oem timer

[RobertK]

Hi,
I'm preparing to order a new Mini and considering whether or not to get the oem timer. I've searched but can't find a description of what it looks like, how it works or where it goes on the machine. Does anyone have a picture of one they can post?
Thanks,
Robert

[Richard]

Hi,
I'm preparing to order a new Mini and considering whether or not to get the oem timer. I've searched but can't find a description of what it looks like, how it works or where it goes on the machine. Does anyone have a picture of one they can post?
Thanks,
Robert

Go here and click the link for the timer manual.

[chas]

I almost forgot that I wrote and posted that timer manual!

What it won't answer is where it goes. About 2 feet of cable exit the bottom right side of the machine with the timer box on the end. From there you can do whatever you want with it.

I looked on the Pride page to see if there were any pix that would give you an idea what others have done. The only photos I saw that include the timer just have it lying on the counter.

I put heavy duty plastic velcro on mine and stuck it near the top of my right side panel. There aren't too many options other than the two I mentioned or else shoving it behind the machine to hide it completely.

Once you have it programmed the way you want, there is really no need to even have it where you can see it, unless you need to know the time and this is the only clock in the general vicinity.

[RobertK]

Thank you!

[chas]

It's overpriced, not particularly "pretty", and not even friendly to program without the manual. However, not a day has gone by in the 16 months I've had the V2 that I wasn't glad I had it.

I had an S1 for 3 years before getting the V2, which had no timer, so I left it on 24x7 unless going out of town. I'm guessing that cost me about $180 for extra electricity in 3 years over my current use of the timer to run it 13 hours a day.

So three years is about the break even period on the timer purchase. If you think you might own the machine for less than 3 years, skip it and just run it 24x7 - unless acting green is more important than saving green.

[RobertK]

I get up before dawn and leave the house in a flurry as soon as I can, and believe me its not pretty. If an ugly overpriced unintuitive timer is the difference between having a quick espresso in the morning versus my usual cup of swill then so be it. I can't see paying $2K for an espresso machine and not being able to use it every day!

And yes, I do plan on having the machine for a long time!

Thanks for your help.

[woodchuck]

Robert, as Chas has said, overpriced and ugly but very very useful. I hide it behind the machine but it gives me a warmed up machine every morning before I head out the door.

Cheers

Ian

[RobertK]

You can't put a price tag on that. I guess the folks at La Spaz realize that. I'm definitely gonna get one.
Thanks,
Robert

[chas]

BTW: I found out one thing after I wrote the manual since the issue wasn't an issue until after they changed DST. Now it is best to leave the DST feature off so you only have to reset the time manually twice a year rather than 4x a year. However, what I found out is that anytime you go into time setting mode, the DST feature turns itself back on.

So if you want DST mode off you have to remember anytime you change the time or go into the set mode for any reason to reset the DST feature to Off.

[RobertK]

I hadn't realized that DST in the USA does not occur on the same dates as DST in England. Sounds like they programmed the timer for British DST.

[Richard]

I hadn't realized that DST in the USA does not occur on the same dates as DST in England. Sounds like they programmed the timer for British DST.

The American DST dates changed something like two years ago.