The benefits and increased comfort of the versatile helpers which person would also be not enthusiastic, the morning coffee is already prepared, when you stand up, although there is no one actually, which has equipped the coffee machine? If in the evening the electronics go to the light at a certain time in the apartment, to deter burglars, even though no one is at home? Or would be one not happy in the cold season when the heating comes on automatically? Now timers provide this increased comfort in many households. The forerunner of the electric timer was the mechanical clock, which raises the hitting of a church bell or the ringing of an alarm clock at a certain time and in a direct way with the movement of a mechanical watch is connected. Here, a switch is activated by the movement, after the position of the switch by hand has been preset, such as in a conventional alarm clock. Nowadays, there are digital timers, which are frequently closed between socket and consumer. In this way, you can each connect every electronic device and program the timer so that it releases the power supply to the consumer, so the unit goes into operation.

In this case, the actual contactor is a relay. A built-in digital clock at the programmed time sends voltage to the relay. The counter allows for the switching on and off according to the defined time interval. Often, the used watches are quartz watches, whose Geber is a uniform oscillating quartz plates. There are also radio time switches, the the current time from a central station of time signal received by radio and thus alone adjust. Timers are used when the street lights are dimmed in the late night. Also the classic traffic light systems are equipped with these timers and adapted to the respective traffic conditions. The light on the stairs with the aid of these timers is controlled also in apartment buildings. Time switches through the automation of various processes contribute to the increased comfort of the people.