If you have lights installed outside your home, such as safety lights to illuminate pathways, colored accent lights for showcasing plants and trees or a light aimed at an American flag, you might prefer to use a timer with a photocell to turn them on and off automatically. A timer is also useful for controlling holiday decorations such as Christmas lights. One option is the Westinghouse 3-Outlet Outdoor Heavy Duty Digital Photocell Timer, which you can easily set up and start using.
Set the Time
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Step 1
Plug in your timer into an electrical socket for at least one hour to charge its internal battery. When the LCD display appears, the timer is ready for programming. Plug the power cords of up to three different lights into the timer's three sockets to control them with the same settings.
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Step 2
Press and hold the "Time" button. The day of the week will appear on the display. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set today's day.
Step 3
Press the "Time" button again, and then press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the current hour, making sure that "A.M." or "P.M." appears correctly. Press the "Time" button, and the display will show the minutes. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the current minute.
Step 4
Press the "Time" button to store the settings.
Program the Digital Timer
Step 1
Press and hold the "Mode" button to scroll between three different mode settings. The modes are "Digital Timer," which turns lights on and off according to your programming; "Photocell Countdown Timer," which turns on at dusk or on immediately, and turns off after one to 12 hours; and "Digital Timer plus Photocell," which turns on at dusk and off at your programmed times.
Step 2
Press the "Prog" button for three seconds after selecting a mode. The first setting you can program is "Prog 1 On," which will appear on the screen. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the time you want the timer to turn on, making sure to cycle through to "A.M." or "P.M."
Step 3
Press the "Prog" button. The message "Prog 1 Off" will appear in the display. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set when you want the timer to turn off.
Step 4
Press the "Prog" button to save your programming and to enter additional programming, up to eight programs following the same steps for setting the on and off times. Press the "Time" button to store your programs when you are finished. The timer will now show the correct time and is ready to use.
Set the Photocell Countdown Timer
Step 1
Press the "Prog" button and hold it to scroll to "Photocell Countdown Timer." The first setting you can program is "Prog 1 On," which will appear on the screen. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the desired day of the week program. You can select each day individually, or weekdays, or Friday Saturday, Sunday.
Step 2
Press the "Plus" and Minus" buttons until all seven days of the week are lit up for both "Prog 1 On" and "Prog 1 Off" to have the timer turn on at dusk and off at the same time every day of the week.
Step 3
Press the "Manu" button to enter the hour setting. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons repeatedly to set one of three settings: "Dusk to Dawn," on at sundown and off at sunrise; or "On at Dusk, Off 1 to 12 hours Later" (press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to advance from d:01 up to d:12" to set the number of hours after dusk to turn off the timer); or "On Immediately, Off 1 to 12 Hours Later (press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to advance from S:01 up to S:12" to set the number of hours to turn the timer off after having turned it on immediately).
Step 4
Press the "Prog" button to enter more programs, up to eight, or press the "Time" button to store your program.
Set the Digital Timer Plus Photocell
Step 1
Press and hold the "Mode" button to switch to "Digital Timer plus Photocell" mode, which turns on at dusk and off at your programmed times. The first setting you can program is "Prog 1 Off," which will appear on the screen. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the desired day of the week program. You can select each day individually, or weekdays, or Friday Saturday, Sunday.
Step 2
Press the "Manu" button to enter the hour setting you want to turn the timer off. Press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the time you want the timer to turn off after it has been turned on by sensing sunlight with its photocell. Cycle through until "A.M." or "P.M." is set correctly.
Step 3
Press the "Manu" button to enter the off time minute setting, and then press the "Plus" and "Minus" buttons to set the minute. Press the "Prog" button to enter more programs, up to eight, or press the "Time" button to store your program.