LED compatible timer switches...

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Do they exist? Even this Timeguard timer, which claims to work with low energy lights does not handle LEDs

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMZV700.html

Timeguard confirmed that even with the FLA01 Strip Light Adaptor fitted, the timer will not work with LEDs.

Either I need an LED-friendly timer switch (recommendations?) or should I bite the bullet and use halogen GU10s in my outdoor lights? There are 4 lights to run off the timer and they are on approx. 7 hours a night which I guess is expensive....

what do other users do in these circumstances?

feedback appreciated

regards, Cal
 
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I know what not to use... LoL. (see my thread here)

The CP Electronics KH3 or KH3N (Specs Here) definitely doesn't work with LED without having to add power factor correction because it has no neutral connection.

I'm wondering though if the CP Electronics MRT16-WP (Specs Here) will work though because it has a neutral and the instructions don't mention power factor correction when used with low energy lighting.

It might be worth an email to the company. They replied very quickly when I asked them about the KH3N switch that I had bought to switch an LED fitting and am having problems with.

Edit: whoops! Jumped in too fast and didn't realise you were looking for a timer switch with set times rather than the time lag switch I was talking about. LoL
 
i dont understand why any of these timers would NOT work with LED's?

Its just a switch?

Some have a lower power rating when driving inductive loads, but you should be well within that driving some LED's surely?


(With the exception of the neutral-less switch in the previous post, as thats a bit oddball)
 
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i dont understand why any of these timers would NOT work with LED's? Its just a switch? Some have a lower power rating when driving inductive loads, but you should be well within that driving some LED's surely?
The issue is that some of them are not 'just a switch' (in the mechanical sense), they are electronic controllers.

Any 'mechanical' time switch, or even an electronic one which does its switching via a relay, will obviously behave as 'just a switch' - and will hence be able to switch anything (within its contact ratings). The relay-less electronic ones may be fussy about the nature of the load, and may have minimum loads with which they'll work (as well as a maximum load rating).

Hope that helps.

Kind Regards, John
 
Some of the relay switched timers have a contact suppressor across the contacts and this leaks a little AC current when the relay contact is open ( OFF ).

The same item ( resistor and capacitor ) as used across the lamp to absorb the leakage and prevent the low energy lamp from flashing or glowing dimly ( LED ) when the timer is OFF.

So much simpler with incandescent lamps. :(
 
(With the exception of the neutral-less switch in the previous post, as thats a bit oddball)
Actually it's very common, as a design like that can be used to replace a normal light switch, as that too doesn't have a neutral.
 

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