Customer Reviews for Intermatic TB121C Digital Table top Lamp and Appliance Timer

Intermatic TB121C Digital Table top Lamp and Appliance Timer
by Intermatic

	Our Price: $11.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details

Tools and Hardware Reviews of Intermatic TB121C Digital Table top Lamp and Appliance Timer

Customer Review: Bought two, both DOA
Summary: 1 Stars

I bought two of these. I pulled the little tab out of the battery compartment to activate the battery. Immediately, it started flashing "Lo" and about 30 seconds later the display goes blank... and according to the instructions "Lo" means just what you'd expect -- low battery. I JUST bought it so why's the battery dead already?

Apparently not learning from my mistakes, I opened the second timer, and the same thing happened with it!

Not leaving well enough alone, I decided to check the battery of one of them... the tiny cover for the battery is difficult to remove without breaking it, and I cracked the little cover despite my trying to carefully pry it off. Batteries tested fine though; the device itself simply refuses to believe that a good battery is a good battery.

I returned both of them.

Over the last 5 years, I've bought 6 other Intermatic timers (different models), and all of them have also failed, all due to battery issues that can't be fixed by replacing the batteries. This brand is JUNK. Its a shame that they have practically no competition in all the local hardware stores.

Customer Review: Simple, Effective
Summary: 4 Stars

The Intermatic TB121C digital tabletop timer has worked well as an enhancement to my alarm clock. My original intent for purchasing this timer was to turn on a full-spectrum light five minutes before my clock sounds my morning alarm. After having negative experiences with other wall-timers, I have been very happy with this timer's capabilities and reliability.

Unlike wall timers where you must get on your hands and knees to adjust them, the Intermatic allows adjustments while seated upright or even lying in bed, far away from the rats' nest of extension cords. The easy access allows for rapid confirmation of the settings as well.

There is only problem with the timer I have seen thus far. When you drop it, even a few inches, it closes the circuit momentarily. This pulse is very bad for certain electrical devices, such as my $400 full spectrum light box. Also, it is not designed for large inductive loads such as air conditioners. On the timer, the inductive load is only listed at 300 watts versus 1000 watts for a resistive load (i.e. light/electric heater).

A relatively simple device, the Intermatic TB121C does its job. I would be skittish in purchasing one, however, if there is any danger from a momentary closed circuit, which would turn on the intended light or appliance.

Pros
Visibility
Simplicity
Dual on/off settings

Cons
Inductive load limitation - 300 watts
No ground plug
Momentary closed circuit when dropped only a few inches

Customer Review: Quickly Uses Up 2 LR44 Batteries
Summary: 3 Stars

It seems a shame that Intermatic decided to minimize the initial cost of this product by powering the timer circuit/display with 2 LR44 batteries, which appear to last, at most, 3 months before they need to be replaced. Depending on where you shop, repowering the unit will cost $1 and up, so that you quickly spend equal the cost of the timer in batteries.

A product which included a power supply for the display and digital clock circuit which runs on the 110 V mains power being timed would have been far preferable.

Otherwise, this seems a well designed product.

Customer Review: Useless for appliances
Summary: 1 Stars

This product cannot be used with any appliance that has a three-pronged plug. That the product description does not mention this is negligent on Amazon's part.