Greatest thing since sliced bread...

[Idaho45guy]

I was at Home Depot today and looking for the old time giant C9 bulb Christmas lights from my youth and stumbled across this little device...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-Wireless-Indoor-Outdoor-Remote-Control-YLT-42/301844750


292311

I plugged in my Christmas lights to it and can now turn them off when I go to bed using a remote control, rather than having to go outside and unplug them. They had the timer as well, but this was $10 and seemed easier.

Was just about ready to turn in and realized the lights were still on. So, picked up the remote and pressed a button and they switched off. Amazing! I'm sure these have been around for years, but I had never gotten one before and am amazed at how nice it is to just push a button to turn off the Christmas lights and display.

[smithnframe]

What will they think of next?

[GRid.1569]

Marvellous stuff.... but, I often wonder what was the best thing before sliced bread... :-)

[Pine Baron]

Thanks Idaho, what a great idea. My problem is if I go to HD for just this one thing, I'll end up there for 2 hours and a bunch of stuff I didn't realize I needed.

[Wild Bill 7]

When our house was built we had outlets put under the eves and switches inside for them. Have one on the front and on the back and it’s great to turn the lights off with a switch. Only thing I regret is not having them on all four corners.

[jeepyj]

When our house was built we had outlets put under the eves and switches inside for them. Have one on the front and on the back and it’s great to turn the lights off with a switch. Only thing I regret is not having them on all four corners.

Very good idea!

[fastdadio]

I have this one;
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Woods-15-Amp-Outdoor-Plug-In-Photocell-Light-Sensor-6-Outlet-Yard-Stake-Timer-with-6-ft-Cord-Green-13547WD/203638967
The lights come on at dark, and you can set how long they stay on after that. I set mine for 6 hours. They come on about 5;30 and turn off around 11:00.
For indoors, we have this set up;
https://www.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-DECKER-1-Amp-to-15-Amp-Plug-In-Indoor-Wireless-Remote-Control-System-with-3-Smart-Adapters-Grounded-and-1-Remote-White-BDXPA0002/317577922
Plug the receivers into various outlets around the house and the remote controls those outlets. We use it for the floor lamp, christmas tree, and the entertainment center.

[Sasquatch-1]

I have been using a simple timer like this for many years. Comes on at dusk and you set how many hours you want it to stay on. 2/4/6/8/dawn.

292316

[Handloader109]

I got similar item from HD a number if years ago. Had 4 or 5 on their sale shelf and when I scanned to pay, they came up fir a penny each. I got all they had and gave away several. I use to control not only lights, but can turn on and off any device that is below 1500watts. Such as vaccum in shop and fans. Mine also have a couple of settings like dusk to dawn and 2 hour timer.
But I do like sliced bread with a bit of Turkey better

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[Baltimoreed]

292317
Been using the remotes for years. Great way to inflate my Homers. Doh!

[MrWolf]

I've used them for years. Actually giving away three decent sized boxes of Christmas lights to my gf's daughters. One of the boxes has numerous boxes of brand new lights that I never used. I don't put up outside decorations or lights where I am at as I don't like to advertise someone lives out here.

[jsizemore]

I had some folks that bought a mid century modern (we just called them houses in the mid century days) call to say they had no power to the outlets on the front deck/porch/entryway. It was a real fixer upper. The contractor couldn't figure what was going on with that circuit. After crawling and climbing for 3 hours, I made my way to the 6 gang switch box by the front door. Next to the last switch activated that circuit. One of those mid century modern timing devices.

The following Christmas I got a call from them. Lights on the front deck/porch/entryway wouldn't work. I head into town, flip the switch like a mid century man would do and the lights come on as if by magic. I had other stuff to fix so no big deal. White oak limb had bent the aluminum handrail of the back deck. It's that powder coated aluminum and and stainless cable stuff. $400 for the rail dropped shipped to their front door. Treated 2x6 at the local lumber yard was $8.

Anyway, I'm waiting for my front deck/porch/entryway mid century modern timer call since Christmas is right around the corner.

[georgerkahn]

My Kubota tractor has an installed block heater. With yesterday's high temp of ~25*F, and the mercury dipping down to +11*F overnight -- this may be the time to plug it in. But... to gimp out in snow/ice to plug it in for an hour or two before use? Hey -- I can't wait to get to a Home Depot and purchase one of these! One outlet will go to the tractor block heater, and the 2nd to a 110V LED plugged in light bulb -- so I know ;) when heater is on/off.
Thanks for this (hopefully!) great note!
geo

[Nueces]

I have used a remote ON/OFF switch to control the light bulb heater for my well head plumbing. Light's on, heat's on. I use those multi switch boxes with remote for lamps in the living room. There is a remote in the kitchen, one zip tied to my headboard and one in my desk drawer. I can light the way through the house from any entry.

