Astronomic Timer Switch: An Application Guide

The astronomic timer switch, which is also called an astronomical time switch, can be a useful timing tool for home and business owners. But what is it and how does it work? We wrote this handy guide to help you understand this timer device technology —and determine if it suits your home or business automation or timing needs.

What is Astronomical Timer Switch?

An astronomical timer switch is an electronic device that uses the position of the sun in the sky to determine when lights, sprinklers, and other appliances should turn on or off. It functions similarly to a normal timer switch except that it’s programmed with specific settings based on information provided by satellites and other sources.

Astronomical Timer definition

Astronomical means related to the study of anything outside of the earth’s atmosphere, including the sun and moon. As you can guess, that means this timer switch operates based on astronomical data to provide accurate timing options.

In other words, astronomical time switch control doesn’t need a sensor to work, and instead uses the sun’s position (in relation to a specified geographical location), to determine when to turn an electrical circuit or equipment on and off.

Astronomical Timer Function

The astronomical timer function is to help automate systems, save energy by ensuring systems or appliances are used when they are needed most, and provide an efficient way to operate lighting, irrigation systems, HVAC systems and more.

The astronomical timer switch offers a convenient way to automate equipment without needing external sensors. Some even operate with only a ZIP code as input, eliminating the need for manual programming or inputting of locational coordinates.

Plus, these timer switches offer highly accurate timing because they use precise astronomical data to determine when a circuit should be activated or deactivated. This makes

How Do Astronomical Timers Work?

As earlier mentioned, the astronomic timer switch utilizes astronomical data to control the switching of lights and other loads. Most astronomical timers use stored data to determine the sunrise, sunset, and twilight.

This data includes information about the day of the month, sunrise and sunset, or the length of daylight. This is then used to determine when a switch should turn on or off, based on the geographic location of the user and time of year.

To use an astronomic timer switch, the user must first enter their location information (e.g. ZIP code or latitude and longitude). Once entered, the timer switch will then use stored data to calculate the sunrise and sunset times based on that location.

Plug In Astronomical Timer

One type of astronomic timer switch is the plug-in timer. These are simple to use and require little setup. The plug in astronomic timer is plugged into a wall outlet, and then programmed with the desired on/off times for lights or other electrical items.

The plug in astronomic timer is mostly used to time single outlets, so it only suits applications that involve controlling one device or system. In light of that, you can use to turn on and off outdoor lighting, landscape lighting, or holiday lighting

Astronomical Wall Switch Timer

An astronomical wall switch timer means a timer that is permanently installed into a wall to control the on/off times of lights or other electrical devices in that area. This can be indoors or outdoors, depending on the application at hand.

These timers are highly programmable, meaning they can be set up with individual settings for each day of the week and time of year (e.g. summer, winter) based on the sunrise and sunset times in your area. Uses include lighting control for security, energy saving and convenience.

Astronomical Time Switch Setting

How do you set an astronomic timer? The astronomical timer switch setting method varies from model to model, but the main idea is that you can program it to turn lights or other electrical devices on and off based on specific times.

For example, you could have the astronomic switch turn on lights at sunset and off at sunrise. Or, you could program it to turn lights on at dusk, and then off at a certain time. There are also several other different settings available, depending on the model you have.

Your astronomical time switch manual should explain the options available, including instructions on how to program it. So take a look at the manual to get started. Generally, you’ll find the astronomic timer switches easy to use, as most only need to be set once and left alone

Astronomical Time Switch Price

The price of an astronomic timer switch is going to depend on the type and features that you want. That being said, the plug-in astronomical timer is the most affordable option, while wall switch timers are a bit more expensive. However, the cost can be worth it if you want added convenience and energy efficiency.

To give you an idea of price ranges, plug-in timers can range from $20 – $100, while wall switch timers typically cost between $50 and $300. Note that these astronomical time switch price ranges are only estimates and may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer —or store to store.

A timer that offers more features will also be more expensive. So, when shopping for this timer switch, be sure to decide how much you are willing to spend on the capabilities. That way, you can find the best astronomical timer switch that meets both your budget and needs.

Conclusion

The astronomic timer switch provides users with convenience and energy efficiency by automatically controlling their lights and other loads. Because it utilizes astronomical data, this timer type is not affected by changes in the amount of daylight due to obstructions and other occurrences, and remains accurate even in different geographic areas.