Plug In Timer Switch Sockets

carter767

Hello -

Wonder if anyone has any advice about timer switches for electrical sockets. I have found a product online which is basically a plug in socket with an analog dial to set on and off times. It's £4.99 from Ryness.co.uk.

I have an economy 7 meter and use most of my electricity at night. I run my dishwasher, washing machine and chargers during my economy 7 hours (2330-0630) and save a fortune. The only issue for me is that I have to be up late enough to turn the appliances on and early enough to turn them off again.

I'm thinking about getting some timer switches but my questions are:

• Do they use electricity even when the appliance is set to be off?
• Are they any good anyway?
• Where's the best place to buy them? (Cheaper than £4.99!)

Any help would be appreciated

Cardew

I think using these timers is the standard way of getting appliances to work on E7 - assuming that the appliance doesn't have a delayed 'on' facility.

Bear in mind that some appliances cannot be left switched on when there is no power.

Maplins sell for £3.99

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32996

The power they use is tiny - pence per year

Viper_7

Yes- they use some electricity when the appliance is off - as essentially it's a clock but it's a tiny amount compared to what you save on E7

Some are better than others and have smaller increments, down to say 15 minutes. Others may be hourly.
Some have an override, whereas others don't, so either the time needs to be changed or the timer needs to be removed.

They all do the same job though

Janey3

I'm on Economy 7, and have timer for washing machine which is brilliant. I set it for 6.00a.m. and when I get up washing is done, although at first I used to wake up at 6.00 just to make sure the washer had started! I've never checked the amount of electricity used whilst it's off, but I shouldn't think it would be much. We got ours from Lidl last year, don't think they were much more than £5.

Janey3

Viper_7

I use em on electric fly killer in conservatory. It comes on for a few hours at night, to rid the beasties during the summer again so it's on E7 plus thinks it's more effective when it's dark.

Have a built in timer on the washing machine purposefully for E7 usage, but the entire screen glows bright blue when on timer! must be using a good 5-10 watts, so counter productive!

One thing to note though - they can be bulk depending on the model so if using on an extension strip, can find it difficult using the socket next to the timer.

munchings-n-crunchings

I would recommend you look into your usage during the E7 period.

You are paying a higher day rate, than if you were an a a non E7 tariff.

I found that even using my washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher during the night, I could not use enough electricity to compensate for the higher day rate.

To make the tariff worthwhile, and use enough night rate electric, I would need to have storage heaters, which I didn't.

I'm sure if you list your usage figure on both your tariffs, someone will confirm that the E7 is working for you,

Regards
Munchie

Viper_7

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

I would recommend you look into your usage during the E7 period.

You are paying a higher day rate, than if you were an a a non E7 tariff.

I found that even using my washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher during the night, I could not use enough electricity to compensate for the higher day rate.

To make the tariff worthwhile, and use enough night rate electric, I would need to have storage heaters, which I didn't.

I'm sure if you list your usage figure on both your tariffs, someone will confirm that the E7 is working for you,

Regards
Munchie

That's why it's best to use the "heavy" use items over night - such as water heating/storage heating/washing/drying etc.
The day rate is then literally lighting and background appliances.

If one has an E7 supply then normally the property has storage heaters and the hot water cylinder is off of it. Using the washer over night just adds to the saving.

See what you're saying though - yes the day rate on an E7 tariff is quite often higher than with non E7 but not always but should be minimal amount of KW/Hs

Cardew

It is very difficult to make Economy 7 worthwhile if you use gas/oil for heating/Hot Water.

I assumed that the OP has Storage heating and any additional nightime use is a bonus.

Actually washing machines use far less electricity than most people seem to think. My 5/6 year old cold fill machine uses 0.4kWh or 0.6kWh a cycle on most programs - even the 90C white(which is rarely used) is only 1.9kWh.

So by running the machine on E7 for most cycles would save 2p or 3p. Worth having but will take hundreds of cycles to save the £5 for the timer.

Dishwashers use more - about 1kWh - so you could save 6p or so. When I had E7 I found that there was a tendancy to put it on overnight when it wasn't really full - a false economy.

carter767

Thanks to everyone for their help! I do have storage heaters and electric hot water, so E7 suits pretty well. And today I found some timers in Poundland! Bargain!

smufflemuppet

Tesco and ASDA sell cheap ones; I bought a set of 2 last year for £3-99. Also check ARGOS.

Generally they are good if you know what to use them with. I've had expensive ones in the past that got dangerously hot when used with a convector heater despite their 13 amp fuses built in. Wont be making that mistake again!

However with most domestic appliances they can be effective with washing machines, dishwashers, even tumble dryers. They use minimal electricity when plugged in and should only come on properly when the time has been set to start the machines/appliances in question.