A timer for the kitchen is by no means a useless device, since often the process of preparing a particular dish is calculated down to seconds. As they say, a step to the left, a step to the right - and the food doesn't taste right. And if the cook is also forgetful, then the absence of a timer with an alarm is fraught with a burnt dinner or lunch. We will study such a useful device for the kitchen in this article, in which, together with the website, we will understand this variety and answer the question, how to choose a kitchen timer?

Clock timer for kitchen photo

Kitchen timer: varieties and their features

If we do not take into account the existence of timers built into kitchen appliances, then all currently existing devices of this type can be divided into two large groups - these are mechanical timers that work on the principle of an alarm clock, as well as electronic ones. Let's talk about them in more detail.

You can see one of the varieties of kitchen timers in this video.

Both those and other timers can have different kind and design. The only feature that allows you to distinguish these devices by sight is the presence of a display in the electronic timer. You should also pay attention to the fact that mechanical devices of this type are large in size - if an electronic timer can be compared with a wrist watch, then a mechanical one, which is usually made in the form of some kind of food product, can be compared with an egg or a tomato. It is these images that are used in most cases for the manufacture of mechanical timers for the kitchen.

Kitchen timer electronic photo

Timer for the kitchen: what to look for when choosing

Devices of this type are ingenuous and have not so many differences between themselves. Therefore, the choice between them in most cases does not cause any problems. Pay attention here to the following points.

What else you need to pay attention to when choosing a kitchen timer is the material from which this device is made. There are two options here - plastic and metal (mostly aluminum or its alloy with other metals). In all respects, it is better to give preference to a timer made of metal - it is stronger and less prone to breakage associated with the fall of the device, which happens very, very often. The plastic is brittle, and you can crush it even by carelessly dropping a pot or pan on the timer.

A few words about unique and non-standard kitchen timers

In addition to the standard mechanisms that count the minutes and seconds remaining until the food is completely cooked, there are other devices that have a different principle of operation. There are few of them, and in most cases they combine several functions. Unlike a timer, they are highly specialized and are designed for use in the process of preparing a particular dish or product.

And in conclusion of the topic about the kitchen timer, I will say a few words about the most interesting, in my opinion, timers - this is the so-called handle timer, which is installed on any modern pot or pan lid. In most cases, this timer is additionally equipped with a temperature sensor that displays the temperature inside the dish - of course, it is far from the probe, but, nevertheless, it greatly facilitates the preparation of the same meat or any other dish.

Introducing a very practical timekeeping device for the home and kitchen. The project was developed due to the fact that at least there are many timers in different devices(watches, smartphones, etc.), but all of them are not convenient to use in a kitchen or workshop. Management should be as simple as possible - no extra buttons that do not immediately and remember which one is responsible for what.

Schematic diagram of a timer with an encoder

Scheme for a kitchen timer with an ATtiny 2313 microcontroller

Once upon a time, mechanical timers were on sale - they were really easy to use. So it was decided to combine this simplicity with a modern base. So there was this timer with a regulator - an encoder. In it, as in a mechanical prototype, you can increase and decrease the countdown time. The basis is the ATtiny 2313 microcontroller. Here's to it.

Timer sign drawing

How the device works

The increase / decrease in time occurs abruptly for several seconds at once. In addition, time can be paused.

The last 5 minutes are signaled by short double peaks every minute. And for the last 15 seconds, it beeps every second.

The ability to turn off the current tweeter signal is carried out by pressing the encoder or turning its knob in any direction.

Side view

In order to make it as easy as possible for the user to manage, the countdown timer does not have any other unnecessary functions.

Side view details

And instead of recognizing time steps of 15, 30, 60 seconds, it would be better to determine the speed of turning the encoder knob and change the time based on this. Slow rotation counts individual seconds, fast rotation counts steps of several minutes.

Ready homemade LED timer

The case… It never came to it 🙁 The timer has been used in a semi-open form for a long time: 3 AA batteries on the bottom, a three-digit LED indicator in front, and a time selection knob on top.

Video of the timer

Here is a video demonstrating the operation of the device in various modes, as well as a mechanical stopwatch nearby for comparison.

