What the hell is this…….

[Magneto]

The house I recently purchased has this timer (??), I think, next to the light switch for my garage lights. Can anyone tell me for sure what it is. I have not been able to find anything similar online or a manual. I also played around with the buttons but get any effect. Thanks for your responses in advance.

 

[Davefr]

I'm guessing it turns on something downstream like maybe an outdoor security light.

 

[yatg]

Sure looks like a light timer, especially with that 'random' button. You're going to need to take off the plate and probably remove the device to find out who made it and hopefully get a manual for it.

Might be in "manual" mode right now (hand). press on/off to see what it controls.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

It is a crappy light timer. I’ve had more than one of those die on me. Get rid of it now.

 

[kbuhagiar]

As others have mentioned, it's a light timer/switch, and an old one at that.
You can just press on the control panel 'door' in the closed position to toggle the lights on or off.
There are much better options available today, and all of them have a 'sunrise-sunset' feature which allows you to program the automatic light on/off function to the sunrise/sunset times automatically. Better than a photocell.

 

[mm08822]

Yes, a timer. I have installed several. They have an internal battery to keep time. Change it out with a fresh one before it craps out.

It's not that bad of a unit. There are knock-offs out there too.

When the display indicates "Man" the load should be on.

When it cycles, you should hear it actuate.

 

[alfredeneuman]

10 pounds of **** in a 5 pound bag.
I installed 9 of them (Intermatic) into the halls of a software company. 8 lost their programming in a matter of a year.

 

[cgrutt]

Definitely looks like a timer my guess if it's near garage entrance is possibly for an outdoor light or outlet that may have had landscape lighting at one time if it's not still there. Any outdoor outlets with a transformer connected?

 

[CoogarXR]

10 pounds of **** in a 5 pound bag.
I installed 9 of them (Intermatic) into the halls of a software company. 8 lost their programming in a matter of a year.

Yeah, I have one on my back porch light. It worked for about a year, then the actuator inside started getting sluggish. You could hear it straining to move. It eventually quit (in the "on" position). Now my back porch light has been on for about 12 years, lol. It used to matter when it was an energy-hog bulb, to turn it off during the day. But now with the LED bulb, who cares. It's on 24/7.

And yes, I know I could just swap it out with a regular switch. But like I said, it would just be a switch that is on all the time, so it makes no difference to me.

 

[mike93lx]

I have a timer like that for a "Christmas circuit". It switches the top half of the receptacle under each window on the front of my house.
Also had one with a sun up/sun down tracker at my last house for an exterior light

 

[4xdog]

I have four or five of those timers around my new place I’m moving into in New Mexico.

They date from around 2008 as far as I can tell. All working fine, although I am changing the batteries in them.

 

[manwithtools]

Digital Timer

 

[Debcrow]

A light switch with improperly aligned screws!!!!!

 

[The Cobbler]

A light switch plate with improperly aligned screws!!!!!

if you want to get really nitty gritty ! LOL

 

[Snip's]

Looks to be GE Digital Timer Switch In Wall Programmable 4 Modes Security GE5123B-71D
Maybe search for a PDF manual on the web?

 

[AA/FC]

I have a similar timer in the bathroom for the fart fan. My timer is analog...

 

[Norcal]

I have a similar timer in the bathroom for the fart fan. My timer is analog...

Change it to a humidistat, much more useful.

 

[sparky 1971]

It's a timer, that much is obvious and several have pointed it out. As to what it's for, I have no idea but since nothing is obvious when turning it on, I would check outdoor receptacles. I've installed some for Christmas lights....

 

[Ilikeike]

I have a similar one on my driveway lights, and a newer one for the porch lights.

once programmed for region and DST,Has a dusk to dawn feature also.
My newest one on the porch plugs into my cell for easy programing.

I like them for outdoor lighting.

 

[AA/FC]

Change it to a humidistat, much more useful.

True.... if the fan was only used for shower steam. I don't think humidistats can detect smell. lolol.

 

[no704]

Dad was a real estate agent for a while. Had a listing that had a switch that didn’t seem to do anything. It got left on for like a month in summer. Turns out it was an electric driveway heater. I’m not sure what the bill was!

 

[Debcrow]

True.... if the fan was only used for shower steam. I don't think humidistats can detect smell. lolol.

Well, that's a pisser.......
No, wait a minute, warm piss should be humid!!!!

 

[sparky 1971]

True.... if the fan was only used for shower steam. I don't think humidistats can detect smell. lolol.

I don't know about all of them, only what I have and what I have installed for others, but all it takes is tapping the button on the face and the fan runs for 30 minutes... In most cases that should be enough to clear the air, except for the fall when the sweet corn and chili feeds are in full force.

 

[Norcal]

True.... if the fan was only used for shower steam. I don't think humidistats can detect smell. lolol.

Mine has a manual ON feature with a preset 20 min time setting.

 

[AA/FC]

Mine has a manual ON feature with a preset 20 min time setting.

That would be handy to have an automatic shower steam fan with a manual ON feature for smell. lolol.

Thanks for the idea.