Plug-in timer for dishwasher/washing machine

twiglet98

Also in OS

Determined to reduce electricity usage, I have bought a couple of cheap plug in timers from Mr T, intending to use them on the dishwasher and washing machine. Attempting to set up a trial run and I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

They are the timers with a dial and little pegs that are pushed down or up depending when the appliance should be on or off. I use one for the fluorescent light in a vivarium, so it's on 7am to 7pm. The kitchen appliances are different, obviously, in that they are only going to be 'on' when a programme is running. I set the timer for the dishwasher to come on in 30 minutes, but all that happened was the power light came on, and the 'End' light, but the
programme didn't start. It's a Bosch machine, permanently switched on at the wall socket which is in the cupboard under the sink. To start a programme I press 'ON' and select the programme button, and it usually starts a few seconds later. Surely I should just press the same buttons and it should kick in when the timer reaches the set time? Am I missing something obvious? Going to try with the washing machine but that is presently in the middle of a 2 hour programme (which I wish was running at Economy 7 rate).

System

That won't work. As soon as you remove the power it loses all its programming. The same would happen with the washing machine if it has electronic programming.

You need an 'old fashioned' washer with a mechanical programmer