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Kitchen timer: existing varieties and subtleties of choice

Looking to buy a kitchen timer? Then I propose to figure out together what types it is, and what you should pay attention to when choosing the model you like. It will also not be superfluous to consider specifications specific offers from well-known manufacturers.

Kinds

A timer installed in the kitchen can facilitate the cooking process and improve its results, because thanks to it:

• You don't miss the exact moment of cooking, the device will warn you that enough time has passed;
• You will not have to while independently on duty over the stove, it will be possible to do other household chores.

Able to perform such simple, but very important functions for the kitchen, the following types of timers:

Mechanical

The mechanical kitchen timer has a round dial and works on the principle of a conventional clock:

• Starts up clockwise;

• Performs countdown to the set time.

The described design features provide this type of devices under consideration with a number of advantages, among which a special place is occupied by:

1. Low price. In fact, you have to pay only for the spring mechanism. The cost can rise only due to the intricacy of the body part, its decor and shape;
2. No batteries. A failed power supply can be a significant problem. Here such a situation is excluded;
3. Simple instruction manual. It is only necessary to turn part of the device to the desired position and that's it;

But there are also disadvantages to such a device:

1. Limited timekeeping. As a rule, mechanical timers can be wound for no more than sixty minutes. For simple dishes, this is quite enough, but it will be more difficult to cook something more refined;
2. Relatively large error. Almost all cheap samples suffer from this ailment.

Manufacturers offer many models of the most diverse appearance, although internally they differ from each other not so strikingly. Let's consider some of them:

The prices in the article are current in the summer of 2017.

• Model Bottle:

• Model Lemon:

• Model Cylinder:

Electronic

With the development of technological progress, timers began to change, as a result of which electronic models appeared. The presence of electronics in the device provides a number of important and indisputable advantages, among which, first of all, worthy of mention:

1. Availability of the display indicating the time remaining until the signal. No need to guess by the divisions how many minutes the dish still needs to be cooked, well-visible numbers will conveniently provide you with all the necessary information;
2. High accuracy. Where the spring can make a mistake, the electronics accurately measures the specified amount of time;
3. Greater timing. Usually up to 99 minutes;
4. Compact dimensions. A small device can be easily installed not only on any horizontal, but also on a vertical surface;

1. Possibility of additional functions. Clock, barometer, thermometer - all this can complement the timer and make it even more useful in the kitchen.

There are also disadvantages that you have to put up with for the sake of having such a useful assistant. These include:

1. Relatively high cost. The presence of electronics not only makes the device better, but also more expensive;
2. Dependence on batteries or electricity. An electronic device needs an appropriate power supply.

Among the offers from manufacturers, the following representatives of electronic kitchen timers can be distinguished:

• Model Tasty Colors:

• Presto Model:

• GEFU Model:

Subtleties of choice

Choosing a timer for the kitchen is not so easy, despite the fact that it is not an essential item. Here it is worth considering it separately:

• Design features. That is, how it will look indoors;
• . This is directly related to the operational properties of the device.

Let's analyze them in more detail:

Design features

• Modern styles. Preference should be given to electronic models of steel color or shades that are in harmony with the overall kitchen interior;

If your kitchen professes minimalism, then the timer should not stand out from the general background. I recommend choosing for this a small copy of one with furniture colors.

• classic styles. Samples in the form of vegetables, fruits or kitchen utensils will look great.

Ease of use and practicality

• The presence of a magnet allows you to conveniently fix the timer on the refrigerator or oven;

If your kitchen is dominated by wood or its cheaper substitutes, then it is better to give preference to a model with a suction cup. In this case, you will have more options for its placement.

• Housing material must be impact resistant. In the cooking zone, the device can easily get mechanical damage.

Conclusion

You have learned how an electronic kitchen timer differs from a mechanical one, and how to choose them correctly. The video in this article contains additional information. You can ask questions in the comments.

The use of a timer in everyday life is very convenient and it is not for nothing that many manufacturers build a timer into various household appliances. As for the kitchen, the timer is an indispensable thing, and although there are quite a lot of different schemes provided on the network, they all have their own characteristics ...

This article will talk about a simple timer for the kitchen and not only ....

Capabilities and main characteristics of the timer.

