Horticultural Specialists at the North Carolina State University recommends using a 24-volt timer for an irrigation misting system. A timer is hooked up to a solenoid-controlled valve. When the timer turns on, the valve is activated and water flows out of the nozzles. You can hook up a similar system for your garden. Obtain a timer and a simple solenoid-controlled valve. Attach the valve to your water supply. Run some perforated water lines along your garden and connect them to the valve. Set the timer to turn on at a certain time and turn off at a certain time so that it opens and closes the valve. You no longer have to manually water your garden, but now can rely on the automated system to do it for you.
Security lights can be operated by a 24-volt timer. Since this is a low voltage circuit, the current draw on your system is minimal. Hook up 24-volt light fixtures to your timer. Set the timer to turn the lights on at a certain time and off at a certain time. The lights can be placed outdoors or around the inside of the house. Multiple timers can be set to different times to simulate a person moving room to room.
If you wake up at the same time every morning, such as to go to work, and your coffee maker doesn't have a built-in timer, a a 24-volt coffee maker can be placed on a 24-volt timer. Set up the coffee maker with water and coffee. Plug it into the timer, and set the the timer to turn on about five minutes before your alarm clock. When you wake up in the morning, the coffee is already brewed.
Cows in holding pens become stressed out and benefit from an overhead water irrigation type of cooling. The University of Arkansas recommends using a 24-volt timer to control a cow cooling system. The timer is used to control a contactor. A contactor is a device that controls high-voltage devices with a low voltage, similar to a relay. When the timer turns on, the contactor is activated, turning on pumps so water flows out of the overhead misting pipes.