Set plug-in timers to switch lamps on and off automatically, making your home look lived-in while you're away.
AB-01Choose which lights to timePick a lamp that's visible from the street or a path, in a room you'd normally use in the evening. A hallway or living room lamp works better than a light in a room nobody would sit in at 9pm. Check the timer's maximum wattage rating against your bulb before buying.
1 each · Plug-in timer socket (mechanical or digital) AB-02Check the socket and cable are safe to useLook at the plug and cable on the lamp for any damage, cracking or scorch marks before you start. Don't plug the timer into an already-loaded extension lead or multi-socket adapter. Use a wall socket on its own where you can.
AB-03Set the timer's clockPlug the timer into the socket first, then set the current day and time exactly. Mechanical timers use a rotating dial with pins you push in or out; digital ones have buttons. An inaccurate clock means your lights come on at the wrong time, which looks obviously automated.
AB-04Set realistic on and off timesSet the lamp to come on around dusk and go off around your normal bedtime, not at a fixed clock time that never varies. If your timer has a random or astro function, use it — it varies the exact minute each day so the pattern doesn't look robotic. Avoid a single short burst; leave it on for a believable few hours.
AB-05Position the lamp and cable safelyKeep the lamp well clear of curtains, papers or anything else that could catch light, since it will switch on unattended. Route the cable so it can't be tripped over and isn't trapped under a rug or furniture leg. Never cover a lamp or leave it under bedding or fabric.
AB-06Test a full on/off cycleWind the timer forward (or wait it out) to check the lamp actually switches on and off at the times you set. Fix any drift in the clock now, while you're still at home, rather than discovering it's wrong from the street.
AB-07Repeat in other rooms and stagger the timesOne lamp on a fixed schedule looks like exactly what it is. Add a second timer in another room, such as an upstairs bedroom, and set slightly different on/off times so lights don't all change together. This mimics someone moving around the house through the evening.
1 each · Plug-in timer socket AB-08Do a final check before you leaveUnplug irons, heaters or anything else that shouldn't be left running unattended. Check each timer's clock and schedule one last time. Walk outside if you can and see how the house looks from the street at the times you've set.
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