Best Cheap Intermatic Pool Timer

This transformer was an identical replacement for one that the timer went out on. Intermatic wouldn't sell just the timer. (a simple fix) So I was forced to spend $60 instead of $3 or $4. What a waste. There must have been 2 or 3 pounds of copper that just went out in the trash. I should have bought a different brand out of spite, but this was the best deal. Glad I found it on Amazon. Much cheaper than retail from the big box stores.

Why only 4 stars? Because it didn't last over 20 years. Why not 3 stars? Because it's still available to replace the exact model that wore out. How good is it really? I'm not an electrician so I don't know.I had this exact timer for my water heater at an old, I said old house. I have this exact one at my current house for my pool pump. The timer went out after 15-18 years service. We live in Florida and perhaps the moisture got to a metal gear inside. Who knows. I didn't like the plastic timers at the local big box home store. Two employees at the store hinted that their products weren't the same quality as what I already had.I didn't expect this timer, which appears to have been in production for 30 or more years, to still be on the market. I wanted it because I expected it to last a long time and would fit right into place over the other one.Convenience? CheckLongevity? CheckHandles 240V? CheckFits the same screw holes already drilled? CheckHas all the same knockouts & conduits in the same place? CheckDon't want to figure out the wiring? CheckAll the existing wires already cut to just the right length? CheckBottom line, I took out the old one and put this in within an hour. It works perfectly and I can forget about it.

That's all it took. My pool company wanted $406 dollars for this new timer so I saved about $245....thank you Amazon !!!

When I bought I wasn't sure if it would do a two speed pump for my spa but it does. Here some info to save other peoples search. It has 5 wires that are white (input neutral and to pump neutral) Black (input), Gray (Lowspeed to pump) Blue (high speed to pump) Brown (to freeze protection I capped it). With this setup the air switch turns on the high speed and the timer turns on the low speed (as it should be). If you have a one speed pump you would join the gray and blue and both the air switch and the timer would turn on the single speed pump. There are directions for other wiring setups. I also used a transformer similar to 156320WB - Spa Transformer, Light, 120 / 12V, 24VA, (2Lt) for 12 volt lights that attatched into some imbosed holes with a #6 3/8 inch sheet metal screw. The air switch was quite sensitive and 20'of 1/4 inch clear vinyl tubing could turn on with a breath on the other side.

Amazon was very helpful,i thought i did my due diligence by contacting Intermatic before buying this product.my email to them is below,and also my response::Thank you for using the Intermatic, Inc. Help Desk! On 11/7/2011 you posed the following question:i need to replace my intermatic pf1222t timer/control with freeze protect(freeze protect bad).i need to run 2 valves,spa valve is normally half open/close, need some type freeze protect,i have a booster pump for polaris, heater, am getting a new 2 speed or multispeed pump. also want to time my spa and pump. will the 653rc do this,and is it compatible w/jandy valve actuators. do i need add'l parts?Our response is:Yes, this system will be able to control all of these features. I would call in to 815-675-7000 and ask to speak with Frank, he will be able to get you everything you may need, Thanks. 815-675-7133.My reply as follows (prices are from intermatic site)::WOW,what a deceptive reply and product!After getting my 653rc I find there is no freeze protect unless i purchase an air sensor 178PA28A (not even found on your search bar) maybe $69.83. and also need P4243ME for Actuator Control $384.06 to operate the 2 valves i asked about in my Question.and may even need an additional housing 2T2485GA $47.71.So yes it will work for what i need, just spend an extra $501.60.Intermatic must not care about informing customers,or maybe they do not know about their products. Buyer bewareJP

I use this timer to control my water heater. It is not real easy to program but after hours of practice I have it figured out. ONce it is programmed it works fine. However, it is not durable. I have had to replace it three times in two years. I should find another timer but it is easier to keep ordering a new one and popping the new timer into the old housing. If it breaks again, however, I will definitely seek another brand.

