Timer for exterior fountain

[Viper98912]

Hello GJ,

We recently purchased a small water fountain (water feature) to go in the garden. It runs off a simple water pump (120v, 3 prong). I want to put this on a timer so we can have it run on certain days during certain times.

I originally purchased an in-wall single gang digital timer for lights, but I'm not sure I should be using this type of device for something that's not a light.

Also, the motor is supposed to be plugged into a GFCI (since technically, this is an electric motor sitting in water ya know? haha). But I don't know if using a digital timer after a GFCI outlet will still catch an electrical failure of the motor since the digital controller part of the timer might obstruct the fault detection of the GFCI?

So I'm a little confused on how to run this small water pump, correctly, without need to go outside and plug it into the exterior outlet every time I want it on or off. Looking for feedback.

 

[mike93lx]

I'd have the timer feed a gfci receptacle and plug the pump into that.

 

[Norcal]

Forget the digital timer and stick with a reliable mechanical timer.

 

[sparky 1971]

The Intermatic T101 timer has been around for a looooong time with no changes. There's a reason they haven't changed. They work and they work well. The only problem is lack up a backup if power were to be lost, but it takes less than 10 seconds to set the time.

 

[yatg]

Pick one. Get a 7 day timer if you want to schedule specific days. The BN-link looks promising since it says it has a battery backup.

Amazon.com : outdoor fountain timer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GQGM6CR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[klassenl]

Preface: I live in Canada. It gets cold in winter.

I have a block heater timer that I use for the "pool" pump in the summer. It is very simple to program. In fact you can only program it in hours. No days, no minutes just hours. It's great.

 

[nadogail]

Feeding the GFCI receptacle through the timer makes a lot of sense to me; your opinion may vary. If your opinion if different from mine it only means your opinion is different.

 

[dogdog]

just use a wifi switch... add gfci plug if you wanted.

Wifi switch are cheap and more flexible and easier to program any time and weird sequences that you wanted.

or go solar fountain pumps, not sure what small means...

 

[cybrdyke]

Intermatic ST01C for basic timing. Intermatic STW700W for Wifi control. Connect them to a GFCI receptacle.
CD

 

[jlv03]

No experience with this particular model, but other Kasa plugs I have used have been great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099KLNM24/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BreeStephany]

The Intermatic T101 timer has been around for a looooong time with no changes. There's a reason they haven't changed. They work and they work well. The only problem is lack up a backup if power were to be lost, but it takes less than 10 seconds to set the time.

As I was taught when I was very early on in my apprenticeship... "ALWAYS APPLY THE 'KISS' METHOD!" (KISS - Keep it simple stupid)

The first thing I thought when I read the original post was "put in a T101 or T103R!" Simple, but VERY reliable. The digital age of controls has simplified a lot of automation control, especially in reducing wire requirements, but for simple time control of a single motor, its much easier to just install a mechanical time clock that would control a GFCI device.
Technically, the load between neutral and line on the load of the GFCI shouldn't be affected by the timeclock motor or contacts as long as they are in good condition, but I have seen a few issues with nuisance tripping, with mechanical timeclocks installed down stream from GFCI devices, so I would suggest placing the timeclock before the GFCI. The time clock is esentially just a mechanical switch engaged/disengaged by the timeclock motor, so placement shouldn't matter, but if you are using a GFCI receptacle for GFCI protection, it would be easiest to run the circuit to the timeclock and then to the GFCI receptacle.
If the receptacle is already installed, you could fish your conductors from the line side of the timeclock (T103R - Nema 3R enclosure if mounted outside) to the receptacle, connect to the load side of the GFCI and then either surface mount conduit from the timeclock to a bell box with a regular receptacle and in-use cover, or fish down a second set of conductors from the load side of the timeclock to a cut-in box.

Just my two cents.