Prime ez set 24 hour digital timer Followed instructions. Won't turn on. Does lamp switch have to be on when it is plugged into the timer?

It is a very basic mechanical timer. I have 3 of them.

Remove it from the wall.
Pull the tabs up for Off and Push tabs down for On.
Set the Time by turning the dial, time to arrow.
Set the slide switch to Timer On.
Plug in the appliance.
Plug the timer into the wall socket.

Manual and Advertising is here.

GE 15119 Manual - Waterheatertimer.org

http://waterheatertimer.org > pdf > GE15119-Man...

PDF GE 15119 timer manual http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-set-timers.html http://waterheatertimer.org/GE-timers-and-manuals.html#52012.

GE 15119 Indoor 24-Hour One-Outlet Plug-in Basic Timer ...

https://www.toolboxsupply.com > products > ge-15119...

GE Indoor 24-Hour Mechanical Timer is an easy-to-use basic timer. Ideal for lamps, seasonal lights and portable fans. Turns a lamp on/off at desired times daily, ...

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I would start by turning on the lamp,if switch is not on lamp can not get power when timer comes on.

6124 is 24-hour timer single-pole timer
Open following link for images, instruction manual, ez set instructions, and wiring instructions
http://waterheatertimer.org/Leviton-timers.html

Following link has a close-up photo of on-off pins on GE 15075 timer
http://waterheatertimer.org/GE-timers-and-manuals.html#15075

Pins are located around timer dial
The pins divide 24-hour day into 1/2 hour segments
Pins are out for ON
Pins are inward for OFF
Notice that numbered dial is divided into dark and light areas ... the dark areas are PM, light areas AM.

For example you are connecting chicken coop lamp to this timer.
Turn lamp on and make sure bulb is working.
Plug lamp into timer.
Set pins in and out as follows: all pins outward between 4:30 pm on light part of dial to 8:00 pm on dark part of dial. And then set all pins outward between 5:00am on dark part of dial to 7:00 am on light part of dial.
Plug timer into outlet
Move switch located on top to TIMER ON
Manually rotate timer dial clockwise to see lamp turn on and off.
Lastly, set current time: Manually rotate timer dial clockwise until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial. So if current time is high noon, then rotate dial until 'sun' symbol located on light part of dial lines up with arrowhead.
As time passes, the timer dial rotates, and the pins click circuit on-off.
To override timer, move switch to outlet-on.

Woods TN300 and Intermatic TN300 and Woods 59200 are same timer:
To confirm this is your timer, open link below
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#59200
If this is not your timer, then add a comment for additional free service.

Instructions:
Rotate dial to set current time, when plugged in, dial rotates
48 segments located on dial; each segment is 1/2 hour. Push segment down like piano key.
Segment pulled up = lights OFF
Segment down = lights ON
Override switch on top of timer.
For programs to operate, move switch to Timer ON

Plug lamp into timer.
Turn lamp ON
Plug timer into wall

Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks to you via phone to help you solve problems

Yes the lamp must be turned on.
Bulb must be in working order.
http://waterheatertimer.org/GE-timers-and-manuals.html#15004
If link above does not show your timer, then add a comment

The GE 15004 timer does not have a manual at Jasco, so many folks write in about this timer

To set the timer, rotate dial until current time lines up with pointer located on inner dial.
The trippers are located on outer edge of dial.
I'm am guessing that you move the trippers around to time, and then push tripper inward or outward.
I have looked at enlarged photos of timer but cannot say exactly how the tripper is set.
Green tripper is ON
Red tripper is OFF

There is a switch located on side of timer.
Move switch to ON for timer to operate.
Plug lamp into timer.
Plug timer into wall.

To check on-off settings, manually rotate dial clockwise with your hand and watch lights turn ON-OFF.
Check switch is supposed to be set ON, by moving switch both ways.

You can also take advantage of fixya phone service.
Expert will talk with you via phone for a price.

Brinks 44-1040 is a 24-hour plug-in timer, with 1 on tripper and 1 off tripper.
Dial has 24 hours with each hour marked for am and pm times.

Push tripper down and rotate until tripper aligns with time you want for ON and OFF.
Rotate dial until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial.

Turn lamp ON. Make sure bulb is good.
Plug lamp into timer. and plug timer into wall.

Move slide switch one direction or the other to control mode.
When switch is one direction, lamp in ON all the time.
Move switch other direction, and timer programs work.

Dial rotates as time passes, and trippers move on-off lever that turns lamp ON-and-OFF.

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

You posted under Intermatic TN300 24-hour plug-in indoor timer with 2-prong outlet
If this is not your timer, add a comment
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-TN300CL-Indoor-Mechanical-Timer/dp/B001KBZUK8

Intermatic TN300
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/files/intermatic/products/instructions/timers/tn300.ashx

TN300 is same as Woods 59200
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Woods-59200.pdf

Rotate dial until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial.
The segments located around edge of dial are pushed down or raised to set on-off times.
Push segments down for times you want timer ON

Override switch on top of timer.
For programs to operate, move switch to Timer ON

Plug lamp into timer.
Turn lamp ON
Plug timer into wall

59419 is the Woods 2 pack plug in 24-hour dial timer with 2-prong outlet.
If this is not your timer, add a comment.
http://www.amazon.com/59419-Appliance-2-Prong-Outlet-24-Hour/dp/B002Y1KZHQ

See all Woods timers and manuals:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html

Manual for Woods 59419:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Woods-59419.pdf

Instructions:
Rotate dial until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial
When plugged in, dial rotates
24 segments located around outer edge of dial; each segment is 1 hour
You have to pull these segments up using fingernail or small screwdriver
Segment pulled up = lights OFF
Segment down = lights ON
Override switch located top of timer, move switch to TIMER
Plug lamp into timer
Make sure lamp is turned ON
Plug timer into wall

GE 15119 timer is a 24-hour plug-in dial-type timer.
Dial rotates as time passes.
Plastic segments located around outer edge of dial control on-off operations.
Each segment represents 30 minutes of 24-hour day.

Timer comes with segments down.
Each segment can be lifted up using small screwdriver under edge of segment.

Segments down, timer is ON.
Segments up, timer is OFF.
So if you want timer to turn on at 7pm and turn off at 11pm, then lift all segments around dial except segments between 7 and 11.



Dial is divided into two parts > day and night.
Nighttime hours are shown by numbers with dark background >> notice small crescent moon where 12 midnight is located.
Daylight hours are shown by numbers with light background, and sun symbol shows at 12 noon

To set current time, so timer knows what time it is right now:
Rotate dial clockwise until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial.

There is override switch located on one side of timer.
Move switch to Timer ON position and timer program will function.
If you want to turn lights ON using override switch, move switch to OUTLET ON.

Last steps:
Turn lamp on.
Plug lamp into timer.
Plug timer into wall.