Intermatic electric timers
8 reports to CPSC, the latest made Apr 25, 2024. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 8reports to CPSC
- Apr 25, 2024the latest report was made
- Feb 14, 2012the earliest
- 3with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Intermatic
- Maker
- IntermaticMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Electric timersCPSC’s product type: Electric Timers (code 710), in Kitchen: Appliances
Other ways the reports write the brand (2)
“Intermatic TN311 15 Amp Heavy Duty Grounded Timer” and “Intermatic Time-All”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | 1 |
| August 2022 | 1 |
| July 2016 | 1 |
| January 2015 | 1 |
| February 2014 | 1 |
| December 2013 | 1 |
| February 2012 | 2 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- No one hurt 5 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 1 CPSC: No Incident, No Injury
- Not said 2 CPSC: Unspecified
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
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No incident, no one hurt Made Apr 25, 2024, sent to the company May 1, 2024, published by CPSC May 15, 2024
The product, in the report: Intermatic 30 Amp 240-Volt DPST Electronic Water Heater Time Switch Model # EH40. The EH Series Electronic Time Switches provide control for electric water heaters with to-the-minute accuracy in programming and time-keeping. The use of a water heater timer allows the customer to shift electricity use to “off-peak” time periods to reduce utility costs. These time switches can be programmed for repeat daily scheduling, 5-day work week scheduling, weekend scheduling or individual day scheduling.
I purchased and installed an Intermatic EH40 water heater digital timer from Home Depot in August 2020. Until March 2024, the unit worked as expected. However, in March 2024, the unit began (unbeknownst to me) internally melting from what appears to be poor internal electrical connection for carrying 30 Amps worth of electricity to the water heater. It began to fill my home with smoke and burning smell, likely toxic from burning plastics inside the timer unit. Luckily, I was able to investigate the smoke and found that the Intermatic EH40 electrical timer was burning itself up and likely would have burned my home down if I had not been there to turn off the electrical breaker. I also was able to vent the likely toxic-to-breathe smoke. I feel that this consumer product sold in DIY big box retailers like Home Depot is a threat to human health and safety. I urge you to recall this device before others are harmed.
- Model
- EH40
- Serial number
- 22N 133-00217A
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Aug 27, 2020
- Where
- Roanoke, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 11, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Aug 4, 2022, sent to the company Aug 8, 2022, published by CPSC Aug 22, 2022
The product, in the report: Intermatic IW505K 15-Amp Digital In-Wall Timer white. About this item 7-day programmable schedules with 14 ON/OFF events Random mode varies ON/OFF schedule to provide a “lived-in” appearance Single-pole circuit Incandescent/fluorescent/CFL/LED compatible Built-in rechargeable, non-serviceable battery backup Requires neutral connection Backlit LCD display
Installed 2 Intermatic IW505K 15-Amp Digital In-Wall Timer on 6/2017 over the past 3 months they have not been keeping their programmed on off times, and the wall plates where getting very hot, removed them both (7/22/22) and discovered they where discoloring the housing (plastic) to a tan color, and wiring insulation was melting. This would have most certainly created a in wall electrical fire. And I would have lost my home.
- Model
- IW505K 15-Amp Digital In-Wall Timer white
- Serial number
- None
- Bought from
- Amazon
- Bought
- May 2, 2017, about then
- Where
- colbert, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 63, Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Not said Made Jul 10, 2016, sent to the company Jul 18, 2016, published by CPSC Aug 3, 2016
The product, in the report: Intermatic Time-All timer, model number TN111, estimated these were purchased in 2008
Used “Intermatic Time-All” timer model TN111 for turning a small appliance off/on. When the timer was in use plugged into an electric outlet, suddenly around 10pm on 7/8/16, it made a loud pop sound and there was a bright flash of electricity/light from it.
- Model
- TN111
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Jan 1, 2008, about then
- Where
- San Diego, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic Time-All, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
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Not said Made Jan 2, 2015, sent to the company Jan 14, 2015, published by CPSC Jan 29, 2015
The product, in the report: Intermatic TN311 15 Amp Heavy Duty Grounded Timer
Intermatic TN311 15 Amp Heavy Duty Grounded Timer makes a spark inside the device when the timer turn off at the programmed time to shut off power. This is a fire or explosion hazard when fumes are in the same room as the timer. No incident occurred - I just noticed the sparking and others at Amazon product information page have also reported this problem - I am not the only one who has noticed the sparking.