I recently upgraded my old Ortega valve with a 12 V actuator and control panel. I purchased a used 12 or 24 V control panel and needed a 24 V actuator. The prices of most actuators seemed extremely high. Then I saw the Intermatic PE24VA 24-Volt Pool/Spa Water Valve Actuator. The price was half as much as most of the other valves. It comes with the appropriate wiring to attach to the control panel. There is a switch so that you can easily synchronize the actuator with your two or three port valve. It also has the appropriate screws to attach the actuator to the standard fittings on the valve. It appears to be quite durable and has been working fine. A really good buy.

I replaced two Intermatic mechanical time clocks that were running my main pump and pool cleaner pump with this simple all-in-one solid state unit. The unit snapped in to my exisiting Intermatic enclosure with no problems. The wiring diagram in the brochure that came with the unit was not as clear as the one I found in Intermatic's online catalog here:[....]I used the pre-programmed Mode 3 to run my filter pump and pool cleaner pump. I found that setting up the on/off days/times was very easy using the instructions in the brochure that came with the unit. I like the simple pushbutton manual operation feature too.Took about 45 minutes to install, mostly because I had to figure out how all the old wiring was run and label all the old wires.REMEMBER TO SHUT DOWN THE POWER AT YOUR MAIN BREAKER AND TAPE IT OFF SO YOUR WELL-MEANING SPOUSE OR KIDS DON'T ACCIDENTALLY FRY YOU. Don't just depend on the shutoff at your pool sub-panel!All in all, I'm happy with the unit. At the time of this writing, it's been in service for 30 days with no issues.

this unit was simple to install and worked just as i needed it to. i have it connected to my pool pump so it doesnt run 24/7. this allowed me to create a schedule of intervals so i can save power and money. i am sure there are many uses, but this was perfect for me.

This timer was to replace a previous timer I had that had worked for over 20 years. Same model and type, just a different paint color. Installed easy and works great without a problem.

Easy to install, easy to set timer and works w/o a problem. Hopefully it will last longer than the metal encased timers.

These timers work great for my sprinkler system. They were easy to set up and have worked from day one. It's great that you can set different watering days to comply with watering restrictions.

Just finished installing this panel as part of my pool electrical upgrade. This is a very sturdy, weatherproof box, that includes the electrical panel and two mechanical timers for the pool and booster pumps. It was quite easy to work with, and install. Takes standard circuit breakers sold by Home Depot and other retailers. Plenty of room in the panel for 120V and 240V connections, the latter using two breaker slots per connection out of the available eight. Highly recommended!

I bought the Intermatic PF1103 Freeze Guard for the swimming pool to replace the original generic freeze guard. I installed it myself along with a new Intermatic T104R201 Timer. The new T104R201 replaced a T104R201 that was 20 years old. The systems have been up for about one month now and everything has been functioning properly.The only issue I ran into with the PF1103 Freeze Guard was with the Technical Services people at Intermatic. The PF1103 system is a 120/240 volt system and my original swimming pool equipment installation is 240 volt so I did not have a 120 volt leg out to the equipment. I should have purchased the PF1102 Freeze Guard which is the 240 volt version. After several calls to Tech Services describing the situation, they could not tell me I needed the PF1102 and they tried to tell me that I could not use the PF1103 model unless I had the additional 120 volt wiring installed from the electrical panel out to pool equipment which would have been very costly. After some research on my own, I found that the only difference between the PF1103 and the PF1102 is one extra wire that connects to a wire from the T104R201 timer. This is pre-wired in the PF1102 and is not present. Once I properly connected the extra wire on the PF1103 to the timer, I basically had a PF1102 and this now matched the original systems.Bottom line, the Intermatic equipment is first rate, and their technical services expertise is questionable.

This product adds meaning to the phrase not user friendly. None of the functions are intuitive. I started a job that required the use of this and the guy that had used it for 3-4 years had great difficulty in showing me how to use it. He is a computer wiz that creates web pages, he is also a DIY carpenter that completely rehabbed his own home. In short he can do just about anything except easily operate this timer.(The only reason I gave this one star is because it was impossible to give NO stars.)