frank1492 wrote:
I thought this successor to an earlier version (the one with the
mechanical relay) would solve its problems (premature failure
especially in cold environments.)
The EJ500C was connected in a simple circuit to a 60-W
bulb. It started to smell in under 2 minutes.

The low-end Intermatic products ARE junk. Use the SS7C - it is much
better designed and will handle inductive loads (that's the root cause
of your problem - the large inductance of the long load circuit).