Electric Timers

81 YOF WAS WALKING IN THE RAIN WITH HER WALKER TRYING TO UNLOAD HER CAR WHEN AN OUTSIDE LIGHT THAT WAS ON A TIMER WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND SHE FELL ONTO LEFT SIDE SUSTAINING AN ABRASION TO LEFT FOREHEAD. DX: FALL, RIB FRACTURES

9YOM WITH LAC TO HAND FROM A TIMER

12MOF PLAYING WITH MAGNETIC TIMER WHEN BACK CAME OFF AND SHE INGESTED A BUTTON BATTERY FROM IT;DX FOREIGN BODY INGESTION

outlet/socket timer burned

I utilized the Westek mechanical electric timer for operating a resistive heater. The Westek timer is Item #TM77DHB listed with the CSA certification lab on file #227259. The timer has a mechanical on/off feature and is rated for 1875W restistive load (1250W tungsten load). The timer was utilized with a Delonghi Heat machine with a maximum power consumption rating of 1500W electric. After about 6 months of regular use, I noticed one morning a smell of burning plastic. The area of the timer near the prongs was beginning to melt. The item was grossly overheated and had begun to melt onto the underlying power strip, a UL listed power strip rated at 1800W resistive load. The item was almost too hot to touch, and the plastic left a melted/charred region around the prongs. It appears a serious fire was narrowly averted. The company has asked me to return the timer to them, but I am able to share it for examination with the CPSC before returning it.

Installed 2 Intermatic IW505K 15-Amp Digital In-Wall Timer on 6/2017 over the past 3 months they have not been keeping their programmed on off times, and the wall plates where getting very hot, removed them both (7/22/22) and discovered they where discoloring the housing (plastic) to a tan color, and wiring insulation was melting. This would have most certainly created a in wall electrical fire. And I would have lost my home.

Timer began to buzz whenever it was turned on, and a burning smell and sparks started to come out of it. It's a fire hazard.

Used "Intermatic Time-All" timer model TN111 for turning a small appliance off/on. When the timer was in use plugged into an electric outlet, suddenly around 10pm on 7/8/16, it made a loud pop sound and there was a bright flash of electricity/light from it.

I bought a Stanley Digital Timer model TM231 (Item #31207) on 12/4/2014. I used it for the first time on 3/15/2015. A small decorative light was plugged in. A short time after the timer turned the light on I smelled smoke and saw the smoke was coming from the timer. I was able to grab the very hot, smoking timer and throw it outside. The plastic was already discoloring and sticky with strong fumes and a lot of smoke. If I had not been in the room when this happened I'm sure a fire would have resulted.

Brinks model 44-2020 electrical appliance shut off timer. The model appears to be functioning normally with indicator lights, but will fail open. Failure was seen with multiple appliances well within product specifications. No tungsten devices were used. I have a second timer that doesn't have this issue. Description of Risk of Harm The device in question is designed to shut off the flow of electrical current based on a pre-set timer. Nevertheless, the relay will fail open, meaning that the electrical current will be hot, even if indicator lights appear to be working normally. There is risk of electrocution if the user incorrectly believes that the current has been turned off based on an off indicator light. Also, there is a fire risk, as cooking devices that may be attached to the timer will not turn off at preset times. There are no warnings on the packaging and/or instructions for this type of potential situation. There is only a max wattage threshold for resistive devices and a max wattage threshold for tungsten based devices.

I purchased and installed an Intermatic EH40 water heater digital timer from Home Depot in August 2020. Until March 2024, the unit worked as expected. However, in March 2024, the unit began (unbeknownst to me) internally melting from what appears to be poor internal electrical connection for carrying 30 Amps worth of electricity to the water heater. It began to fill my home with smoke and burning smell, likely toxic from burning plastics inside the timer unit. Luckily, I was able to investigate the smoke and found that the Intermatic EH40 electrical timer was burning itself up and likely would have burned my home down if I had not been there to turn off the electrical breaker. I also was able to vent the likely toxic-to-breathe smoke. I feel that this consumer product sold in DIY big box retailers like Home Depot is a threat to human health and safety. I urge you to recall this device before others are harmed.