Timer switches: literally just a clock and a switch

It's about time.
Links n' stuff:

Technology Connextras (my second channel where stuff goes sometimes)

Technology Connections on Mastodon:

This channel is supported through viewer contributions on Patreon. Thanks to the generous support of people like you, Technology Connections has remained independent and possible. If you'd like to join the amazing people who've pledged their support, check out the link below. Thank you for your consideration!

[TechnologyConnections]

Worthy of note: the motor-driven timers consume 3W constantly - and with modern LED lighting, that means that depending on what you want the timer to do... it may not save any energy! If you use it to control a lamp with a single 5W bulb for 8 hours day, then it saves 80 watt-hours while also consuming 72 watt-hours. In that specific case, you might as well just leave the light on all day and forget having a timer!

[jaapsch]

If you want a timing sequence that has a period longer than 24 hours, you can plug one timer into another. The second timer runs only when it gets current from the first. You can get really complicated switching patterns that way, but it is really confusing...

[NishithThakkar]

It's a testament to your video making prowess and progress that such a polished and entertaining video is deemed a "No Effort" video.

[kleverich]

When I was a kid we called those "coffee timers", at least in my family. Namely, it was a timer into which you plugged the coffee pot. A few years ago I went to the store and asked where they had "coffee timers". They looked at me like I was speaking Greek.

[alexanderakerhjelm]

The absolutely ceaseless smattering of puns is why I love this channel.

[DeviantOllam]

I always liked how these very old timers with mechanical switches had a bit of natural variance in their on/off times as they worked to overcome the force of toggling... A little deviation in the times can make for a more natural look than hard-timed perfection of newfangled digital timers. (Although now we have programmed-in randomness on some units I've seen, to make lights look more "human" which is also neat)

[PositionLight]

Hey, it's the timer I sent you like 3 years ago! 😅

Thank you so much for such a cool video involving the old 1970's timer. Your "why are electric switches clicky" video had just come out and I figured you might find something interesting to say about the mechanism. Wow, wasn't expecting a whole video on timer switches as I didn't think there was much to them! Also total win on the plug detents.

[salamander]

Something I love about your videos (among other things) is how there's a sort of "Technology Connections curriculum, " for a lack of a better words, that builds off of previous knowledge I already know (or have the opportunity to learn by clicking the i card). There's almost a certain chronology to it, yet it doesn't necessitate watching every video in order. Additionally, this enhances my knowledge about all of the *connections* between various *technologies.* Hmm, I guess that's why it's called that...

[michaelgauthier]

If you want to store the tabs and not mess up the timing, just put both « on » tabs next to each other and both « off » tabs next to each other. Since they won’t mess up the actual timing, you can just use the spaces between the first on/off switches as storage.

[davemarm]

You can store the removable tabs right next to the in-use tabs. For example put 3 ON tabs together right after the desired ON time and 3 OFF tabs together right after the desired OFF time. That's what I do for my outdoor landscape light transformer timer.

[---..]

The removable tabs can be stored on the timer. Just insert all the spare "on" taps into a time span where its already on, and the spare off ones into a time span where its already off. This has issues if you only want it to be on or off for a very short period each day, but otherwise works pretty well (or at least it did for me back when I used the exact timer you showed). Sadly they tended to wear out pretty fast when used 24/7. Great for seasonal use though.

[livingdeadbtu]

I would be willing to say Intermatic likely was the first company that made timer switches. They are still around today making things like pool timers, but their staple is delay on, delay off, and even more sophisticated relays!
EDIT: Tab storage - It's literally right there!!!! To store the tabs, you set the tab for on, and then place the rest of the "on" tabs in the section where it will be on... Then set your off time and place the remaining "off" tabs in the section where it will be off. Too bad they never bothered to put that in the instructions...

[aurynvrvilo]

Half of your videos I'm excited to learn how a thing works. The other half I'm like, "yeah, yeah, I bet I know how this works, " but then not only do I still learn a whole bunch, but you make it entertaining. You rock :)

[Connie.T.]

Thank you for always making me interested in things I never even notice. These devices are so standard in terrarium or aquarium setups that I took them for granted. They're surprisingly nifty!!

[heikkileivo]

It is kind of heart warming to see how much well deserved attention is given to such a humble everyday item. I can almost see them blush as you present their simple innards.

[captainevenslower]

After rewatching the "holes in plugs" video just yesterday, I was not expected to find relief from my resulting frustration so soon and surprising.

[kheprishornuser]

I always enjoy your comedic timing. It runs until the moment just before it becomes tremendous cringe and then moves on. Dunno how that timing gets nailed down but I like it

[antibrevity]

I'm glad that you found receptacles that engage with the holes in the plugs! You and I both seem to have been suspicious about this for years (well, more years for me), so it's nice to find at least something that actually uses the holes.

[Saryk]

It's 2023, this video is more phosisticated than the older ones.

[fernandlust]

Back, I don´t remember when, I was called to a village in Germany where clocks went haywire when it was raining. Reason was that they had a pump for their high water protection system. The pump was controlled by a variable frequency drive. The drive was a thyristor drive, that, while running, induced interferences in the power grid of the village. The clocks then saw a grid frequency of 100 Hz, instead of 50 Hz, So, while the drive was running, the clocks went at twice the normal speed. A LC filter got rid of the problem