Intermatic vs. Aube light timers - experiences?

Yeah, I always check manuals online before buying, now. Best way to find out what you're gonna get. In fact, I just looked again at the manual for the Aube unit, and was shocked to find this:

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Now, if the world ends, I'll know what probably caused it....

But seriously folks, thanks for the feedback on the switches. I may try posting this in the alt.home.automation forum, as well. As for my own experience, I've now decided to do my own testing. I just got the Aube switch I ordered in the mail, Intermatic is sending me an EJ500 to replace the failed SS7, and I'm going to try the repair recommended in Christian's link. I'll install all three, and see how they do.

Reply to
houseonhawthorne
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Aw come on....just rip out a wall and get those wires in. You can do it. :-) We'll all stop by and watch & drink beer, and offer suggestions.

Reply to
Doug Kanter

I love it! :-)

Reply to
Doug Kanter

Aw, come on.... stop treating me like a baby girl. We're talking about six different walls, in six different locations, spread throughout a

6000sf house (which isn't mine). To top it off, these walls are covered in a textured Venetian sand/plaster mix that is basically impossible to patch without looking extremely obvious. This is a place where even pros fear to tread, and while that doesn't always stop me (I'm prone to biting off more than I can chew) I know better than to mess with this one.

Besides all that, a mechanical timer won't solve the problem I have now of having to reprogram all of the timers every month or two as the sunset/sunrise changes. Solar timetable all the way for me!

Oh, btw - I emailed Aube to ask if the T1034 is compatible with compact fluorescents. Got a response today in which the rep (emailing from Honywell... interesting) said to check with the bulb manufacturer and ask if their bulbs work with timers (uh...). He/she also recommended the T1035A (higher max wattage), claiming it was compatible, but warning that a neutral wire in the box is absolutely necessary. I'm not posistive this person knew what they were talking about, but I thought it might be lead for you.

Reply to
houseonhawthorne

Hmm... didn't mean to sound so grouchy there.... :P

Reply to
houseonhawthorne

Etch an outline in the plaster very carefully with a tiny Dremel bit, all the way down to the lath, then have your way with it inside the outline. No guts, no glory!

Oh for heaven's sake....put down the remote control and the Bon Bons!

Ask if their bulbs were compatible with timers. Right. There should be a hall of shame web site for answers like that.

Reply to
Doug Kanter

Moon phases??? Quick! More ice cream!

Reply to
Doug Kanter

That's the one I used. Yes, you have to have all three (hot, neutral and ground) in the box - it isn't a simple two-contact switch. You can't get it to work otherwise. I bought it because it could handle flourescent lights (or motors etc) with high loads. He does know what he's talking about.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Daly

I assumed the three-wire part was true. The part I'm iffy about is the "check with the bulb manufacturer" bit, making me wonder what the real story is on handling *compact* fluorescents. (I already knew about regular fluorescents, which the T1034 is capable of handling as well.)

However, when I went to install the switch today, I noticed a blurb on the back of the packaging which refers directly to compact fluorescents, and answers my question better than the Aube rep:

"Total load must be at least 40W when using compact fluorescent lights. For loads less than 40W use Aube's T1033 or T1035."

So there you go, Doug, or anyone else looking to use compact fluorescents with one of these. If you've got 40 watts of CF bulbs wired (quite a bit, I know), the T1034 (or T1032) will work. Otherwise, you'll have to go with the T1033/5.

Since I'm using all incandescents, I easily surpass the min load, so the T1034 is fine. The install today was uneventful. Programming interface is okay, but I don't really like it as much as Intermatic's. There are also fewer programming choices than you find with the Intermatic, such as the "auto random" feature. On the plus side, the unit is flush with the wall plate, and generally less conspicuous. Still, I'd say that as a whole, I think I prefer the Intermatic so far, aside from the whole, break-after-two-months issue.

As for whether the Aube will win out on that front, only time can tell....

Reply to
houseonhawthorne

But, what if there's no neutral in the box?

Reply to
Christian Fox

I've also had a lot of problems with these Intermatics. I have gon through 3 different EJ351C's, an SS7, an SS8, and now I am on m second SS8 unit. They last anywhere from 6 to 14 months, and then w get the dreaded "No Op" failure error msg. I am getting really tire of replacing these $&%#*@& switches

On the other hand, it's great to know that others have had simila problems. I was beginning to wonder if I did something wrong in th installation or if there was something wrong with the building' wiring

Please let us know if someone finds a better replacement out there

Thanks

Reply to
LH

I installed about 5 Aube 600W timers in my house. I like them a lot better than the Intermatic for the following reasons: - They sit flush with the switch and look like regular Decora switches (other than the LCD window) as opposed to the Intermatics which stand quite proud and have a goofy clear door and visible buttons

- They have a built-in rechargeable battery to hold time during a power failure as opposed to the Intermatics which require you to change the battery every year or so

Reply to
blueman

I have been using the non-solar version with CF's and it works fine -- I had checked with Aube before to confirm.

