I've only had it an hour but I'm already pleased. I have two Intermatic timers, the DT1 and the DT7, which is similar to this Hydrofarm. I outgrew the DT1, and DT7 fulfilled my needs but the buttons have gotten unresponsive to the point where it's a knock-down-drag-out fight to reprogram it or adjust anything at all, this after having it for maybe 10 years. This Hydrofarm seems to work great. Hopefully, the buttons will remain responsive.
You can set up a schedule with up to 8 separate On events and 8 separate Off events. Each single event can be for all days of the week, any one day of the week, Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all days but Sunday, Monday Wednesday Friday, Tuesday Thursday Saturday, Monday Tuesday Wednesday, Tuesday Friday Saturday. There's a random mode you can toggle to get from 2 up to 32 minutes of "random" variation.
You can override the settings. For instance, suppose right at this moment the timer when according to the schedule would be Off (meaning no power is supplied to the device plugged into it) and you decide you want it On. There's a button marked ON/AUTO/OFF. The LCD display as you keep pressing that button goes like this: On, Auto, Off, Auto, On, Auto, Off, Auto, On, etc. Thus, if I want it On right now although the programmed schedule has it normally off at this time, I press the ON/AUTO/OFF button and after seeing On in the display I press it one more time so Auto will appear in the display and it will be On and remain On until one of the scheduled events turns it Off, being the schedule taking control again. With my Intermatic DT7 due to the unresponsiveness of the buttons if I wanted to override the schedule I used to have to unplug my device from the timer and plug it into a regular outlet for the time being (if I wanted it On, or leave it unplugged if I wanted it off) and then remember to plug it back into the timer to get back on schedule. Problem solved with my new Hydromatic.
I was concerned when I found out that it has a rechargable battery in it that is not replaceable. The Intermatics each use a single AA alkaline battery, obviously replaceable, to retain settings when you remove the timer from AC power. I contacted Hydrofarm and asked about the installed battery and they contacted the vendor and replied to me by email that the internal battery is NiMH. A review here states that the battery is soldered in. It might be replaceable, I don't know, I haven't removed the 4 screws and looked inside. However, maybe the installed battery will remain good enough for many years, as long as you don't remove the timer from AC power for too long. It shouldn't need much energy to retain information and run for just a few minutes when unplugged.
It comes in a hard plastic bubble pack, but that was a pleasant surprise. I didn't have to use a knife or a sissors to remove it and risk cutting my hands with either a blade or the sharp edge of cut hard plastic. The timer, etc. popped right out with a slight twist. I wish this were more commonly done.
It can deliver a lot of power (15 amps) and the price is quite reasonable. I looked all over for 7 day timers and this one won out easily.
I scanned and used OCR software on the printed instructions (couldn't find them online), did a bit of editing to make it more clear and saved as a text file. Here is my improved version:
- - - -
DIGITAL GROUNDED 7-DAY TIMER
1. Press the reset button. (Do this if you want to erase all settings)
The reset button is the small round white recessed button on the right
side of the timer face. Use a pointed object to reach it in order to
erase all previous programming.
2. Set the clock.
HOUR: Press the clock button and simultaneously press the HOUR button
until you arrive at the correct hour. (Be aware of AM and PM hours.)
MIN: Again pressing the CLOCK button, simultaneously press the MIN
button until you arrive at the correct minute.
WEEK: Press the clock button and simultaneously press the WEEK button
until you arrive at the current day of the week.
3. Program your settings.
Each event is numbered and has a time to come on and a time to go off.
You can set 1, 2, or up to n different events using the PROG (program)
button. The PROG display will start at 1 ON. As you keep pressing the
button, the display will cycle through all the events: 1 ON, 1 OFF; 2
ON, 2 OFF; 3 ON, etc.. up to 8 OFF. For each event you must set WEEK,
HOUR, and MIN. First select which days of the week this particular event
will function (WEEK button.) As you press the button, it will cycle
through all the possibilities which include: MoTuWeThFrSaSu (everyday of
the week); Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su (each individual day of the week);
MoTuWeThFr (only week days); SaSu (only weekends); MoTuWeThFrSa; MoWeFr;
TuThSa; MoTuWe; or ThFrSa. After selecting the desired day(s) your event
will function, select the timing for the event to come on or go off
using the HOUR and MIN buttons. (Be aware of AM and PM hours.)
4. Set to automatic.
Use the ON/OFF/AUTO button to set to automatic. The button cycles
through ON, AUTO, OFF, AUTO, ON, AUTO, OFF, AUTO, ON, etc. as you keep
pushing it. If, according to the schedule you have programmed, it is
supposed to be off at that time of day (and day of the week), you cycle
it through to AUTO after cycling past OFF. If, according to the schedule
you have programmed, it is supposed to be on at that time of day, you
cycle it through to AUTO after cycling past ON. If you are using the
timer for subtle equipment like C02 and you want to test your programmed
schedule, you can try plugging in something more obvious like a light or
a fan so that you can see the changes more easily.
NOTE: Daylight Savings mode -- IF you press HOUR and MIN at the same
time you will get Daylight Savings mode which will delay your settings
by one hour automatically. This will be shown as a clock symbol over the
black dot in the right lower corner of the display. Press HOUR and MIN
simultaneously to remove the Daylight Savings mode. Random mode -- If you
press WEEK and MIN simultaneously, the display will show a O above the
clock symbol which will flash when functioning. This is random mode. The
on and off timing will be delayed by 2 up to 32 minutes randomly. This
setting is probably not useful for gardening purposes. One use of this
setting is for lights, to fool would-be burglars when you are not home.
Again press WEEK and MIN simultaneously to remove this mode.
Edit: I've had it 60 days now and I'm using almost all of the on/off events and it has been working perfectly.
Edit 2: I can't tell you how aggravating it was trying to reprogram or adjust the time on the Intermatic D7 (mentioned near the beginning of this review) once the buttons became almost totally unresponsive. Lest this Hydrofarm timer suffer the same fate, I've decided to not orient it in such a way that dust can settle into the buttons' crevices (easily managed, because the timer is plugged into a short extension cord), and in addition I have taped a piece of Saran Wrap to the front face. I can see through that and press buttons fine. These tactics will hopefully prevent most dust and dirt from reaching and penetrating the face of the device and will significantly extend its useful life. Hydrofarm TM01715D 7-Day Digital Program Timer - Digital Outlet Timer - Programmable Digital Timer - Lamp Timer - Digital Timer'
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