1. Timer setting time from 1 to 90 minutes.

2. Sound alarm for switching on and off the timer.

3. Sound signaling of the end of the set time.

4. Forced shutdown of the timer before the expiration of the set time.

5. Self-switching off the timer after 10 seconds after it was turned on if, after turning on the timer, the exposure time was not set or the countdown was not started.

6. The device is powered both from three batteries and from an external adapter with a voltage of 7 to 10 V.

7. The current consumption of the timer in the off state is several times less than the self-discharge current of finger batteries.

Device diagram.

Work algorithm

The timer is activated by pressing the encoder button. The indicator shows the minimum possible exposure time, equal to 1 min. By turning the encoder knob to the right, the exposure time increases, and by turning the encoder knob to the left, it decreases, starting from 90 min. The timer will turn off automatically if the start button is not pressed within 10 seconds after setting the time. To start the timing, press the encoder button again. At the same time, the timer starts counting the set time, and the decimal point will flash on the indicator of units of minutes with a period of 1 s, indicating the countdown mode. After the set time has elapsed, the timer indicator will show the number 0 and 5 tones will sound. After that, the number 0 will go out, and the decimal point will flash for another 10 s. After this time has elapsed, as a reminder, 5 tones will sound again, and the timer will turn off. The timer can be forced to stop at any time by pressing the encoder button.

The timer is based on the ATtiny2313 microcontroller, which is clocked from an internal 8 MHz oscillator. Encoder with Bourns button type PEC12-4220F-S0024. Buzzer KX-1205 from Kingstate. There are 2 firmware in the archive - for indicators with OK and OA, diagram, diagram and printed circuit board in Eagle format. Below is a diagram of the timer power adapter.

Power adapter

Photo of the finished device

There are 2 firmware in the archive - for indicators with OK and OA, a diagram, a diagram and a printed circuit board in the Eagle program format.

Discuss on the forum

Kitchen timer

Just one microcircuit and several other radio components will be needed to assemble a relatively simple timer (Fig. 1). It is quite possible to introduce it into the kitchen for cooking or in many other cases. The duration of the timer exposure is set in the range from 1 to 90 minutes by switches S2 and S3.

Fig.1

The timer consists of a time relay made on the element D1.1 , generator on elements D 1.2 and D 1.3, inverter on the element D 1.4, transistor amplifier and headphone.

Press the button to start the timer. S 1, allowing capacitor C1 (and C2, if connected by a switch) to discharge. S 2). After the button is released, the capacitor begins to charge through the resistor R 2 or a string of resistors connected in series R2-R12- it depends on the position of the moving contact of the switch S 3. As soon as the voltage at the inputs of the element D1.1 reaches the switching threshold, a logic 1 signal will appear at the output of the element and the generator will turn on. Its oscillations with a frequency of about 1000 Hz will go through the inverter and amplifier to the head phone, which is a sound indicator. The amplifier is needed to match the load (phone B1) with the output of the inverter. In the absence of oscillations, the transistor is in the closed state. This ensures the high efficiency of the timer - in standby mode, it consumes a current of no more than 0.5 mA.

Sound indicator B1 - any telephone capsule with a winding resistance of 40 ... 120 Ohm. Instead, a small-sized dynamic head, for example 0.1GD-6, is suitable, but it should be included in the collector circuit through an output transformer. The sound volume in both cases is set by selecting resistors R 16 and R 15.

Power supply G.B. 1 - "Crown". The timer works stably when the supply voltage drops to 4 V, but at the same time, the exposure time increases slightly, and the volume of the sound signal drops.

Establishing a timer is reduced to the selection of capacitor C2 and resistors R2-R 12. The capacitance of the capacitor must be such that when connected with a switch S 2 shutter speed, for example, in the first subrange, increased by 10 times. More precisely, the shutter speed indicated for the first subrange is set by selecting a resistor R 2, for the second subrange - by selecting a resistor R 3 etc. Naturally, shutter speeds may be different compared to those indicated in the diagram - just install resistors R2-R 12 corresponding resistances.

If the timer is designed to report short exposures (up to 30 minutes), it can be simplified by replacing the switch S 3 and resistors R 3 - R 13 variable resistor with a resistance of 3.3 ... 4.7 Mohm.

Strelnikov P.

Novosibirsk city