Timer Bad for Brain Board . . . Really? Why?

A few years ago, a retailer opined that running my machine on a timer
would increase the risk of burning out the brain board. At the time I
accepted this opinion as wisdom, but am wondering why.

The brain board on this machine has a relay to switch current to the
boiler heating element. I can't understand why having the machine
switched on via the power switch on the front of the machine is any
different than switching it on via an external timer.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Does the retailer's advice make
sense to you?

Thanks,

Java

JME: I have NO idea why this would be so. The 'brain' does not know
where the current is being switched, being the front panel or the
wall.

an electron is an electron.

one of my wholesalers sez that a surge ( actually a spike suppressor)
suppressor should be used with timers.

a good idea, but not because of the timer.


dave

No, not unless your timer cycled a lot. A power switch interrupts power to
the brain board, a timer interupts power to the brain board - as far as the
brain board is concerned, there's no difference between your pushing the
power switch off manually and the timer shutting off the power.


"Espressopithecus (Java Man)" <rickk@letterectomyTELUS.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.22927b505a196287989846@shawnews.vc.shawca ble.net...
>A few years ago, a retailer opined that running my machine on a timer
> would increase the risk of burning out the brain board. At the time I
> accepted this opinion as wisdom, but am wondering why.
>
> The brain board on this machine has a relay to switch current to the
> boiler heating element. I can't understand why having the machine
> switched on via the power switch on the front of the machine is any
> different than switching it on via an external timer.
>
> Can anyone shed any light on this? Does the retailer's advice make
> sense to you?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Java

In article <97069248-462b-40d2-bd15-430a93e4c883
@w7g2000hsa..com>, davebobbl@ says...
>
> JME: I have NO idea why this would be so. The 'brain' does not know
> where the current is being switched, being the front panel or the
> wall.
>
> an electron is an electron.
>
> one of my wholesalers sez that a surge ( actually a spike suppressor)
> suppressor should be used with timers.

That would make sense if the contacts in the timer are more likely to
transmit a voltage spike than the on/off switch on the machine. But are
they?

Java

On May 13, 1:48 am, Espressopithecus (Java Man)
<ri...@letterectomyTELUS.net> wrote:
> In article <97069248-462b-40d2-bd15-430a93e4c883
> @w7g2000hsa..com>, davebo...@ says...
>
>
>
> > JME: I have NO idea why this would be so. The 'brain' does not know
> > where the current is being switched, being the front panel or the
> > wall.
>
> > an electron is an electron.
>
> > one of my wholesalers sez that a surge ( actually a spike suppressor)
> > suppressor should be used with timers.
>
> That would make sense if the contacts in the timer are more likely to
> transmit a voltage spike than the on/off switch on the machine. But are
> they?
>
> Java

Not at all.

BTW I see you are a fan of classic o'scopes. I too am a fan,
starting out at 13 with an Eico 425.

I'm sticking with my Tek 2465. :-)

dave