Today I'm going to review and share some of the features of the Defiant in wall,
three-way, daylight adjusting, seven-day, programmable timer model 32648.
If you already have this timer and just want to know how to setup
or program it, I'll put a link up here at the top (on your right side) and also post
the link details in the information section below. I'm not going to show you
how to install the timer although I will talk about it and the power
specifications in a moment. Regarding installation though, it's important to
note that you will need to have access to a neutral wire in the switch box in
order for the timer to work properly. If you don't know what that means or you
get in the switch box and see a mess of wires you can't identify, please do
yourself a favor and call a licensed electrician. If you want to see
if you have a neutral wire in the switch box, first turn off power at the breaker,
open the switch box, and if there are only two wires and likely a ground, this
timer will not work for you. In choosing a timer my criteria were an
inexpensive, in-wall programmable timer that would automatically turn on our
outside lights in the evening and then turn them off around bedtime. I also
wanted to be able to override the programs. For example, when I simply want
to turn on and off the lights myself. I didn't need a fancy Wi-Fi smart switch
which would allow me to turn the lights on or off remotely using a smart phone
or an app. So at $19 dollars from my local Home Depot, this Defiant timer
provided all the functionality I needed. The timer allows me to store up to seven
individual programs ,which means for example, I can set different on-off times
for each day of the week, or I can even set seven on/off times within a single
day which can then be applied to any combination of days in a week. Again
though, keep in mind there are only seven individual programs. The timer also has a
random function which turns the lights on and off within 30 minutes of its
program time to give you the appearance that someone's home. It also has a
"countdown to off" feature which turns the lights off after a specific amount of
time. Lastly, once properly set up, the timer automatically adjusts
for daily sunrise and sunset times for your location. So it basically has a dusk
until dawn feature -- meaning it turns on at dusk and off at dawn. This occurs
using time values versus an outdoor sensor light that uses a light
sensor to turn a fixture's power on and off. The timer comes with both white and
light almond face plates and the cover when closed is an override switch. It
works like a push-button on/off switch. Let's talk about the ratings.
The timer can be used with incandescent bulbs, LEDs, CFLs and ceiling fans.
While the front of the package says 15 amp, 120 volts, 1800 watts, when you refer
to the back of the package it shows that it's 120 volts ac, 60 hertz, which
is normal for the U.S., 15 amps resistive, but actually rated 10 amps for
tungsten, which is referring to incandescent bulbs since they use a
tungsten filament , 10 amps for a ballast, which is referring to CFL bulbs, and half
horsepower motors, which refers to fans. To further confuse you and me, the
instructions included inside the package say it's rated for
125 volts AC. Huh? Versus 120 volts at 60 Hz? But again, given
electricity in the U.S. is 120 volts AC, 60 Hz, we're okay. Is it a typo?I dunno! I don't
want to get too far into math and science here, but what I take away from
this is that the timer should be installed on a 15 amp circuit and if
using incandescent or CFL bulbs in the light fixtures, total wattage of all the
bulbs should not exceed 1200 watts, which is the 10 amps max rating for
incandescent and CFL bulbs times a hundred and twenty volts. Watts equals
volts times amps. The downside to this timer is that while the pretty blue
illuminated display isn't too hard to read, you'll need to deal with the tiny
buttons. You'll need a pencil or a toothpick. Furthermore I should point out
that the instructions are printed so small that I had to use a magnifying
glass to read them; hence, why I did the other video on how to program it.
Let's briefly talk about installation. Installation is pretty straightforward
if replacing a single-pole switch and more complicated for a three-way, but in
either case you'll need a neutral wire in the switch box as I mentioned before.
If you want to see if you have a neutral wire in the switch box, first turn off
power at the breaker, open the switch box and then if there are only two
wires and likely a ground, this timer will not work for you. Lastly,
this timer does not work in 4-way installations. So overall we really like
this product. It was inexpensive and it's made our lives easier. I haven't had it
long enough to test longevity but I will say that I was able to install it myself...
and then I had a licensed electrician review my work. He said, "Nice job!"
If this video has been helpful, please do me a favor and like it and that way other people
can find it . And as always, thank you so much for watching.