Decent astronomical timer?

[PCustoms]

I have a couple lights on my entry that I need a good (works, lasts and isn't super expensive) astronomical timer for.

Looked at the orange box last weekend and all they stocked was their house brand...

 

[mike93lx]

I used two of these in my last house and like them

https://a.co/d/bJnH2xx

 

[PCustoms]

I used two of these in my last house and like them

https://a.co/d/bJnH2xx

Did it hold settings on a power outage?

Just realized that could be a nightmare around here...

 

[mike93lx]

Did it hold settings on a power outage?

Just realized that could be a nightmare around here...

I believe they had a battery. One was great I feel like the other I had to reset a couple times but I don't remember it really being a problem.

 

[The Cobbler]

I've never had astronomical timers, but I do have some electronic ones.
Funny thing is, I bought a clock driven timer a few days ago to replace a bad electronic one. they are so ****** easy to program, I think I'll forget the electronic ones from now on.

 

[dscheidt]

I have three of these things. They're all neutral using devices, not the battery operated sort. One is an intermatic, the others are whatever was in whatever big box hardware store I was at had, so one HD house brand, the other probably from Menards. They all work fine, and have for years. The accuracy of the clocks isn't terribly great, considering they're running off line current; the intermatic is about 9 years old and is about 20 minutes fast. The other two are newer, and are closer to right, but still fast. This doesn't bother me, they control the porch light and outlets for holiday lights. They're all dusk-to-dawn, +/- some small random amount. I do need to fix the intermatic, because my wife complained the light was off when she left for work recently. But I haven't, because programming these things *****. crazy interface, tiny screen, tiny buttons. They're all different, of course. But they're pretty much set and forget, devices, so if the clocks were better, that would be fine.

No problems with power outages, but the longest we've had has only been a few hours. they're all supposed to have a rechargeable battery to keep them set over an outage, and it should last a long time.

 

[BillK]

I have four outside lights at my house. One at the front door, one at the back door, one at the patio door and one post lamp by the garage door. Except for the post light which is on a photocell all of the others have been on 24/7/365 since Sept of 1978 when we moved in. Not sure what that cost us in electricity but I prefer it to not having to worry about timers etc etc. Now that everything is LED its probably pennies a month.

 

[PCustoms]

I have four outside lights at my house. One at the front door, one at the back door, one at the patio door and one post lamp by the garage door. Except for the post light which is on a photocell all of the others have been on 24/7/365 since Sept of 1978 when we moved in. Not sure what that cost us in electricity but I prefer it to not having to worry about timers etc etc. Now that everything is LED its probably pennies a month.

Cool story.

The light shines into a bedroom, and I enjoy the dark night so I can look up at the sky.

Did you have recommendation?

 

[mm08822]

I used two of these in my last house and like them

https://a.co/d/bJnH2xx

I've used the intermatic version of these and worked well. The 1st one lasted about 12 yrs and it was the replaceable bat that leaked and killed it. (My fault for forgetting it has a bat.) Can't beat it for the price.

Programming is simple.

 

[dave*99]

I had the Intermatic unit in the old house. I think this is the newer model ST01.
It worked well.
I’m using Leviton smart switches in the new house. No battery and easier to program on the phone app.

 

[cybrdyke]

Intermatic still makes the ST01 and it's a top seller.
They started making the ST700 a few years ago and it's also a top seller. It even knows Spring ahead/fall back days. Click here for specs. If you want high tech, it comes in a wifi version that you can control with an app or set up a geo-fence.
Their latest product is the ABRA switch. It looks just like a regular decora switch, but it has a timer built into it, programmed via an app (very easy) and will respond to Alexa commands or other smart home devices. Click here for specs
You can order any intermatic device at your local electrical supply house.
I wouldn't trust any Amazon device at all.
Good luck,
CD

 

[aandpdan]

I've had the ST01 above for over 15 years. I've only changed the battery once during that time. It cycles on off twice per day during that period.

 

[DrinkMan]

We have 3 of the Intermatic ST01. The oldest is over 15 years just like @aandpdan has noted. Only 1 battery change. The others are 8 and 5 years old and have not changed batteries yet. My wife sets them up for sunrise/sunset timing when we install them and when we change the batteries and we never touch them again.

 

[BurtEggley]

we had trouble with a router and access point that needed to be rebooted once a day. I used the plug in version of that for years to reboot them in the middle of the night. Very reliable.

 

[klassenl]

I have had up to 4 ST01's running in my place at one time or another. Batteries last a long time. A neutral wire is not required.