Mydome Light Switch Timer – Police Approved Retro Fit Timer Switch - A No Wiring Home Security Lighting & Burglar Deterrent

This is a fantastic gadget which is very easy to use. It works on a normal light switch and turns the switch on and off according to preset times by means of a small wheel/cog powered by standard AA batteries. It allows you to time a main light to turn on and off when you are out avoiding the need to plug in a lamp. A much better idea, especially if you have pets that could knock a lamp over. You can easily override the timer by pushing an on/off switch on the unit. It is installed simply by slipping a plastic cradle over a light switch and the placing the timer unit in the cradle with the cog wheel lined up with the switch. The unit can stay in place continuously or be removed if desired. It does make a whirring noise turning the switch on and off but it is only a second or so of noise. There are 9 separate programme opportunities over 7 days allowing almost any combinations of timings on different days. There is also a random function which turns the light on in the night at random times for about 3 minutes each time. This is useful if you are away as it mimics someone getting up in the middle of the night for a comfort break. I would suggest not using this feature if you are at home otherwise the noise might disturb you. The unit can be adjusted to move 1, 2 or 3 cogs at the same time depending on how many rocker switches are on the light control.

Easy to use, and works well.

The concept is good, a timed mechanical light switch.However your success will depend on the light switches you have, the light switches in my new house are Deta and the timer doesn't work with them because of their lower profile design, even using the 2 spacers provided. The timer could only activate the switch but could not turn it off.The attached photograph shows the switch that doesn't work on the left and the RPP design on the right that does work without using spacers. The switch on the right has a higher profile and works fine, the difference is fairly subtle.The programming is well explained and easy to do, if you mess it up you can use the reset button and start again.To conclude, if you have the right switches this is will work great out the box, if not you'll have to change your switch or mess about with spacers beyond those supplied in the kit.

I had doubts about how well this would work to start with, but it's actually an amazing idea and very well executed. I now have three of these timers and they all work consistently and faultlessly. One of them has been switching one room's lights on and off several times a day for nearly 4 months now on its first set of batteries.I'm trying to sell my house so when I have viewings, I take the timers off, but this takes seconds to do -- you just undo the switch screws slightly and the frame slides out. They take slightly longer to refit, but probably only 30 seconds once you get the hang of it.Because the body of the unit slides in and out of the frame, you can set up the times without having to awkwardly stoop against the wall. If you take the unit completely off the wall, the body of the unit remembers the time and settings, so you don't end up having to reprogramme them all the time, unlike with some other timer switches.I haven't seen anything that can switch on and off proper light switches that works anywhere near as well as this.Pros:- Easy to fit and remove.- Easy to program (but you'll need to read the instructions to make yourself aware of some of its less obvious functions).- Uses normal AA batteries.- Remembers its settings.- Works well and consistently.Cons:- I can't think of any.

The Mydome replaced a Timeguard ZV700B when the bulb 'blew' the switch's 3amp fuse and also the digital circuit board. This model is now no longer available probably because the Mydome is such a good alternative. So simple to install and set-up plus the 'Police approval'?! It is rather chunky and clunky but a very simple mechanical idea that works well by just turning on the light switch. It also means you can use it with any bulb. My only hiccup was using an older light switch which was too stiff for the mechanism and had to be replaced with a more modern MK (or similar) lower profile switch. A shame there is no illumination for the digital display or to indication the light is switched on, particularly for outside. You do need two AA batteries which are not supplied. The is no guarantee with it but hopefully it will last a few years...

Does the job well, has an old one for 11 years.

It does precisely what it says on the box and it is very easy to install, but it's quite noisy when turning on/off the lights, and it's not as practical as I had hoped.Although the timer works on 1, 2, or 3 gang light switches, and it can operate 1, any 2, or all three of the switches, it's all on or all off - it's not possible to program each switch individually.There is a problem with two-way switches. This device will operate the two-way switch, but if someone uses the other end of the two-way to operate the light, this device will then turn the light on when you expect it to turn off, and vice-versa.Also, if you have a multi-gang switch and you only want this device to control one of the switches, you'll have to take the controller off the switch in order to be able to get to the non-controlled switch(es). Admittedly this is as simple as sliding the controller off the switch, but not ideal as if the controlled switch is on, removing the device turns it off.Finally, I doubt that an experienced burglar is going to be fooled by this if you use it to control multiple switches. All of the controlled lights are going to turn on and off at exactly the same time, so if you have two or three switches controlling lights in different locations (porch, hall, living room for example), it's going to look quite suspicious when they all turn on at exactly the same time, up to nine times a day!