Yet another random electrical item torn to bits for entertainment. This time it's a cheap plug-in mechanical 24 hour timeswitch.
I was actually quite impressed by the mechanism. Particularly the use of a standard style of microswitch for the actual switching.
I was actually quite impressed by the mechanism. Particularly the use of a standard style of microswitch for the actual switching.
Hi Clive, i know this video has been on for a while now, but did you manage to figure out the values for the resistor on this?
I have one of these in front of me thats having issues, and the resistor has burned a little, but the shrink tubing has burned into the markings on it. All i can see is a brown resistor with a coil running up the side of it.
what the value so i can order a replacement.
Thank you, and i love the video, they are great inspiration for my videos.
Cheers
I hate those mechanical time-switches they make a very annoying rattling sound.
Sir, I have a king shield timer model No. Ti0b, my timer dial is jamed & not move please tell me how i fix it.
We use these for growing "it". 12 on, 12 hours off to induce flowering. Or 15 minute burts of feeding a pond pump full of plant nutrient.
It is a common mistake to switch too many watts though these things. 250 might last a month or two. 400watts will fail within a week.
I have a couple of extension leads with two continental sockets and two UK style sockets in the same moulding; they were made in Turkey, presumably for the convenience of tourists with various chargers, etc. The UK sockets have a similar shutter system to that shown, complete with spring, but with no means of pushing the shutter down other than with a screwdriver!
Here in the States, we use these things all winter to control the soft plug heaters we have installed in our car engine blocks. The heaters are rated at between 400 and 600 watts so the ones we buy must be able to handle such a load. Fact of the matter is though, I have never really paid any attention to the load listed on the paperwork, I just buy the cheapest one in the hardware store and use it. Of course you have to live in the Northern USA to need these things, I hail from South Dakota, where our winter temps rival those of Alaska on an almost daily basis.
I have an (cca 20years) old mechanical timer that comes with a set of 12 loose pins. You can stick them into any of 48 pairs of holes to set a turn on or turn off time. Unlike in your timer, you can turn it on or off manually at any time. You can also use turn off hole only to turn it off at a desired time and never back on. I really wonder is it possible to buy something like this today…
It's amazing, the engineering that goes into such a device we take for granted.
Hey Clive, is there a way I could calculate the watt-hours an appliance uses without a meter?
Nice strip down. Thinking of using one of these things as a base for a timelapse terminal for a camera and thinking of how to power it without mains. would i be correct in assuming that i could power just the motor with 27v Dc in a battery pack ?
Very interesting stuff Clive.
Love the videos!
these have come down incredibly in price over the last 30 years, one from the 80's would cost near £30 if it had kept pace, and the new ones do have microswitches which should mean a decent reliability, your one has 1 hour segments and a lot seem to have 15min segments, but still the same basic internals, funny that in this world of digital, that the mechanical ones still sell, (because they are simple) and they can be sold even cheaper. btw i am a new subb, i like people who also take an interest in these little things others take for granted
You're on a roll today. Love your vids!