How To Set Outdoor Lighting Timer

Later on y'all get all of your outdoor lights arranged outside of your house or your business concern, you may find it a hassle to remember to turn them on or off. Perchance you just want them on when it's nighttime outside, or to only stay on for a set period of time, like a few hours. Whatever your specific needs are, if you're hoping at that place are some ways to use a timer on your outdoor lights, this is the right article for y'all.

You tin put outdoor lights on a timer a few different ways, depending on the type of calorie-free you use. For lights wired to a switch, a timer volition need to be installed at the switch. With smart bulbs and lights, the setup is much simpler, typically using an app or with a smart dwelling house hub. For lights that are plugged in, a simple outlet timer can exist used.

Outdoor lights can provide an ambiance and welcoming feeling to outdoor areas and also provide amend security. If yous want your outdoor lights to operate efficiently and stay on for a fix corporeality of time, you need to utilise a timer. To acquire about the types of outdoor timers and how to install them, first allow's comprehend the diverse types of outdoor lighting timers.

Types of Outdoor Lighting Timers

If you want to put a timer on your outdoor lights, there are many options for you to do this, so don't worry. One matter that's important to pay attention to is that the timer hardware is outdoor rated. Outdoor-rated timers are weatherproof and are designed to be more robust than indoor lite timers, which means they'll exist able to endure much harsher conditions.

Outdoor timers tin withstand harsh, repetitive changes in temperature, humidity, and sunlight intensity that are very normal in day-to-twenty-four hour period life outside. Whatsoever type of outdoor timer tin get the job washed, hither is some information on a few different outdoor timers that are great options.

Mechanical Outdoor Outlet Timer

If yous have existing lights that plug into an outdoor electrical outlet, likely the easiest solution for you lot is to add a plug-in outdoor mechanical timer. Mechanical timers, like this outdoor Christmas low-cal timer (on Amazon) with 2 plugs are an easy dial-type timer setup. You can set it to be on for 14 hours and off for 10 hours for example, automating the use of the lights.

Mechanical outdoor timers are easy to use. However, y'all may have to bank check them every week or and then to make certain they have not drifted past an hour or 2. This can be a hassle simply still saves y'all from remembering to turn the lights on or off. Virtually units don't have whatsoever trouble with this, but keep an eye out…if this is going to happen it'll happen immediately, on the start day or and then. If yous're using these type of plug timers for year-round use, then you'll take to adapt the timers during daylight savings shifts, and whenever the power goes out.

Photoelectric Outdoor Outlet Timer

Photoelectric outdoor timers are similar to mechanical timers, even so, they have a light sensor instead of a mechanical dial. The light sensor detects sunlight and can be ready to turn off (or on) even so many hours afterward dusk you'd like to set them for. The advantage of this is obvious, but a common problem is that the light sensors can sometimes wear out.

Devices similar this 24-60 minutes outdoor photoelectric inaugural timer (on Amazon) with 3 outlets are easy to gear up besides. They can also be set to various on/off intervals, and it comes with a remote to modify the timer settings so you do not even have to become outdoors if you lot don't want to. Like the mechanical outdoor timer, photoelectric timers are as well a great selection if yous have existing lights that plug into an outlet that y'all want to add a timer control.

Switch Timers & Smart Switch Timers

If you lot have outdoor lights that are controlled past a light switch, yous tin purchase a light switch that has a built-in timer. Timers similar this programmable calorie-free switch timer (on Amazon) with automatic shutoff make turning off your outdoor lights easy. With a touch on of one button, y'all tin can program it to turn off after, v, 10, 20, or even thirty minutes. You tin even extend it from upward to 1 to 4 hours.

Too a traditional switch timer, y'all can also use this smart switch timer (on Amazon) and control your lights from anywhere with an net connectedness and you tin can check out more on smart bulbs and how to apply them in our carve up guide. Smart switches can still be turned on/off with the physical switch, but can likewise be operated with vocalisation commands, mobile apps, and automatic triggers based on the time of day set in the smartphone apps.

