Digital timer plug-in plug thingys

[Landlord]

Hello people of a practical persuasion!

I'm after purchasing a number of said digital timer plug-in things wot turn stuff on and off via a timer. I'm intending on using them in the pub to turn our chillers/bar fridges etc off when we're closed and on in time for when we open again. The genuinely shocking (pardon the pun) electricity prices we're being charged mean any saving is worth while!*


Therefore, I'd ideally need one that can have two-or-three "on, offs" per day. Moreso, I need it to be very reliable and rugged/long-lasting.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Any to avoid?

Cheers!


* Yes - a review of leccy suppliers is on the cards, however, current research suggests we're already on a good tarrif.

[Invisible man]

I have one that uses little black pins that you push down to stop the supply, you can have any combination you care for

[Landlord]

Invisible man said:

I have one that uses little black pins that you push down to stop the supply, you can have any combination you care for

I don't follow. Monday needs to be different to Tuesday, which should be the same as Wednesday and Thursday. Friday needs to be the same as Saturday and Sunday needs to be different again. I need to be able to set them once and forget about it not set them up for the coming day each day, which is what I think yours sound like. Am I right?

[LaserTam]

I know the sort of thing Invisible Man is on about, I have one for my external garden lights. And no it wont do what you are suggesting, you can set them up to switch on/off as many times as you like in 24hrs, but it will be the same every day. So as you have said, as digital one is what you need, unfortunately I have never used one so can't recomend any.

[adqt]

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMETU17.html

[Dogwatch]

Rules out the mechanical type then! I've got an unbranded electronic timer which I think came from B&Q some time ago. I has 6 programmable periods each day so easily covers your requirements.
I don't think that any are particularly good or bad.

[Invisible man]

Landlord said:

Invisible man said:

I have one that uses little black pins that you push down to stop the supply, you can have any combination you care for

I don't follow. Monday needs to be different to Tuesday, which should be the same as Wednesday and Thursday. Friday needs to be the same as Saturday and Sunday needs to be different again. I need to be able to set them once and forget about it not set them up for the coming day each day, which is what I think yours sound like. Am I right?

no programmable for 24hrs only, sorry

[Simpo Two]

Sounds like you need a 7-day central heating timer - could such a thing be adapted I wonder?

[Landlord]

adqt said:

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMETU17.html

Kind of - but I've found them elsewhere cheaper (Amazon & Screwfix for example).

Because it will be put in the pub and would result in warm beers if it fails - being reliable is pretty crucial (on a par with life-support machine for some of my regulars, no doubt!) so I don't think unbranded is the way to go.

It looks like I can't get what I'm after (i.e. they're sold in plenty of places) - it's the quality I need to go for now.

[Invisible man]

Simpo Two said:

Sounds like you need a 7-day central heating timer - could such a thing be adapted I wonder?

or a basic PLC......eBay?

[mouseymousey]

I got some recently from Wilkinsons.

They have 10 programs so if you only need one on and one off per day then they would work.

I can find out the make of it tonight if you need it.

[hman]

just a thought, how long will your fridges stay cool without the pumps running?

[Landlord]

mouseymousey said:

They have 10 programs so if you only need one on and one off per day then they would work.

I'll need;

Monday 1 on, 1 off
Tuesday 2 on, 2 off
Wednesday 2 on, 2 off
Thursday 2 on, 2 off
Friday 1 on, 1 off
Saturday 1 on, 1 off
Sunday 1 on, 1 off

Which makes 10 on and offs... perfect!

[theboyfold]

What about something like this

It requires you to turn it on and off, but it's all done by remote, so it's nice and easy.

[Landlord]

theboyfold said:

What about something like this

It requires you to turn it on and off, but it's all done by remote, so it's nice and easy.

Sadly, I know from experience, that the manual part of the job (pressing the remote) will be forgotten etc. hence relying on programmable set-and-forget timers!!

Thanks for the link though.

[miniman]

Surely letting the fridges effectively warm up overnight means that they will have to work harder to chill the beer again than they would simply keeping it cool constantly?

[theboyfold]

Landlord said:

theboyfold said:

What about something like this

It requires you to turn it on and off, but it's all done by remote, so it's nice and easy.

Sadly, I know from experience, that the manual part of the job (pressing the remote) will be forgotten etc. hence relying on programmable set-and-forget timers!!

Thanks for the link though.

There must be a 'smarter' way to do... I'll have a look when I'm at home tonight for something along the lines of a networked power plug that you can control via a web interface, but I really should do some work today!

Unless of course somebody here already knows about that sort of thing?

[Landlord]

miniman said:

Surely letting the fridges effectively warm up overnight means that they will have to work harder to chill the beer again than they would simply keeping it cool constantly?

I don't believe so. As long as the door isn't opened (which it won't be) it will still be relatively cold.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Do you have a PC on all the time in the place? If so there's a whole world of home automation stuff that'll do all that and more.

[HiRich]

hman said:

just a thought, how long will your fridges stay cool without the pumps running?

This? Fridges & coolers take a long time to get temperatures down.

Might be worth investing in one of these first, to see how much it's actually costing you?