Timed mechanical switch thrower / circuit breaker timer

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timmmay

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#191701 13-Feb-2016 09:07

Is there such a think that you can set on a timer to throw a small mechanical switch for you? This is again for the hot water timer thing, instead of spending $400 on a digital timer, big relay, and electrician why not just find an automated way to throw that switch on the switchboard? It would only have to move about 1cm, no electrician required to install.

Or can you get a circuit breaker that has a built in timer?

lxsw20

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#1491492 13-Feb-2016 09:16

That's pretty much exactly what a relay is. I suspect circuit breakers are not designed for constant trips like you're proposing.

jnimmo

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#1491500 13-Feb-2016 09:37

A Clipsal 4TCD1 is rated 16A so that will do your hot water fine - no relay required, surely be about a 10 minute job for an electrician

If you need remote control get a 'normally on' relay, and when you want to turn cylinder off power the relay with a Belkin Wemo or like a smaller z-wave relay

timmmay

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#1491502 13-Feb-2016 09:40

Maybe a switch thrower isn't a great idea..

The electrician told me even something rated 16A will fail relatively quickly when you switch a 13A load once or twice a day. I'm willing to try it though, if it fails it's not that much to replace.