For turning devices on and off according to a schedule, daily and weekly timers are used.

To turn on outdoor lighting only at night, an astronomical timer can be used.

Simple timers are used just for turning equipment on at certain time intervals.

If you combine all these functions into one device, you get the programmable multifunction timer REV-303.

 

 

Short Specifications

 

Power Supply Voltage	~24…265V,  ± 8… 24V
Number of Control Channels	1
Display	Monochrome graphic 1”
Number of Programs	2
Number of Events (Steps) per Program	500
Operating Modes	Weekly
	Daily
	Astronomical
	Simple
Relay	~250V/16A
Dimensions	100x36x67 mm
Mounting	DIN rail

 

Application Area

 

REV-303 combines weekly, daily, simple, and astronomical timer functions and can be used in places where these devices are traditionally used.

 

In industry and municipal services, REV-303 can be used to turn devices and mechanisms on at a specified time (pumps, ventilation, etc.), to signal the start of classes in schools, to control blinds, and for other purposes where at a specific time you need to turn something on, off, close, or open.

 

Operating in astronomical relay mode, REV-303 can turn on outdoor lighting and illuminate buildings, advertisements, and banners during the dark hours.

 

In agriculture, daily relays can organize irrigation and feed distribution on farms.

 

At home, the REV-303 timer can be used for the same purposes: lighting control, garden watering, etc.

 

Unexpectedly, weekly timers have found use in offices. In small companies, the internet often runs through WiFi routers and ADSL modems, which frequently "hang" due to their power supplies. This is often dealt with by having the first person to arrive at work unplug the router's power supply for a few seconds. However, this leads to frequent problems: someone forgets, someone doesn’t know, or suddenly the boss arrives earlier and personally goes under the desk to unplug things. The worst case is when remote access to the server is needed on weekends, and if the internet is down, someone has to specifically go to the office.

The best way to avoid these problems is to use a weekly timer to cut off the power to the routers at night, say from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

 

REV-303 will be useful for home aquariums. It will schedule the compressor to create water flow and supply CO2. Most aquarium flora and fauna come from the tropics, where daylight duration is quite stable and about 12 hours long. Thus, lighting is needed not only for beauty but also to create the correct day-night cycle for aquarium inhabitants. For this purpose, REV-303 is perfect, especially due to its ability to determine the dark time of day for the current location and time of year.

 

If you don’t need to control streetlights, don’t have a country house, live in an apartment, or don’t have an aquarium, REV-303 can still be useful. For example, you can connect a socket through it, program it to turn off on weekdays and during working hours, and finally stop worrying about whether the iron is turned off while you’re at work.

 

And I used it during the New Year holidays to turn on Santa Claus.

 

 

REV-303 as an Alternative to Photorelays

 

For turning on outdoor lighting at night, photorelays are usually used, which detect darkness using a sensor. As an alternative, an astronomical relay can be used for the same purpose.

 

Since sunrise and sunset times vary throughout the year, a regular daily or weekly relay can be used to turn on outdoor lighting.

 

At the same time, REV-303, which includes the functions of an astronomical timer, can determine sunrise and sunset times depending on the current date and geographical coordinates. All you need to do is enter the coordinates into the device and set it to operate in astronomical timer mode. The easiest way to find your current geographical coordinates is using free smartphone apps.

 

Design

 

 

At the top are the power connection terminals for the device. On the left are the terminals for connecting the 24 … 265V AC network, and on the right are the terminals for 8 … 24V DC.

 

At the bottom of the housing are the relay terminals for connecting the load.

 

The display is monochrome, with a diagonal of 1” and a resolution of 128×64 pixels. Despite its small size, the text is clearly readable due to the brightness and contrast of the blue letters on a black background.

 

 

Below the display are buttons for navigating the menu and entering parameters. Menu navigation using these buttons is intuitive and easy, even without reading the manual.

Next to the buttons is an LED indicator. This shows the relay status: when it is red, the relay is closed.

The housing is designed for mounting on a DIN rail.

 

 

Programming

 

The timer menu is intuitive and user-friendly. Programming is performed in several stages:

 

1. **Setting the Current Date and Time**: The first step is to set the current date and time.

2. **Setting Up Programs**: Two programs can be created, each with up to 500 events. You can set up the programs to operate in weekly, daily, or astronomical modes.

3. **Setting the Relay Mode**: After programming, you need to specify the relay mode (on or off) for each program.

4. **Saving the Settings**: After all parameters are set, you save them, and the timer will start operating according to the specified settings.

 

For a detailed guide, see the REV-303 Manual.

 

Advantages

 

1. **Versatility**: Combines multiple functions in one device, eliminating the need for separate timers.

2. **Flexibility**: Can be programmed for various operating modes and schedules.

3. **Ease of Use**: User-friendly interface with intuitive menu navigation.

4. **Cost Efficiency**: Reduces the need for multiple devices, saving space and cost.

5. **Enhanced Control**: Allows precise control of devices based on time and astronomical events.

 

 

In summary, the REV-303 programmable multifunction timer is a versatile tool that simplifies the management of various devices and systems, providing both convenience and efficiency.