Using an outdoor light timer can take a burden off your back and make life much easier and manageable for you during your busy daily schedule. It’s important not only that you try and include automation into every aspect of your home, but also to keep your energy costs way down by turning off your outdoor lights when they are not needed. When searching for a timer and automation solution, there are many options to choose from.
A couple of things you need to think about is weather or not you need to get an outdoor light timer or an outdoor light sensor. Ot all depends on your situation and what kind of light you are using and how long you plan on keeping it on for. If you are using compact fluorescent bulbs you need to be aware that every time you turn them on and off you are in fact shortening the lifespan of the bulb, so these types of bulbs should only be in areas of your house where the light is on for an extended period of time as opposed to in a garage where you might be in and out of the room in a couple of minutes. For situations where the light is going to be on for a short amount of time, it is recommended that you opt for a LED or a incandescent solution along with a timer or sensor unit.
The Types Of Outdoor Light Timers
You should know all of the available methods of setting your lights on a timer and choose the one that best suits your style and needs. What they basically do is let you set an on and off time for your outdoor lighting system.
The most basic outdoor outlet timer is simply a unit that lets you place pegs into slots which designate which times you would like to have the lights turn on and off. Some of the more sophisticated units let you actually program custom times for a seven day week, but these type of timers are generally used or lamps and christmas lights.
If you really want to get an advanced outdoor light timer system then we suggest going with a photocell timer unit. This technology has the ability to sense changes in the levels of sunlight directed at it and adjusts the light on and off as it is needed according to sunlight levels. Some of them even possess the ability to change the intensity of the light up and down saving you even more money when in operation.
If you want a basic option then we suggest going with a simple Intermatic lamp and appliance timer. This is the basic timer with daily on and off time settings. If you are searching for a more advanced outdoor outlet timer we suggest looking into something more advanced like the Intermatic screw-in light sensor, which will automatically turn on your outdoor lighting system as it senses the sun going down.
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