Timer for wall switch?

[Dougmeister]

I'd like to be able to turn our front yard lamp post on and off at set times.

"Dusk-to-dawn"
I tried a special bulb with a built-in "dusk-to-dawn" feature, but they are expensive and I've already gone through 2 of them in 2 years.

Also, the light sensor never turned on or off when *I* thought it should. It turned on too early and therefore probably off too late as well.

Timer
So I thought, "Heck, I'll just buy a wall switch with a timer built-in!"

I see several on Amazon here, but am wondering if there is a cheaper/better way.

I can do the wiring myself.

Any recommendations?

P.S. I would not be opposed to WiFi/Arduino/etc. although I have never done any of that. I'm techie enough to enjoy that and be able to figure out most of it.

Edit: Oh yeah... the wiring is currently in a 4-gang box (i.e., 4 switches), so the unit would have to be pretty compact... the size of a normal switch. I'm not real keen on cutting drywall, enlarging holes in walls, etc.

Edit #2: So far, I like this one at Amazon... thoughts?

 

[nickbits]

I have done all those things as well and my final resolution was to install outside lamps with the dusk to dawn sensor built in, thus taking regular bulbs. They work much better than the bulbs with the sensor since the sensor is in a a more optimum position. No, they aren't perfect but I got tired of fixing the clock drift/DST on the the timers. I had the Intermatic type found at home depot.

 

[bdd4]

I'd like to be able to turn our front yard lamp post on and off at set times.

"Dusk-to-dawn"
I tried a special bulb with a built-in "dusk-to-dawn" feature, but they are expensive and I've already gone through 2 of them in 2 years.

Also, the light sensor never turned on or off when *I* thought it should. It turned on too early and therefore probably off too late as well.

Timer
So I thought, "Heck, I'll just buy a wall switch with a timer built-in!"

I see several on Amazon here, but am wondering if there is a cheaper/better way.

I can do the wiring myself.

Any recommendations?

P.S. I would not be opposed to WiFi/Arduino/etc. although I have never done any of that. I'm techie enough to enjoy that and be able to figure out most of it.

Edit: Oh yeah... the wiring is currently in a 4-gang box (i.e., 4 switches), so the unit would have to be pretty compact... the size of a normal switch. I'm not real keen on cutting drywall, enlarging holes in walls, etc.

Edit #2: So far, I like this one at Amazon... thoughts?

Many years ago I designed a security lighting system that I called "AUTO BRIGHT"for my home. These were the features:
1.It would remain off until early evening. This condition was adjustable.

2. When I left my home at night I pushed a switch which turned outside lights on
Which timed off after I left.

3. When I arrived home my car lights would trigger the system on and it would time off after a few minutes.

4. Also the same switch that was used to trigger the system on as I left the house could be used to trigger the system to stay on infinitely until I wanted to put it back into automatic mode.

5. My system used no ucomputers, memory or other "modern day" fancy hardware. It was completely analog. Excluding the box and control wiring it probably used about $15.00 in parts.

6. I designed it before ultrasonic proximity sensors were used in such systems so it would only respond to light as a trigger.

I should have made some bucks on it but I was too busy working for a company to try to market it.

The system was installed in a house we lived in that was near a corner so when cars turned the corner near our home their headlights would trigger my sytem on and shortly it would time off.

 

[bdd4]

I just looked at the Autochron. Although it is larger than a spst light switch and could cover 2 switch positions
I think it iS a no brainer solution that would be much easier to implement than my "AUTO BRIGHT" design.

 

[bdd4]

I just looked at the Autochron. Although it is larger than a spst light switch and could cover 2 switch positions
I think it iS a no brainer solution that would be much easier to implement than my "AUTO BRIGHT" design.

I took a second look and decided that this not a no brainer solution. A motor is used yo push the the light switch on and off. The unit is installed over a swith and does not use house power. Question what powers the motor and ucontroller? Batteries...which I would personally find a pain in the neck. Others might not mind, but one night one comes hkme and lights are off....oops batteries are dead. No thanks unless the unit was modified to install a house powered 3 VDC power supply to replace the 2 batteries.

 

[sm625]

I would go with the honeywell one.

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-RPLS730B1000-U-7-Day-Programmable/dp/B004SOZHXY

 

[FrankSchwab]

I had some light fixtures that I couldn't easily retrofit to dusk-to-dawn, so I spent a few extra bucks and got:
http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Econoswitch-RPLS740B-Programmable-Switch/dp/B004AP92N2/
and set it to turn my lights on at sundown, and off at sunup. It uses an internal relay, so it's compatible with CFL's and LEDs. If you've got the bucks, it solves the problem well.