DIYbanter - View Single Post - Is there a HARDER to operate Digital Lamp Timer than the Intermatic DT500CL

Tony Hwang

wrote:
On May 19, 8:21 am, Art wrote:
On 5/19/2010 7:35 AM, wrote:

On May 19, 7:08 am, wrote:
On May 18, 9:28 pm, "D. Ohl"d...@Use-Author-Supplied-

Address.invalid wrote:
Can there possibly be a harder to operate lamp timer than the Intermatic
DT500CL?

I'm so sorry I bought it!

I got one of those maybe 10 years ago, im glad I lost it 10 years ago.

I tossed the electronic timers they are a PIA.

My mechanical ones are very reliable. and dont depend on filament
current to operate.

I don't know what filament current is,
but mechanical timers, of course, do
need motor current. BTW, I gave up on
mechanical timers years ago. Even the
expensive, wall mounted, wired in units
would break down. It was usually the
motor/clock gears. I am now using an
X10 widget (1132CU) that you program
with your computer. It handles power
failures well and compensates for
sunrise/sunset changes. It does,
however, come with its own set of
problems, but for the most part, it works.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I was recently looking at swimming pool controlers. One company has
one that is supposed to run a pool, spa, waterfalls, lights,
conventional heaters, and solar heaters. It has a small LCD display
and about 8 buttons, only two of them are marked and those are for
temp. No specific button for even turning on the pump. All those
functions are done through the LCD display and cryptic buttons like
Aux1, Aux2, Menu, etc.

If I was in marketing or product planning and anyone brought me one of
those, I'd throw them out of my office. At least with the mechanical
wheel type it's obvious how to turn on the pool pump, which is the
most basic thing you want to do.
Hmm,
Young generation don't have any problem with today's electronic gadgets.
I often have to admit I belong to passing generation. Ever watched kids
texting plaing with fancy cell phone? When they get new toys, just open
the box and they just start using it.