TimeguardETU17 24-Hour/7-Day Slimline Digital Plug-in Timer

I bought this timer after reading the reviews from other purchasers. When I finally got my timer working after several debacle attempts ...it works fine. I managed to set the clock time and then set my timer for the 7 day program. Doing that wasn't without problems. The instruction manual wasn't very clear but I managed to scramble through firstly, by resetting the timer and then trial and error to set the timings I preferred. (I must add though that that explanation was my experience with making sense of the literature and may not be the experience of everyone else.) I had to trust that it works ok because there isn't a light that comes on to let you know whether it's on or off! On the plus side it's quiet I don't even know it's on as I use it in my dining room unlike the one I replaced which was a dial timer that ticked away in the background. I bought this for a 1.5kw oil filled radiator which is heating my conservatory it was important to use a timer that was robust and can handle the KW which this does fine so far its also smaller than the one I replaced and it looks good. So overall more pluses than minuses and I recommend to any would be buyer.

Can anyone advise how their timer responds to a power outage during a programmed ‘on’ period? I expected it to switch back on again, but the specimen I bought doesn't do that. Although the display keeps indicating ‘on’, the load gets no power until the next ‘on’ period.Apart from that, it’s a five-star device, but this behaviour makes it useless for my application. I want to turn off the power to a router located in remote premises at say 3:00 am and then restore it five minutes later. With my specimen a power cut could, in the worst case, leave the router switched off for almost 24 hours.

Purchased this timer because its compact (narrow) giving access to my mains socket switch. Lose 3 stars because the random function is poor and of limited use for a security lamp. The problem is that when random is selected the output always comes on at the programmed time, there is no random 'on' delay as there is with my older timer. I expected something better for the price.

I ordered this because of the positive reviews. However I have spent 3hrs trying to program the unit foe a 7 day cycle and have found it too difficult and it does not work in the schedule I want. Maybe I am missing a trick but it has got me baffled. As such I am asking for a refund and waiting for the seller to respond.Why do they not make things simple?

I give it one star because to date I have not been able to "Reset " it as per instructions. When I have posted a question re this problem it appears that other buyers have had various degrees of success with this one. Following the guide lines, all I get is flashing dots and dashes plus flashing on/off, leave it alone and it returns to the wrong time, which of course I can't alter. I may have to accept that this particular item is a dud.Hindsight should have opted for a older non digital version.

Simple to use and they have the added benefit of a 'random' switching feature. Many others have the random feature, but the randomness only affects the start time of any on/off period. This model can switch a device on and off randomly within an on/off time period, which makes them more realistic.. Only slight concern (and reason for loss of a star) is that they are warm when running. This seems to be the case when installed on a trailing lead, rather than a wall socket. Not sure why, and doesn't affect only one, but all the ones I purchased.

So far works reliably, to turn on/off my espresso machine, unlike one I purchased from a well known, chain, High St, retailer of electrical gadgets, which would come on, occasionally, at midnight, when not programmed to do so. Handy that the display is on top, and one click on the left hand button, overrides the current status. Very pleased with my purchase. Incidentally, the Market Place retailer emailed an invoice, which was appreciated, and delivery was prompt.

Easy to use - programming uses same logic as a previous Timeguard timer I owned before but with fewer buttons. No problems - very reliable. Slimline design means it doesn't crowd out other plugs in double sockets.