Re: Timer recommendation for porch lights

[John Shepard <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jeff Volp wrote:
> "John Shepard" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:d6SNe.25579$Ji4.20736@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>>Hi All,
>>
>>I'd appreciate any recommendations for a good, safe timer
>>switch for porch lights.
>>
>>I recently tried out the Intermatic 15 Amp 120/240/277 Volt
>>Digital 7-Day Programmable Time Switch only to find that it
>>heats up! (the lights on the other side were two 60W bulbs).
>>
>>I like all the features that the Intermatic had but was
>>disappointed with the excessive heat. BTW, the rating (volts,amps
>>and power) matched the ordinary switch that I had on there
>>before.
>
>
> Assuming your timer is the SS8, it looks like it has a lot of capability.  I
> would not be surprised that the unit is warm.  It probably uses a couple of
> watts of power itself.  Your wall box may be plastic, which is a poor
> conductor of heat.  If so, most of the heat dissipation has to come out
> through the front panel, and it will be warm to the touch.
>
> Because the unit is rated for 15A, it must use a relay to switch the load.
> It shouldn't matter whether you have 120 watt load or a 1200 watt load.  But
> if the unit does not use a latching relay, then there will be some
> additional temperature rise when the relay is actuated and the load is on.
>
> The older motorized timers probably dissipate less power, but they certainly
> don't have the capability that the newer digital timers have.
>
>

Thanks - is there an established electrical rating/code that
would help me understand whether the heat dissapation is within
a normal range?

John