Timer plug setup in Exeter
Professional timer plug setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
10-15 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Timer plug programmed to switch your appliances on and off automatically. Perfect for lamps, garden lights, or heaters you want on a regular schedule.
Stop Forgetting To Turn Things Off
You leave for work and realise the hallway lamp's been on all day. Again. Or you want your garden lights on when you get home, but you're not there to switch them.
Timer plugs solve this - but the programming buttons are tiny and the instructions are useless.
💡 Pro tip: Timer plugs are brilliant for security when you're away - lamps coming on at teatime make it look like someone's home.
What Timer Plugs Are Good For
| ✅ Perfect Use | ❌ Won't Work |
|---|---|
| Table lamps, standard lamps | Lamps with touch controls |
| Christmas lights, fairy lights | Appliances with soft-touch power buttons |
| Garden water features | Things that need setup after powering on |
| Old-style fan heaters | Modern heaters with digital controls |
If it has a physical switch or comes on when plugged in, a timer will work.
What You Get
🔧 Complete Setup
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Programming | Timer set to your preferred on/off times |
| Testing | Check it switches correctly |
| Instructions | Show you how to adjust times yourself |
📦 You're Left With
- Appliance switching automatically
- Written instructions for changes
- One less thing to remember
Typical Timer Schedules
Security lighting (when away)
- Lights on: 5pm
- Lights off: 11pm
- Makes house look occupied
Morning routine
- Radio on: 6:30am
- Radio off: 8am
- Wake up to music instead of alarms
Garden features
- Water feature on: 9am
- Water feature off: 9pm
- Runs during the day, quiet at night
What It Costs
Our minimum callout: £60 (covers first hour).
Timer plug setup takes 10-15 minutes, so you'll pay £60. Good idea to have a few jobs lined up - I can set up multiple timer plugs, change batteries, tackle other quick tasks.
💡 Multiple plugs? If you want several timer plugs set up, we'll do them all in the same visit.
Perfect For You If...
✅ Security lighting - want lights on when you're away
✅ Fiddly buttons - can't see the tiny timer controls
✅ Regular schedule - same appliance on/off daily
✅ Gift for elderly relative - set it up so they don't have to
Why Choose Us for Timer plug setup in Exeter?
Programmed to your exact schedule
Instructions left for future changes
Tested before I leave
Security lighting automated
What to Expect
Step 1: Work Out The Schedule
Quick chat about when you want things on and off. Most people want lights on late afternoon, off at bedtime.
Step 2: Program The Timer
I set the schedule using the timer's (inevitably tiny) controls. Mechanical timers have little pins, digital ones have buttons. Both are fiddly.
Step 3: Test & Explain
Plug in whatever you're controlling, check it switches on/off correctly, then show you how to adjust the times if needed.
🔧 DIY Tips
Timer plugs are doable yourself if you've got patience:
🔧 What you'll need
- The timer plug (mechanical or digital)
- Reading glasses if the markings are tiny
- The appliance you want to control
- Instructions (or Google the model number)
⏰ Mechanical timer setup
- Pull out all the little pins/segments around the edge
- Push IN the pins for times you want it ON (each pin = 15 or 30 minutes)
- Leave OUT the pins for times you want it OFF
- Set the current time by rotating the dial
- Switch the timer to AUTO mode
📱 Digital timer setup
- Clear any existing programs
- Add Program 1: set ON time
- Add Program 2: set OFF time
- Choose which days (usually all 7)
- Switch to AUTO mode
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Setting AM when you meant PM
- Leaving the timer in MANUAL or ON mode instead of AUTO
- Not setting the current time first
- Mechanical: pushing pins the wrong way
💡 Pro trick: Test your timer during the day first - set it to come on in 5 minutes and watch it work. Much easier than waiting till evening to discover it's not set up right.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 While I'm there: Timer setup is quick. Bundle it with other small jobs - battery changes, light bulbs, tightening wobbly things. Make the callout worthwhile.
Mechanical vs Digital: Mechanical timers (the ones with the dial) are more reliable but can't do different schedules for different days. Digital timers can have weekday/weekend programs but need batteries and sometimes forget their settings.
Outdoor use: If you're using a timer plug outside (garden lights, water features), make sure it's an outdoor-rated timer in a weatherproof box. Standard indoor timers will fail in the wet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a timer plug and a smart plug?
Timer plugs work on a fixed schedule - same time every day. Smart plugs connect to WiFi and you control them from your phone or voice assistant. Timer plugs are cheaper, simpler, and don't need internet. Perfect for lamps, garden lights, or heaters that you want on the same schedule daily.
Can I change the timer settings myself later?
Yes - once it's set up I'll show you how to adjust the times. Most timer plugs have little pins or buttons you push in/out for different time slots. I'll explain your specific model and leave you confident to tweak it.
What can you put on a timer plug?
Anything that turns on immediately when plugged in - table lamps, Christmas lights, phone chargers, fan heaters, garden water features, radio for the cat. Doesn't work for things with electronic on/off buttons that need pressing.
Will it work when the clocks change?
Older mechanical timer plugs just keep going, so you'll need to adjust them twice a year when clocks change. Digital ones often adjust automatically. I'll let you know which type yours is and what to do.
Can timer plugs save money on electricity?
A bit, yes. If you currently leave things on standby or forget to turn off garden lights, a timer makes sure they're only on when you actually want them. The real benefit is convenience and security though - lights coming on when you're away makes your house look occupied.
Timer plug setup Also Available In:
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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