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(More customer reviews)I ordered the Leviton 6652-1W variable countdown switch from Amazon LLC in August 2010. My application for this was a closet light in a child's bedroom. I had two reasons for wanting a countdown timer switch for the closet light: (1) reduce the risk of fire when the house is unoccupied, and (2) save energy.
This model appealed to me because other switches (such as the Leviton LTB30-1LZ, and Lutron MA-T51-WH) allow the user to vary the countdown time by pushing various buttons on the "console" (the face of the switch). The Leviton 6652-1W switch has a pop-out "faceplate", which is the Decora-style rocker switch portion of the console. The preset countdown time for the 6652-1W is specified using a rotary dial that is hidden behind the rocker-switch faceplate. A small flat-blade screwdriver is all you need to rotate the dial. Because the choice of preset time takes place "behind the scenes", that is, behind the faceplate, both the operation of this switch and its outside appearance are very simple. The preset time is "set and forget", which is nice for a child's room, because I don't want my child fiddling with the preset time on the console.
The Leviton 6652-1W switch works as follows: choose the preset time in advance and pop the rocker switch faceplate into place. To turn on the light, press the rocker switch once. While the light is turned ON, a small red LED (centered directly above the rocker switch) lights up on the console. A few seconds before the preset time is reached, the red LED blinks, and unfortunately a loud & obnoxious "BEEP BEEP BEEP" is emitted. When the preset time is reached, the light turns off, the red LED turns off, and the beeping stops. To turn the light off early (before the preset time is reached) simply tap the rocker switch two times. Thus, if the light is off, and you tap the rocker switch 3 times, the light will turn ON with the first tap, and OFF again on the third tap.
The beeping alarm (BEEP BEEP BEEP) at the end of the preset time is annoying. I understand that some users would appreciate an audible warning that the light is about to turn off. But in a closet-light application nobody is at risk of being left in the dark; the alarm serves no purpose. There is no hidden "DIP switch" or jumper that allows one to easily disable the alarm. My solution was to permanently disable the piezoelectric mini-speaker on the internal circuit board of the device. Leviton gets a "Design FAIL" for not putting in a tiny switch to allow the beep to be turned off.
To disable the alarm (and void your warranty) one should disconnect the switch from all wires and move it to a well-lit work area. Pop out the rocker switch faceplate, and the rectangular plastic frame surrounding the faceplate. Remove the 4 tiny Phillips screws at the corners of the face. Move the metal face-and-side plate out of the way, being careful not to lose the clear lens of the LED. Scoot the rear shell away from the circuit board. Locate the piezoelectric speaker thing, which is round and black (about 1 cm diameter and 5 mm thick), directly behind the slotted speaker grille portion of the faceplate. On the component side of the board, clip both ends of the small black wire attached to the piezo. Reassemble, re-connect, and enjoy the sound of silence.
Note to electricians and home-wiring-savvy do-it-yourselfers. This switch requires a true connection to neutral -- a "white wire" that traces back uninterrupted to the neutral bus of your breaker. So, if your switch box is only wired to break ("open") the hot wire that feeds the light fixture, and there is no neutral in the switch box, this switch won't work for you. Novices, be aware that not all white-insulated wires are neutral. If you have only 2 wires in your switch box, neither of them is a neutral.
Also, this switch is on the large side, and if you have a lot of wires in your switch box, it may not fit.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Leviton 6652-1A Decora 500W/500VA 1/6HP Variable Countdown 1 Minute to 18 Hours Electronic Incandescent/Inductive Timer, Single Pole or 3-Way, Almond
500W / 500VA 1/6HP-120V, 120 Volt AC 60Hz, Single-Pole, Decora, Rotary Dial Variable Countdown 1 Minute to 18 Hours, Electronic, Incandescent / Inductive Timer, Neutral Required - Almond , UPC: 07847784930
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