- Model
- TN311
- Where
- Unspecified: Other
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic TN311 15 Amp Heavy Duty Grounded Timer, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
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No one hurt Made Feb 21, 2014, sent to the company Mar 5, 2014, published by CPSC Mar 20, 2014
The product, in the report: Mechanical Electric Water Heater Timer
I bought an Intermatic T-104-20 Mechanical DPST timer rated for my water heater. I bought this product new from Amazon.com LL C I installed this on the water heater for the owners suite in a utility room on the north side of the house. 5-1/2 months later the timer was noisy you could hear it inside the house in a room adjacent to the utility room. Then the hot water on that end of the house started to run out quickly. So I grabbed the key and my tools and unlocked the closet and opened the gray box it was in (NEMA 1 enclosure) there was black burned reside on the inside of the box and some on the wood siding behind the box. The plastic shield covering the terminal screws had a 1 inch burn hole in it. The screw terminal pressure plate was sparking again the line wires which was no longer attached, The insulation had melted back to the fitting where it entered the box and all the insulation of the timer motor leads was burned off including the plastic buss bar that all terminals were in. I removed all of it and the wood behind the box had the black residue on it. I got my meter out and checked the breaker to make sure there was no substantial loss across it. I used the Ohm meter and checked the thermostats and heating elements. I noticed that one set of contacts in the timer had fused together. So I got a steel box and connectors and straight wired the heater to the circuit. I was happy that it did not ignite the wood behind it because it would have gone straight to the attic and burned this place down. 24 hours later the water heater is working fine without the timer and the water was good and hot for the morning shower.
- Model
- T104-20
- UPC
- None
- Serial number
- None
- Bought from
- Amazon.com LLC
- Bought
- Jul 26, 2013
- Where
- Scottsdale, Arizona: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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No one hurt Made Dec 4, 2013, sent to the company Jan 22, 2014, published by CPSC Feb 5, 2014
The product, in the report: electric vacation timer model sb111
(12/03/2013) The consumer stated that the electric [timer] was plugged into an extension cord that was plugged into the wall. Low voltage LED lights were plugged into the timer. The consumer stated that he noticed that the outside lights did not go on. He went down stairs and looked on top of the dryer where the timer was located. The timer was sitting underneath the dial of the dryer. The timer was melted and the dial on the dryer had vaporized. There is a blob of plastic on the timer. The consumer stated that his wife had smelled something funny but did not see smoke. There was a box on the dryer that blocked her view.
The product is called vacation or lamp timers.
The product is an Intermatic timer model sb111. Intermatic says it was replaced by model TN311 with no changes. Note: Serial number was destroyed.
- Model
- SB111
- Bought from
- Home Depot, California
- Where
- Berkley, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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No one hurt Made Feb 21, 2012, sent to the company Feb 28, 2012, published by CPSC Mar 20, 2012
The product, in the report: Electric Timer Model TN111
I had a floor heater plugged into an Intermatic Timer. The back of the timer burned out and melted the plastic. I have photos. I reported this to UL and they had me send the timer to Intermatic. Intermatic refused to discuss it [REDACTED].
- Model
- TN111
- Serial number
- I54TN17985
- Where
- San Ramon, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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No one hurt Made Feb 14, 2012, sent to the company Mar 16, 2012, published by CPSC Apr 6, 2012
The product, in the report: Intermatic Electric Timer
The consumer stated that his electric timer is a potential [REDACTED] hazard as the [timer] will turn on automatically [while in the manual off mode]. The consumer stated that the timer is intended to manually power off his [water heater]. This product was given to him as a replacement for another unit from the same firm in December of 2010. The consumer stated almost immediately after he received the unit, [it] began to turn itself on sporadically.
The consumer stated that the first instance took place on August 3, 2011. The consumer was leaving home and powered off power to his [water heater] by using the timer. The consumer returned home to find that the red indicator light was on to illustrate that there was still power running [to his water heater].
The consumer stated that the unit does not appear to be damaged and his home has not been damaged. The consumer stated that he has not called the fire department and has not been injured by the product. The consumer has written a letter to the firm and has not yet received a response.
- Model
- EH40
- Bought from
- Intermatic
- Bought
- Dec 8, 2010
- Where
- Clearmont, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Intermatic, made or sold by Intermatic
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.