In article . com,
Staffbull writes

I have no idea what a timed outlet is. However, there are single
gang time clocks, which can be put in the fixed wiring at a suitable
point (such as somewhere along a cable feeding an outside sodium
light).

that'll do then :-)

If you're on a budget then the plug-in option is a no brainer, they sell in
such volume that the cost is guaranteed to be under a tenner. On your first
question, even electronic timers (particularly high current ones) are likely
to have relays so no problem with weird loads.
--
fred
Plusnet - I hope you like vanilla