Electrical Timer Terms

Learn the tricks of the timer trade

Hot Water Heater Electrical Timers: A hot water heater's electrical seven-day 207 volt capacity timer allows users to have a daily changing schedule that ensures hot water while helping to cut electrical costs.

Events: Manufacturers use this term to indicate the amount of separate timer settings that can be simultaneously held in a programmable electrical timer's memory. For example, a user may want to set a short 15-minute electrical timer that continues in perpetuity and then have another that is a limited-run electrical timer.

Flush Mount: This is an electrical switch timer. They are meant to replace existing light switches as well as the faceplate.

Horse Power Rating: This lets users know the power handling capabilities of the unit in relation to electrical motors. Exceeding this rating can result in failure of the unit and possible damage to the attached motor. This feature is important most often when timers are used to control pool and fountain pumps.

Manual Override: This feature allows you to turn on an electrical outlet timer without changing the device's programmed times.

Mountable: Outdoor timers should have multiple ways in which to locate the device. You may want to locate the device on a wall, fencepost or on an enclosure.

Multi Position: Spring wound timers that allow more than one on/off timer in a single device.

Photocell: Timers with a photocell can be programmed in concert with natural light to properly control electrical lighting timers.

Powered: These are timers that run off of either battery of receptacle power.

Random Feature: This is a security feature that generates changing on/off times so that lighting seems natural and unpredictable.

Receptacle Timer: These timers are directly wired into the circuit rather than plugged into an outlet.

Self-Adjusting Solar Timer: This allows the timer to be set against sunrise and sunset in your geographic area. You must know your longitude and latitude to program this feature.

Spring Wound: These are timers that are wound and operate in the same manner as egg timers. These are plug-in spring-wound electrical timer switches used to control individual lights.

Time Range: This indicates what the range of time is that can be programmed. In some cases you can make settings that will come into play weeks in advance.

Weather Proof: Outdoor switches that can stand up to inclement weather.

Wattage: The wattage of a timer tells the user the power handling capability of the unit. Exceeding this rating may cause failure of the unit.

More information on electrical timers