# TV on timer on and off **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414 "2011-10-22T02:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eliekheder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@eliekheder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eliekheder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/1 "2011-10-22T02:03:14Z")
is it possible to have the TV on a timer that goes ON and OFF and not just off. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/2 "2011-10-22T02:20:20Z")
From an external timer, probably not, since all they do is turn the power on and off. But most TVs I’ve owned have had a built in function to turn the TV on at a certain time. ---
**Author:** ![eliekheder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@eliekheder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eliekheder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/3 "2011-10-22T17:20:33Z")
Thank you Enalzi… I will look into that if there is a feature that turns on and off the TV at certain time every day… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/4 "2011-10-22T17:25:30Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > From an external timer, probably not, since all they do is turn the power on and off. But most TVs I’ve owned have had a built in function to turn the TV on at a certain time. Some TVs have a feature that will turn them on when the AC power is turned on. This is designed so that you can plug the power cord into the switched outlet on a receiver or cable box and turn everything on with one button. If you can find a TV with that feature, it would work with an external timer as well. The problem is that it’s probably not going to be listed as a feature. You’re going to have to dig through the manuals of the TVs you’re looking at to see if they offer it. Keep in mind, with this feature, if you ever lose power for some reason, your TV will turn on when the power is restored. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/5 "2011-10-22T17:45:42Z")
I have a very old (ca. 1992) programmable remote which can be programmed to do things on a timer. I’ve used it in the distant past when I needed to record more things than my VCR had room to program for. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/6 "2011-10-22T18:15:09Z")
I don’t mean to presume your reason for asking, but if you want to do this for security purposes to make it appear that someone is home watching television, [this little device](http://www.amazon.com/Opto-Electronic-FakeTV-Burglar-Deterrent/dp/B001G3RGKM) works very convincingly and draws much less power. It doesn’t have a timer of its own, but could be used with a standard lamp timer. It can also be configured to turn on at dusk via a built-in light sensor. ---
**Author:** ![eliekheder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@eliekheder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eliekheder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/7 "2011-10-22T22:23:13Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Some TVs have a feature that will turn them on when the AC power is turned on. This is designed so that you can plug the power cord into the switched outlet on a receiver or cable box and turn everything on with one button. If you can find a TV with that feature, it would work with an external timer as well. > The problem is that it’s probably not going to be listed as a feature. You’re going to have to dig through the manuals of the TVs you’re looking at to see if they offer it. > > Keep in mind, with this feature, if you ever lose power for some reason, your TV will turn on when the power is restored. Thank you JoeyP. That would be fine since I have it on a timer for certain time… I honestly want that TV for my Parrots to entertain them when I am away on a trip. ---
**Author:** ![eliekheder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@eliekheder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eliekheder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-on-timer-on-and-off/600414/8 "2011-10-22T22:26:24Z")
> [@sco3tt](#): > > I don’t mean to presume your reason for asking, but if you want to do this for security purposes to make it appear that someone is home watching television, [this little device](http://www.amazon.com/Opto-Electronic-FakeTV-Burglar-Deterrent/dp/B001G3RGKM) works very convincingly and draws much less power. It doesn’t have a timer of its own, but could be used with a standard lamp timer. It can also be configured to turn on at dusk via a built-in light sensor. Thank you Sco3tt, but I want that TV for my Parrots to entertain them when I am away on a trip and of course neverless for security.