Need indoor, programmable, plug-in timer for house

[samclem]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Unfortunately, most robberies occur between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm, so this helps...but not so much as we would think to deter Mr. Robber.

Two comments on that statistic: First, if a break in hapens in the daytime, the guys stil want to be darn sure the house is empty--often by observing the house at night. Second, if a homeowner is gone on vacation for a week and finds the house burglarized when he returns, at what time do the police report that the crime occured (daytime breakin or night?) My guess-- "Unknown". For daytime break-ins (when the owner comes home from work he finds that an entry has occured) are easy to categorize. So, I wonder about the statistic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Other than a radio on, what else can be left on in the daytime (ok, the tv, too)? I'm not coming up with anything.

I thought this was an interesting product:

Quote:

FakeTV accurately simulates the light output of a real television. The effect of scene changes, fades, swells, flicks, on-screen motion, and color changes look just they came from a real TV. From outside the house, it looks just like someone is watching a real television. The potential burglar thinks the home must be occupied, so he moves on to an easier target. Using FakeTV could not be simpler. Just place it in room so that you can see the light from the FakeTV from outside, but you cannot see the FakeTV unit itself. Plug into the wall. The built in light sensor will turn Fake TV on at each dusk-- no need for an external timer. Acts as a deterrent.

Kinda pricey at $40, but it would use less electricty than a real TV and would reduce wear-and-tear on the actual TV. I'd still put it on a timer--nobody watches TV all night.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

An old friend was burglarized during the day (then it is called housebreaking). After that, he put an old TV on the counter in the kitchen and left it on all day and left an old car int he driveway. Never was bothered after that.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I like the electronic dog barking machine. Anyone have any experience with one?

[Texas Proud]

Amazon.com: Woods 59203 Digital Lamp and Appliance Timer, Repeats Weekly with 2-Prong Plug: Home Improvement


This one looks like mine.... but it does not have the name on the front...

Does take up both plugs, so that is a downside...

Also, it was not easy to turn on and off at will... so I never did that... used a different lamp...

Some of the others look good...

[Orchidflower]

From what I can tell, TexasProud, it seems most of these mechanical timers are two prong like yours and take up two plugs. Unfortunately.

[TromboneAl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy I like the electronic dog barking machine. Anyone have any experience with one?

Yes, we had two of those when we lived in Oakland. They worked very well, and were a great conversation starter.

[deserat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Yes, we had two of those when we lived in Oakland. They worked very well, and were a great conversation starter.

YUP - if I lived in Oakland, I'd want some type of a dog (real or electronic) .....I used to go to corporate meetings downtown and if it got too late, I'd leave the meeting early - did not want to be on the streets around there late at night.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower From what I can tell, TexasProud, it seems most of these mechanical timers are two prong like yours and take up two plugs. Unfortunately.

Ours (the one from my first post) is 2 prong, but only takes up one plug. Also, you can always get a 3 prong -> 2 prong adapter for a few cents.