When there is no one in my house due to some reason or another, either away on holiday, late back from some form of meeting or another, family days out or even the dreaded visit to the in-laws, I like to try and make it look as though there is actually someone in my house, and not a burglar either, (although the dog wouldn't have to be fed for a while if a burglar got in...so that could save on pet food!!) Anyway, to help me achieve this mystical matter of things like switching a light on when I'm miles away from my house I have invested in what are called 'Timer Switches'... I have tried training the dog to flick a switch on and off at certain times of the ...  Read the complete review

I own quite a few of these plug in timers, and I have been using them for a number of years now. They are extremely useful and have never let me down. This little device basically enables you to control various electrical appliances by switching them on and off at a time you have specified, when you are not present to do it yourself. I have found them very handy particularly during the Summer, when my partner and I often go away for weekends on camping trips. We have a Tropical fish tank set up at home, and we can go and enjoy our time away safe in the knowledge that the fish will not be plunged into darkness throughout the duration of our trip. The timer can ...  Read the complete review

My husband and I work random shifts on random days and sometimes this means that our home is left empty throughout the day or night. As we have a cat and also tropical fish we like to ensure that there is always a light on at home during the evenings so that our home has the appearance of one with someone inside both to potential burglars and for our cat. In the past I found that my cat would seem unsettled and a little grouchy if I came home during the night or in the morning and this was improved greatly when she had a lamp on in the lounge with her as she didn't have to squint when I opened the door to come home and turned the hall light on. This might ...  Read the complete review

We live on a planet where the desire for modern conveniences is seemingly at its highest and yet the resources to facilitate this are ominously diminishing, hence the need for selfless energy conservation. Instant light and heat are twothings that I for one take for granted every day and probably an area in which many of us could lower our energy consumption with a conscious effort and that is where the "Tesco Energy Saving 24Hr Mechanical Timer" comes in. It is a ridiculously simple device that acts as a gateway between your main power supply and any electrical appliance of your choosing allowing you to choose the times that you switch that appliance on. There  Read the complete review

I have in the region of 20 mechanical timers, over half of which are these Masterplug ones, all used to regulate the day/night cycle for many of my pets. I got mine from various places, but the best I have found is a local independent hardware shop where they are sold for £2.49 each. Since I use so many of them this was brilliant, as I've seen them for anything from £4-£7 in many other places. Which is a bit crazy in my opinion, as you can get an accurate digital one for about £7-8. They are made of white plastic and have a dial with a 24 hour clock on it. Around this dial are lots of little black 'teeth'; it is these that are used to set the times of ...  Read the complete review