Press the ‘Program’ button, then use the ‘Week’, ‘Hour’ or ‘Min’ buttons to select the days, hours and minutes you would like your timer to stay on for, as well as the time you’d like it to switch on. Then plug your device into the timer. Do timer plugs use a lot of electricity? When choosing a plug in timer don’t forget to consider the following features… Digital or Mechanical Wi-Fi enabled control unit built into an EV extension lead, providing live and cumulative kWh readings via the Smart Life app. The unit also allows remote control and timers to be set.

This must be the easiest plug in timer to operate. There’s just one button to press! The single on/off button cycles through the countdown timers and sets them running too. Even if you’re a complete technophobe, this shouldn’t be difficult to master. You can set countdown timers from 15 minutes all the way up to eight hours. Most are rather long. Think of a cable like a water pipe. If you want high pressure at the end of your 10m garden, you’re not going to achieve it if you use a hosepipe the size of a drinking straw! The longer the distance, the larger diameter you need to sustain the same flow. This principle is the same for electrical cables. The data sheets for 1.5mmsq H07RN-F cable generally state a max current of 15A. If the cable is a sensible length, the manufacturers recommended max current is nowhere near exceeded. In contrast, a tethered charger (right) has a cable permanently connected, with a type 2 connector on the end. A type 2 to type 2 cable cannot be used to extend the length of a tethered charger, as the international standard has a safety mechanism which prevents the charge from commencing if two cables are joined. What is a granny charger?Most electric vehicles (EVs) are supplied with a portable domestic charger designed to charge the vehicle when access to a charging point is not possible. Rather confusingly it is commonly referred to as a 'granny charger', as it is a lead to use when visiting relatives such as your granny! If your car does not have a granny charger, or it is too short, we supply a standard 5m and 10m charger, and a 5m advanced charger with a range of additional functionality. Whist we would never recommend that you submerse an extension lead, it’s good to know that just in case it ends up running through a puddle, it’s actually submersible to a depth of 100m.

One of the benefits of a plug in timer is that they use very little electricity. In fact, you are unlikely to notice any increase in your electricity bill. The 1.5mmsq vs 2.5mmsq flex debate seems to be the most common one with regards to EV leads on on-line forums, and sadly the most uninformed. For lengths of up to 20m, our advice is that the 1.5mmsq flex used in all of our leads is the best option for the following reasons (apologies for getting rather technical!): Control unit built into an EV extension lead, to enable charging start and stop times to be set using a manual timer or Wi-Fi control (with the added bonus of energy monitoring). Yes, but only with the appropriate adaptor and if the charge rate can be reduced to 10A. How do I know the electricity supply is safe? BS 1363-1:1995 A4:2012 the British Standard for 13A plugs, specifically states that flex must not exceed 1.5mmsq with the line ‘having nominal conductor cross-sectional areas not exceeding 1.5 mmsq’. Therefore, other than manufacturer fitted moulded plugs, 2.5mmsq flex should not be terminated in a 13A plug.Another setting available on the best plug in timers is an interval setting. This feature allows you to have an appliance come on for a certain amount of time periodically. This is great for fish tank pumps, grow lights, fans, heaters and anything else that you don’t want to run all day. Childproof Option H07RN-F rubber cables do not degrade over time if used up to the full 13A, as this is well within their safe load limit. We only use 1.5mmsq cable, which is suitable for sustained high current applications. As the cable itself is rated at 15A, it can easily handle the max 10A load, even over longer lengths.