[XDROB]

My wife and I put up a small display. When we first did for a few years I would go out in the garage and unplug it. Then one day at my local hardware store I spotted this photocell/timer device. It turns them on when it gets dark and you can set the timer to up to 7/9 hours or all night. I usally set it for 7 hours. Been doing this for about 6 years now. Works perfectly.

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[375supermag]

Marvellous stuff.... but, I often wonder what was the best thing before sliced bread... :-)

Just having bread in those days was pretty terrific all by itself...

[Big Tom]

I went wireless a few years ago - google for "Kasa" switches. They connect to your home wifi and you can control them with a cellphone and even program on- and off-times. That is how it started - now we got the complete house integrated into a home automation system (Hubitat) with motion sensors that when I go to the basement, the light turns automatically on (and off after 5 minutes unless there is still motion), bedroom fan turns on above a set temperature (and off below that setpoint), Christmas tree inside the house switches on at 7 am and off at 11:30 pm and so on :-) Almost as much fun as going to the range.

[Woodtroll]

My Kubota tractor has an installed block heater. With yesterday's high temp of ~25*F, and the mercury dipping down to +11*F overnight -- this may be the time to plug it in. But... to gimp out in snow/ice to plug it in for an hour or two before use? Hey -- I can't wait to get to a Home Depot and purchase one of these! One outlet will go to the tractor block heater, and the 2nd to a 110V LED plugged in light bulb -- so I know ;) when heater is on/off.
Thanks for this (hopefully!) great note!
geo

Forgive me if you already know this, but just be sure that your block heater's amperage draw doesn't exceed the rating on the remote receptacle. It's not unusual for some of those heaters to pull 1200-1500 watts. The switch listed in the link, and many others like it, will only power 1000 watts.

[StuBach]

I went wireless a few years ago - google for "Kasa" switches. They connect to your home wifi and you can control them with a cellphone and even program on- and off-times. That is how it started - now we got the complete house integrated into a home automation system (Hubitat) with motion sensors that when I go to the basement, the light turns automatically on (and off after 5 minutes unless there is still motion), bedroom fan turns on above a set temperature (and off below that setpoint), Christmas tree inside the house switches on at 7 am and off at 11:30 pm and so on :-) Almost as much fun as going to the range.

I have several different options but I’ve switched to the “smart” timers that Costco sells for $20/2pk. They similarly tie into your wifi and can be activated via phone where you have an app where you can set timers. You can also tie into your Google or Alexis smart speakers so I can just say, “turn off Christmas lights” and it’s done.

[slim1836]

I have been using a simple timer like this for many years. Comes on at dusk and you set how many hours you want it to stay on. 2/4/6/8/dawn.

292316

We have this one as well, works great for our needs.

Slim

[hoodat]

Marvellous stuff.... but, I often wonder what was the best thing before sliced bread... :-)

I think that the year before sliced bread, the best thing was pneumatic tires. Or was it flush toilets?? hmmmm. jd

[remy3424]

I have been using a simple timer like this for many years. Comes on at dusk and you set how many hours you want it to stay on. 2/4/6/8/dawn.

292316

I use these with my christmas lights and one on my case cleaner, use the 2 hour setting for that...I might have a tendency to forget it is running...have to cover the "eye" as it will only turn on in darkness.

[MUSTANG]

I have been using a simple timer like this for many years. Comes on at dusk and you set how many hours you want it to stay on. 2/4/6/8/dawn.

292316

Use these year round in the Chicken Coop and Bird house where we have Pheasant and Chukars.

[gwpercle]

Ain't Technology Wonderful !

I thought turning off the switch on the power cord strip was neat ...
Yes Sir ... better than sliced bread ... and only $10 to boot !
Gary

[MT Gianni]

Whenever I hear the greatest thing since sliced bread I think of Spiderwire fishing lines.

[shooterg]

I think that the year before sliced bread, the best thing was pneumatic tires. Or was it flush toilets?? hmmmm. jd

Flushing is OK, but I vote for toilet paper, with or without the flush !

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I was at Home Depot today and looking for the old time giant C9 bulb Christmas lights from my youth and...

>>>SNIP


I like the large size christmas lights too, like the C9.

A few years ago, I bought two strings of a New LED light set, that are the size of the old C7 and while most LED's are painfully too bright, these LED C7 clones give off a "dim glow", like the old timey incondesant C7 would. That same year, after christmas, I went back to the store and bought up all the remaining dim glow C7 clone sets for pennies on the dollar on closeout. That's all I use now.

btw, I've always used a timer for christmas lights (dusk til dawn).