Smart switch and traditional timer switches do require y'all to remove your existing switch from the wall electrical junction box. If y'all practice this, make sure your principal power is off first! If you are just not comfortable messing with electrical wiring, you can rent an electrician for help. If you like the idea of a smart switch that doesn't require any electric work, rest assured there are some wireless options for smart switches in the next section.

Smart Outdoor Lights

If you would like to take an fifty-fifty easier route to get timer control on your outdoor lights, yous can purchase smart bulbs and lights. Smart bulbs have built-in connectivity to your router, typically through a hub. For example, Philips Hue has nifty smart bulbs that can be controlled through their app and with smart hubs, like Google Banana, Apple tree Home, and Amazon Alexa, all of which y'all tin can utilise to set timers for the outdoor smart lights.

Some Philips Hue smart lights require the Hue Smart Hub (on Amazon), and some do not. However, if you are using multiple smart devices in your home it is best to use the Hub to preclude your router from getting clogged upward and slowed downwards.

For ultimate simplicity and ease of use, you lot tin can even incorporate a Phillips Hue Smart Switch (on Amazon) or a Smart Dimmer Switch (on Amazon). Dissimilar the traditional wall switches, these smart switches are battery-powered and work past connecting to your network and smart habitation organisation. As such, they do not go connected to your electric organization and you do non accept to worry about wiring into a wall socket.

The smart switches are actually stand-solitary switches that you can mount anywhere in your home past using the included adhesive backing. Another great affair is that you lot tin can command more than i smart light with a single switch. With these smart switches, you tin can create a routine that will turn the lights off after they've been on after a certain amount of time.

How to Install a Timer on Outdoor Lights

Depending on the blazon of timer you plan to use to control your outdoor lights, your installation will differ. If yous are doing any type of installation where you have to work with exposed electrical wires, please be prophylactic and brand sure your power is off.  Here is a brief overview of how to install each option, including the first which is the outdoor outlet timers installation.

Outdoor outlet timers, both mechanical and photoelectric are very simple to install. All you do is plug them into the wall outlet, then you plug your lights into the timer. You can hands alter the settings of these types of timers with mechanical knobs and/or push buttons.

Installation of Switch Timers & Smart Switch Timers

Out of all the timer control options, smart timers and smart switch timers are the well-nigh physically difficult ones to install. Before installing/uninstalling whatever wall switches, turn off your power commencement. To install wall timers, y'all first have to remove your existing electrical switch. Here are the bones installation steps:

• Turn the main power off and double-check that it is off! Otherwise, you lot volition be in for a shock or worse.
• Unscrew the wall plate on your existing switch.
• Remove the wall switch and disconnect the wires on the back.
• Brand sure you have enough blank wire to connect to the new switch. You may need to use a wire stripper if they are not long enough.
• Wire in the new timer switch. Make sure you connect the wires correctly (light-green is always for ground, white and black are power)
• Use wire nuts and/or electrical record to secure the wire connections.
• Put the switch into the wall junction box, screw it in, and install the wall plate.
• Plow on the ability and allow there be calorie-free!
• Note:  If you are not comfortable with electrical wiring, consider hiring an electrician or getting a friend with more experience to help you.

Smart Light Bulb Installation

Installation of smart light bulbs is the simplest of all options. All you have to do is screw in the smart bulbs, pair them to the app and you are adept to showtime controlling the lights and setting timers from anywhere. If you are using more than advanced setups, like using the Philips Hue Hub – you'll have to install and pair that device too. Even with the extra devices, the setup is elementary. All smart bulbs and lights walk you through the initial setup and installation process, then you'll be sure to have a streamlined setup for smart lights, faster than any other method.

Source: https://sortatechy.com/can-you-put-outdoor-lights-on-a-timer/

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