DEWENWILS Indoor in Wall Timer Switch for Light, 7 Day, 7 ON/Off Settings, DST RDM Mode, Programmable Digital Switch Timer for Lights, Fans, Motors, Neutral Wire Required, ETL Listed

Why I picked this timer for everyday automation

I installed the Dewenwils in-wall timer to take over a few routine jobs: porch lights at sunset hours, a bathroom fan after showers, and a small pump that only needs to run on a schedule. I wanted something reliable, inexpensive, and not dependent on Wi‑Fi or a cloud account. After several weeks of use, this switch has proven to be a simple, dependable way to put circuits on autopilot—especially where smart bulbs or wireless controls would be overkill or unreliable.

Installation: straightforward if you have a neutral

This is a 4‑wire device with pre-attached leads: black (line), red (load), white (neutral), and green (ground). If your switch box doesn’t have a neutral bundle (typically a group of white wires tied together in the back), you’ll need to run one or choose a different style of timer. The neutral is required to power the electronics.

My setup was a standard single‑pole switch. I turned off the breaker, verified no voltage at the switch, labeled line and load with a multimeter, and pigtailed the timer’s white lead into the existing neutral bundle with the included wire cap. The device is not oversized, but if you have a shallow or crowded box, plan your wire routing—there’s just enough depth for a tidy install.

Tips:
- Take a quick photo of the original wiring before you remove anything.
- Don’t “steal” a neutral from a random cable. Tie into the existing neutral bundle in the box.
- This model is not intended for 3‑way circuits; use it on single‑pole control only.

Once wired, it powered up immediately, and the included backup battery kept time and programs as I moved it in and out of the box during testing.

Interface and programming

Under the small flip‑down door is a clear, legible LCD and a row of membrane buttons. The screen isn’t backlit, which is fine in a well-lit room but a little annoying if your panel is in a dim hallway or closet. On the plus side, the clock digits are large, and the menu structure is logical.

Programming is flexible enough for most household tasks:
- Up to seven schedules with 1‑minute resolution, repeating weekly across specific days or all seven.
- Manual override by pressing the front plate—no need to open the door for that. It’s a soft, quiet press rather than a loud click.
- If you turn a circuit on or off manually, the timer resumes at the next scheduled event. That detail matters for lights and fans you occasionally want to control outside the program.

Two extra modes add useful nuance:
- Random mode offsets programmed times by up to about ±30 minutes. I use this for an “occupied” look while away.
- DST mode adjusts for daylight saving time, but it’s not automatic—you press a sequence to shift. It works, but I wish it followed the calendar on its own.

The battery backup retains the clock and your programs for months, so power outages don’t wipe your setup.

Performance and load compatibility

This timer has handled every load I’ve thrown at it within ratings:
- 1875 W resistive (heaters, incandescent)
- 1000 W tungsten
- 500 VA electronic ballast (LED/CFL drivers)
- 1/2 HP motor

My porch and garage LED fixtures switch cleanly—no ghosting or flicker—because the device uses a neutral rather than trickling current through the load. A bathroom exhaust fan starts reliably, and the relay click during switching is muted enough not to be noticeable in living spaces. I also ran a small 1/3 HP pump on a recurring daily cycle without issue.

The schedule accuracy has been excellent. Programs fire on time, and the internal clock drift has been negligible over a month. Random mode behaves as expected, floating on either side of the set times without obvious patterns.

Build quality and design

The electrical guts feel solid and carry an ETL listing, which is what I look for on anything that will live in a wall box. The housing is ABS and well-molded. The weak point is the flip‑down door over the buttons. The hinge tabs are small and feel delicate; it hasn’t failed on me, but I’m mindful when opening it. Realistically, once you finish programming, you may not open that door more than a couple of times a year—so it’s tolerable, but it’s the one part that doesn’t match the otherwise robust feel.

The face is clean and low-profile, and it fits under standard decorator plates. You can manually toggle the circuit by pressing the door—handy for guests who don’t need to learn a new control scheme.

What I like

• Reliable scheduling with one-minute precision and weekly repeat.
• Neutral-required design plays well with LED/CFL loads—no flicker or phantom glow.
• Battery backup retains time and programs for extended outages.
• Manual override is intuitive and doesn’t derail the next scheduled event.
• Random mode is genuinely useful for security lighting.
• Clear ratings for motors and lighting; suitable for fans and small pumps.
• ETL listed for peace of mind.

What could be better

• The programming door feels flimsy; a sturdier hinge would inspire more confidence.
• No backlight on the LCD; setup in a dark hallway is awkward.
• DST is a manual toggle rather than automatic.
• Limited to seven programs. That’s fine for most households, but heavy schedulers may want more.
• No astronomical dusk/dawn feature. You’ll need to adjust times seasonally if you want light to track sunset.
• Single‑pole only; not for 3‑way circuits.

Use cases where it shines

• Porch and entry lights on a repeatable schedule.
• Bathroom fans with timed runs at specific hours.
• Holiday or accent lighting without smart bulbs or hubs.
• Small pumps or appliances that need predictable on/off cycles.
• Rental properties where you want consistent behavior without Wi‑Fi dependencies.

If you’re trying to sync lights to sunset automatically, or you want phone control and remote adjustments, this isn’t the right class of product. Look to astronomical or smart switches instead. But if you value set‑and‑forget reliability, this timer hits the mark.

Safety and installation notes

• It’s indoor‑rated; you can control outdoor lights, but don’t install the switch in a damp or wet location.
• Confirm your box has a neutral before you buy.
• Use a voltage tester to identify line vs. load; don’t guess.
• Tidy up the wire nuts and ground connections so the device seats fully and the cover plate sits flat.

The bottom line

The Dewenwils in-wall timer is a practical, budget-friendly way to automate lights, fans, and small motors without adding another app to your life. It’s easy to wire if you have a neutral, the programming is sensible, and the battery backup means you won’t be redoing schedules after every outage. The hardware does have a couple of compromises—the non‑backlit display and a delicate programming door—but neither affects day‑to‑day reliability once set up.

Recommendation: I recommend this timer for homeowners who want dependable, no‑nonsense scheduling on a single‑pole circuit, especially with LED or mixed loads. It’s reliable, accurately keeps time, and the random mode is a nice touch for exterior lighting. If you need automatic DST, astronomical timing, or 3‑way support, look elsewhere. For everyone else, this is an easy, effective upgrade that quietly does its job.