Battery chargers are another excellent location for timers because they can continue to demand currently even after they have finished charging. The timer can be set to end in one to two hours.
Heating And Cooling
According to some people, a timer might be helpful for freestanding air conditioners or space heaters. Since these devices consume a lot of electricity and excessive use throughout the night could make the room uncomfortable, employing a timer is a win-win situation. These include sound machines, humidifiers, and anything else that aids a child’s bedtime. Timer switches are helpful for anything we become too lazy to turn off at night.
Recurring Use
Installing a timer on items you use at around the same time every day is a less prominent purpose. Why? Because some of these devices consume a lot of electricity, many operate continuously throughout the day, even when nobody uses them.
The hot water recirculation pump is one illustration that was mentioned earlier. Most people only use hot water for bathing and showering during specific hours in the morning and evening. Why therefore pay the exorbitant price to have hot water available in less than a minute all day?
Expensive Use Like Pumping Water
The water fountain or pool pump are two further examples. Water is heavy, and it can be expensive to pump it continuously. Your electric bill could be greatly reduced if you use a timer to switch water pumping equipment on and off shortly before and after use.
Mechanical Vs Digital Timer Switch
There are two types of timer switches available on the market. Let’s examine the variations. A mechanical timer uses a dial or time switch to set the timing. Plug-in timers and in-wall timers are the two primary categories of mechanical timers.
Plug-in timers are electrical outlets with built-in timers plugged into wall outlets. In-wall timers are, as the name implies, built into the wall. Mechanical timer switches can be installed in a variety of ways and are both simple to use and reasonably priced.
Benefits Of Mechanical Timers In Your Household
Energy Efficient
Even when they are off, many appliances, including TVs, computers, microwaves, and other similar gadgets, consume power from your electrical panel. Using a timer, you may often program your indoor or outdoor lights, decorations, appliances, and other items to turn on and off.
To set the timer for your preferred on and off timings, or in my case, to come on at dark and off at my usual bedtime, turn on a lamp at night and plug it into it. Now that I have a timer, I can ensure that I don’t leave the lamp on all night and still have light when I come home, especially in the cold.
Because the timer guarantees that the device is shut off without consuming any power, not having your lamp on while you’re not using it makes it more energy efficient.
Money Saving
You may conserve energy by connecting your lights, decorations, appliances, and other gadgets to a timer that will turn them off. Additionally, energy conservation lowers your energy costs. Even if only some are skilled at saving money, using mechanical timers with the appliances you use at the same time every day can help you do so.
You can attach your cable box to a computer, TV, or device. To avoid forgetting when I have to leave the house for work, I use a mechanical timer to turn on my coffee maker when I wake up and turn it off within two hours. You will consume less energy and spend less money if you have more appliances on timers.
Line Of Theft Prevention
Do you worry that someone will break in when you return from a long trip if you haven’t told them you’d be gone? Investing in a few mechanical timers and plugging in lamps is one way to avoid people assuming you are away for a long time.
Set a timer to run from sunset till your usual bedtime in the living room or another front area that can be seen from the street. Then, use a second timer to intermittently turn on a light in a bedroom that faces the street, so it appears that someone is going from one room to another and is thus at home. Your home is less likely to be the target of theft or a home invasion if it appears that someone is at home.
Easy To Use
The mechanical timer is the most widely used type of timer. Because it is the simplest to use, the mechanical timer is the most used timer. Usually, it would help if you pushed the timer pins in, up, or down, depending on the desired time.
Set the time now. Suppose there is more than one outlet; plug in the desired device or devices. Remember to connect the timer to the wall. Every day, without fail, the mechanical timers are programmed to turn on and off at the same time.
Turns Things On And Off, Alerting You Of The Time
If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to become engrossed in your work and lose track of time. Timers are excellent time-telling devices because you can set them for precise on and off timings. Consider your child’s television as an example.
Let’s say you allow them an hour of screen time in the evening after dinner, but you end up losing track of time while doing the dishes and cleaning, and before you know it, it is 9 o’clock. If you put the kids’ TV on a mechanical timer, it could stay on for the designated hour before turning off, alerting you and the kids that it’s time for bedtime rituals.
Advantage Of Digital Timer
- There are lots of flexible options.
- Operates with backup batteries
- A slimmer, or “less bulky,” design
- Might complement other items in your house.
When you know certain appliances won’t be used during a specific time of the day, you can save a lot of electricity by setting them up using time switches. You may lower your electricity bill and frequently feel more comfortable by utilizing these programmable gadgets to ensure that your appliances don’t use electricity when they aren’t needed.
Conclusion
In order to determine whether a power-saving device saves any money, it is always required to take into report How Much Electricity Does A Lamp Timer Use? It is sometimes simple to believe that adding a timer to the circuit will save power. The timer’s power consumption must first be considered before determining whether any actual savings will result.
In some cases, it may use more energy than it will save over a day. Electric plug-in timer switches can be helpful for automatically turning on and off various electrical equipment, leaving them off when they are not in use, and conserving energy.
