Kichler Outdoor Mechanical Timer with Tradition Pin Setting, Plug-In Landscape Lighting Automation Timer, Black, 15557BK, 3" x 3" x 2.75"

A simple, purpose-built timer for landscape lighting

I installed the Kichler timer in a Kichler Professional Series transformer to automate a small run of path lights and two uplights on a maple. This is a mechanical plug-in unit with traditional pins and a 24‑hour dial—no apps, no photocell, no astronomical clock. In an era of increasingly complex smart gear, the straightforwardness here is refreshing. It’s designed to live inside the transformer enclosure, and that context matters: the enclosure shields it from weather while the timer handles the daily on/off routine.

Installation and compatibility

Physically, the timer is compact at roughly 3 x 3 x 2.75 inches and it drops into the transformer’s accessory slot without fuss. In my case, installation was plug-and-go—seat it, route the cord neatly, and close the lid. It’s specifically intended for Kichler’s Professional Series, Plus Series, and Contractor Series transformers, and it will not play nice with models that already include a built‑in timer. If you’re using Kichler’s 15CS75SS (which has its own timer onboard), you won’t need this unit.

Because it’s made for the inside of a transformer enclosure, there’s no weatherproof housing of its own beyond a black plastic body with aluminum components. The transformer door provides the environmental protection; the timer itself is only rated to handle outdoor temperatures when used in that enclosed environment.

Setup and scheduling

Set up is old‑school in a good way:

• Rotate the dial to the current time of day.
• Push in or pull out the small pins to set your on and off windows.
• Slide the switch to auto, and you’re done.

You get up to two on/off cycles in a 24‑hour period. For a typical yard, that’s enough: I ran one cycle from dusk(ish) to midnight and a second short cycle from 5:30 a.m. to sunrise for safety lighting. If you need more than two cycles—say, for multiple showcase windows or intricate holiday displays—this isn’t the tool for that.

Because it’s purely time-based, you’ll want to nudge the schedule a few times per year as daylight shifts. I added a bit of painter’s tape inside the transformer door with month-by-month on/off targets. It takes 30 seconds to tweak the pins, and I found that simple hack made seasonal adjustments painless.

Performance and accuracy

Once set, the timer has been steady. Over a few months of use, it kept time within a few minutes—completely acceptable for landscape lighting. There’s a faint mechanical tick when you’re standing next to the open transformer, but once the door is shut it disappears into background noise.

Power outages behave as you’d expect from a mechanical design: if the power cuts for an hour, the timer falls an hour behind. There’s no battery backup. I got in the habit of glancing at the dial after storms and turning it back to the correct time if needed.

Temperature swings didn’t faze it. Mine lived through late-summer heat and brisk fall nights, and the clock motor kept pace. Again, the key is that it’s inside the transformer—don’t use it loose in the open.

Build and durability

The housing is utilitarian black plastic with aluminum bits on the mechanical side. The dial and pins feel sturdier than the bargain-bin timers I’ve tried; the tabs have a defined click when you press them, and they don’t wobble around. That said, it’s not a tank. You’ll want to treat the pins gently and avoid jamming them with a screwdriver or pliers—fingertips or a small plastic spudger are all you need.

I can’t claim years of data on this specific unit, but nothing in my months of use suggested a weak point beyond the general realities of mechanical timers: moving parts wear, and if a pin is bent or the dial is forced, you can hamper the mechanism. If your transformer is mounted where kids like to explore, consider adding a note or a small lock to keep hands off the internals.

Everyday use

For daily operation, it does the job without drama. Lights come on and off when they’re supposed to, the transformer stays tidy, and there’s nothing to relearn after a long winter. Compared to digital or smart replacements, the lack of menus and “modes” is a virtue: you can glance through the transformer window and instantly see your schedule.

The flip side of that simplicity is the manual upkeep. Twice a year you’ll adjust for daylight saving time. Every few weeks around the solstices, you might want to shift your pins by 10–15 minutes if you care about aligning closely with dusk. If you prefer set‑and‑forget behavior that tracks sunrise and sunset automatically, a digital astronomical controller would be a better match—just note that not all transformers accept those modules, and you may be looking at a different transformer entirely.

Limitations to understand

• Two cycles per day maximum. Many yards only need one, and two covers most others. If you need granular control, look elsewhere.
• No dusk/dawn sensing or astronomical scheduling. Time-of-day only.
• No power-loss memory. You’ll need to reset after outages.
• Mechanical design. There’s a small amount of operational noise and the usual long-term wear considerations.
• Niche compatibility. It’s built for specific Kichler transformer lines and is not intended for transformers that already have a built-in timer.

None of these are surprising given the design, but it’s worth deciding up front whether this approach fits your preferences.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and pros who want a dependable, simple schedule for landscape lighting without adopting a full digital or smart ecosystem.
• Owners of Kichler Professional, Plus, or Contractor Series transformers looking for a drop‑in timer that fits inside the enclosure.
• People who don’t mind seasonal tweaks and occasional time resets after power blips.

Who should skip it: Anyone expecting astronomical dusk/dawn control, more than two daily cycles, or app-based remote changes. If your transformer already has a built‑in timer, you don’t need an add‑on at all.

Value and alternatives

This unit typically costs more than generic mechanical timers, and the primary reasons to choose it are fit, compatibility, and predictable performance inside Kichler’s enclosures. If you’re mixing brands, ensure the outlet geometry and space inside your transformer will accommodate it; there isn’t much room to improvise in many housings.

If you’re starting from scratch and want automation that tracks sunrise/sunset, consider a transformer with an integrated astronomical timer rather than bolting on accessories. If you already own a compatible Kichler transformer and just need reliable on/off scheduling, this timer hits the sweet spot with minimal fuss.

Tips for best results

• Set longer windows than you think you need at first, then trim back by 10 minutes at a time to find your preferred look.
• Keep a small note inside the enclosure with your seasonal settings; it speeds up adjustments.
• After storms or utility work, check the dial position and re-align the time if needed.
• Avoid forcing the dial backward; rotate forward to adjust time to keep the mechanism happy.

Recommendation

I recommend the Kichler timer for anyone with a compatible Kichler transformer who wants a straightforward, reliable schedule without complexity. It installs in seconds, the mechanical interface is intuitive, and once set, it simply runs. You trade away sunrise/sunset intelligence and fine-grained schedules for simplicity and robustness, but for most landscape lighting setups, that’s a sensible bargain. If you need astronomical timing, more than two daily cycles, or remote control, choose a digital or integrated alternative. For everyone else, this is a tidy, dependable solution that respects both your time and your transformer’s enclosure.