Woods 50013WD Outdoor 24-Hour Digital Photocell Timer with Light Sensor - Plug-In Black Timer for Landscape Lighting, Holiday Lights & Outdoor Decor

This is a good timer, which has held up well outside for the last 2 years. *However,* it requires consistent attention -- the problem is that every time the power blinks, the device resets to the "always off" mode, and you have to manually change it back to your preferred mode (like dusk-to-dawn). If they had just included a memory function, it would be perfect.This timer has easily understood instructions. It has many setting options. It is rated at 15 amps and should last longer than the last one.I just bought another one, and it works fine with the Malibu lighting transformers.Update 8/18/15: I bought another one of these units, same exact model. I already had 3 of them, using them to switch Malibu or Intermatic low voltage lighting transformers for landscape lights, that work fine. This latest one will not work correctly with an inductive load, even though it is rated for up to 1/2 horsepower. When one of these transformers is plugged in, the relay inside the timer clicks on and off while trying to program it. I got a refund from Amazon.============================================================================================I am using this to control only 1 string of rope lights, so a very small load is on it, and it SHOULD last a very long time. It's worked perfectly for one day already, lol. It does not hold its setting if the power blinks off, which is something you should know. If the power goes off even momentarily, the display will show "F"' indicating power fail, and a couple of presses of the setting button will be required to set it again. Choices are: Dusk to Dawn using its photocell; hours 1-9 starting at dusk, at which time the unit will turn on and off again after the selected number of hours expire; " Random" which is similar to 0-9, but turns the unit off after a random number of hours each day. Maybe I left one out, but I think I covered them.Unit is weatherproof if it is mounted so its recepticle is at the bottom.Update: I bought 2 more of these and I'm using those to control transformers for low voltage landscape lighting. These timers are shown on their labels having an inductive rating of 1/2 HP (like for a motor or transformer.) It's been about 2 weeks since I installed the 2 new ones, and they still work fine.It worked well to control my outdoor bug zapper automatically.If it loses power it defaults to the off position and you have to manually reselect whatever mode you want.This was a life saver for me. I bought a huge Flowtron Bug Zapper and the electrician ran the wire under the deck, but the electrical box opened towards the house so I had to crawl under the deck every time I wanted to plug it in or turn it off. Woods 50013 Outdoor 24-Hour Digital outlet timer with light sensor" to the rescue. Now it just comes on automatically at dusk and runs about 9 hours and shuts off. It has various codes so you can set the timer to your needs. We did have a bad storm soon after I got it and it shut itself off or got an error code, but I just pushed the button and it started up like new. That is the only problem I had and it was minor and is working like a charm now.Works great. Would recommend to anyone. Make sure it is set to “d” if you want it to turn on and off at dusk and dawn.So I get this and promptly go to mount it for my bug zapper, yes I did say zapper, it works like a charm and will be another review. Anyway, the instructions for this model 50013 timer is a piece of cake, very simple and easy to understand. I plugged it into an outlet in my garage and attached a table lamp to test the photo sensor in dusk to dawn mode, or called "d". It seems to not be overly sensitive to unwanted flashes of light from headlights etc, I assume a delay is built in so it doesn't think it's dawn prematurely, which is good. I still don't trust that it might turn on and off unwarranted so I'm using the mode "on at dusk and off 1-9hrs later, as set". Will update the review after I've used it for 1mo. or 1/3 of its lifespan, yes 1/3. It states clearly in the instructions "Do not install or use this product for more than a 90 day period per year." My first thought was I must've read this wrong! Nope...see attached photo. This is something to consider if you're concerned as to the safety, longevity, or whatever the reasoning is behind this.So does one need to buy 4 units if it were needed for 12mos every year or am I supposed to throw it away after 3 continuous mos and buy another??? This is ludicrous...****Update****Item shuts off when trying to start my new bug zapper. Seems it's not compatible with the fluorescent light in it. Junk timer.Amazon promptly refunded my money.Bought this for controlling outdoor Christmas lights. Product appears to be well made and should withstand Canadian winters outdoor. Setting it is very easy and is done via a single button and indicated by the LED indicator above it. It displays one of the following: F (off), 0 (always on), 1 to 9 (on for 1 to 9 hours after dark), R (random on time after dark), d (on after dark until dawn). It's built in photocell turns on the light at dusk and stays on according to the setting. I took one star off because it always resets to off (F) after power failures. The setting is not persistent. It's a PITA to go outside in the deep snow to reset it. If there's a power failure while you're away on vacation the lights will stay off. (I used to have one with a rotary switch to set the mode that I never had to touch it the entire season).The only function that worked on this timer was the “always on” function and if I need my lights to be always on I will just plug them in. This turned out to be a big disappointment for me. I purchased a Woods because they usually make really good stuff but this one is a big “fail!” I definitely do not recommend purchasing it.I purchased this as it has light sensors and since it does 'lights on' from dusk til dawn, I knew it could also do the reverse 'lights on' from dawn til dusk. Well it cannot, which is sad, because there is no reason it couldn't have done this.So I had to break it apart to do the reverse, which I'd prefer not to do on household equipment.Arrive early from Amazon, as usual! Such excellent, consistent service. Plugged it in, set the easy timer and has worked very well. We haven't had rainfall, or any type of severe weather so I can't answer to the weatherproof aspect.I gave 5 stars. Unit working well so far. I did not check if is `waterproof` but it looks solid. Easy to use and you do not have to be worry to turn on your christmas lights. I set up from dusk to down and no problem. Happy customer.