Specialty Timers

Specialty timers are specialty or proprietary products related to timers and timing devices. A timer is a clock that controls the sequence of an event or process. Timing devices can be mechanical, electromechanical, electric, or electronic. Integrated circuit (IC) specialty timers are also available. A mechanical timer does not use electricity. Instead, it uses stored kinetic energy in a suspended weight or wound spring. These specialty timers include mechanical means such as a clockwork mechanism to keep time. An electromechanical timer uses electricity as a power source and mechanical methods to keep time. An electric timer uses electricity as a power source and may use the frequency of AC input power to keep time. An electronic timer or solid-state timer uses solid-state electronics to keep time. An IC timer is a semiconductor circuit that generates or sets timing for electronics circuits. A timing device can also be used record or indicate elapsed time.

Specialty timers are usually digital devices. Digital timers can achieve higher degrees of precision than mechanical timers because they use oscillating quartz crystals to keep time. Digital timers can be used in safety devices such as a gas timer, which closes gas valves after a specified time interval. To prevent the discharge of the battery for a vehicle, a specialty timer can turn off auxiliary equipment such as radios and lamps at a specified time interval after the engine has been turned off.

Features for specialty timers include current drive capability (in mA), adjustable duty cycle, temperature stability percentage change (per °C), timing from µsec to hours, and turn-off time in µsec. Specifications can include IC package type, such as dual inline package (DIP) or small-outline integrated circuit (SOIC); IC package style, such as single or dual; maximum and minimum supply voltages; and maximum control voltage at Vcc. Multifunction specialty timers can count on multiple channels or subtract one channel from another.

Specialty timers that operate over communications links must meet the requirements of the communications protocols such as RS232 or RS485. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes standards that apply to specialty timers, such as standard IEC 60730-2-7 (timers and time switches) and IEC 60669-2-3 (time-delay switches).

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Part Numbers for Specialty Timers