Header banner
Revain logoHome Page
John Iverson photo
Sweden
1 Level
751 Review
40 Karma

Review on ๐ŸŒง๏ธ BN-LINK 24 Hour Programmable Dual Outlet Timer - Compact Outdoor Mechanical Plugin Timer, Waterproof, Heavy Duty by John Iverson

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Looks cheap, the cord is too big for an outside outlet but has some advantages

This product is listed as heavy duty and while it can handle heavy loads the design of the product itself doesn't feel to "hard". The power buttons are unevenly spaced - some are farther from the face than others, and the spacing between them is noticeably uneven. The time pins also don't seem solid compared to other "heavy duty" timers I've had. While this probably doesn't affect functionality, I immediately noticed it as a sign of a difference in quality. Another thing I noticed is that the cord has been bent on itself near the end of the fork and then zipped closed in this unusual twist configuration. I think it was because the cable/product fit in the box easily. There are two rubber socket covers/plugs on the underside of the timer when the socket is not in use. The problem is that they are so loose that it is difficult to hold on to them. I also noticed that when the on/off lock was toggled, this block moved what appeared to be a plastic timer gear in/out of the way of the timer. Most other devices I've seen don't have this extra moving part and instead the on/off acts like a real electrical switch. Finally, I tried plugging this timer into an outside outlet with an "in use" cover, but the cord plug was long enough that the outlet cover wouldn't close. A lot of cables have issues with the depth of the release boxes, but it's worth noting. Redeeming Qualities - Price - This is one of the more affordable timers, it has a 15 minute incremental timer (vs 30 minutes for other timers). , it has two sockets instead of one, as well as a bracket that allows you to attach it to a screw/hook for an additional installation. Most importantly, it seems to work as expected to turn on and off at the desired interval. For these reasons, the good helps balance out the bad, which is why it gets three stars. Would I buy this timer again? Maybe. Will I use it for a permanent install? No, I would use a longer-lasting timer. Since I only use it for Christmas lights a few weeks a year, I'm hoping it will serve my purpose for a few years.

Pros
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Almost never