Reply to
blueman

From Aube's FAQ

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"Can compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) be used with Aube switches? Aube's TI032-3W and TI034-3W have a 40 W minimum load-the total load when using low-watt bulbs must be at least 40 W. For loads under 40 W, use Aube's TI033 or TI035."

Reply to
Christian Fox

using low-watt

Reply to
blueman

I just picked up a TI034 and am using it with CFL bulbs without problems (I have three lights on that switch, so the 40w minimum isn't really a problem).

My only complaint with the Aube solar switches is that they turn on the lights right at sunset - it'd be nice to be able to turn them on around 20 minutes after sunset (around here there's at least 20-30 minutes of twilight when it isn't really dark).

Reply to
Christian Fox

I wasn't going to reply to this originally, because we're veering off topic, but to explain a bit...

About the plaster wall, you've misunderstood. It's not an old plaster-and-lathe wall, it's 10-year-old, regular sheet rock. The problem is, on top of the sheet rock is a Venetian plaster finish--a layer of colored plaster and sand--no paint. So whatever cuts are made into the wall, this isn't just a spackle-and-paint job. This wall texture, basically the real version or what many "faux" finishes are meant to imitate, is not the easiest thing to apply in the first place, but it is next to impossible to repair. Most professionals who specialize in this type of finish won't even consider repairs--they only redo entire rooms (and to the tune of thousand of dollars).

As for the solar timetable issue, remember this is not my house, and I don't plan to work for these people forever. Asking them to change the timers themselves is beyond their preferred level of involvement.

So, sorry for the thread-jack, there, but I couldn't help it. Now, to finish things off, I'll ask for some off-topic help: if anyone knows of a good Venetian plasterer in the San Francisco area who will do repairs, send me a PM! :)

Reply to
jmparsons

I wasn't going to reply to this originally, because we're veering off topic, but to explain a bit...

About the plaster wall, you've misunderstood. It's not an old plaster-and-lathe wall, it's 10-year-old, regular sheet rock. The problem is, on top of the sheet rock is a Venetian plaster finish--a layer of colored plaster and sand--no paint. So whatever cuts are made

into the wall, this isn't just a spackle-and-paint job. This wall texture, basically the real version or what many "faux" finishes are meant to imitate, is not the easiest thing to apply in the first place,

but it is next to impossible to repair. Most professionals who specialize in this type of finish won't even consider repairs--they only redo entire rooms (and to the tune of thousand of dollars).

As for the solar timetable issue, remember this is not my house, and I don't plan to work for these people forever. Asking them to change the

timers themselves is beyond their preferred level of involvement.

So, sorry for the thread-jack, there, but I couldn't help myself. Now, to finish things off, I'll ask for some off-topic help: if anyone knows of

a good Venetian plasterer in the San Francisco area who will do repairs, send me a PM! :)

Reply to
houseonhawthorne

I like the Aubes for the same reasons. I still like the interface and the "auto random" feature on the Intermatics, though. After a few weeks, my Aube is still going strong, but of course, that doesn't mean much. The real test is for the long haul, and this thread will be closed by then.

I also installed the Intermatic EJ500 (had them send me that instead of a new SS7). It's a bigger unit, that doesn't fit so well in the junction box, but it works. Flush to the wall, internal battery like the Aube. Interface is not as nice as the SS7, comparable with the Aube IMO.

So I now have 4 legacy SS7s, 1 Aube 1034, and 1 EJ500. The race is on! Whichever timer dies last, wins!

Reply to
houseonhawthorne

I've also got an Aube 1034 and an Intermatic EJ500. For now the EJ500 is in my parts box and he 1034 is installed, since it works with compact fluorescent bulbs and the EJ500 doesn't. Since I have my outside lights (3 of them) on from sunset until 3am daily, the power savings from CF bulbs really add up. With CF bulbs, the total power draw is 46w, whereas with regular incandescents it'd be 180w.

If Intermatic changed the EJ500 to work with CF bulbs and improved the solar calendar to work better here in Canada, I'd probably switch, but for now the Aube works well.

Here's my take on the two units:

AUBE 1034 Pros:

-Works with compact fluorescents (as long as 40w minimum load is met)

-Timer is based on latitude/longitude, so it more accurately tracks sunset/sunrise for on/off times, especially here in Canada.

Cons:

-AAA battery needs to be changed about every 18 months

-More complicated programming interface (IMHO) than the Intermatic

-Doesn't automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time (has to be manually changed twice a year)

-No randomization feature

-Turns lights on _exactly_ at sunset, which results in the lights being turned on before it's really dark (where I live we get about 30-45 minutes of twilight before it's really dark).

Intermatic EJ500: Pros:

-Easy programming interface

-Automatic DST adjustment

-Randomization feature turns lights on/off up to 20mins before/after programmed time.

-No battery to change (unless there's a prolonged power failure)

Cons:

-Doesn't work with compact fluorescent bulbs

-Solar calendar only has 3 zones (South, Central, and North) which probably work well in the USA, but don't work well here in Canada. I need a "really North" setting, since the seasonal variation in sunrise/sunset is more pronounced the further North you go.

Reply to
Christian Fox

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