I have zero experience, but am not adverse to learning. I work in a laboratory. One of our tests uses a vacuum pump for either 1 minute or two minutes. Right now it is plugged into a power strip that I switch on and off… which means I have to babysit it which digs into my efficiency quite a bit.
Building a timer with two fixed times is pretty easy, but it depends on your background. Can you program? How accurate does the timer need to be?
The solution may be either a simple Arduino-type control (accurate, but requires programming skills) or building from a schematic on the web (not as accurate, but no programming needed).
[Here Is a simple demo I made that switches a solenoid valve on for a preset time. Probably took about 5 minutes of programming with an off the shelf board.
If you could find me an off the shelf timer that shuts off the power at one and two minutes you would be my hero, I have looked all the places I know to go and come up empty…
It needs to be fairly accurate. Going over by a few seconds is not a problem, but under would be. It must be consistently repeatable.
I have never programmed like this, I can use xhtml/css, manipulate javascript and do some php. I don’t mind learning a new thing.
You could look at the various count-down timer kits and then couple one of those with a relay or the powerswitch tail. But if your bosses are like my corporate hierarchy, they’ll want something UL approved.
There is an [eBay timer for under $5. AKA “you pays your money and you takes your chances…”
You could use [an industrial timer for $69. Will probably work as advertised and may need some connection to A/C and power output, but probably do what you need for $100 all in. Simpler, cheaper [version also available.
Timing is one of the most common process control functions, so timers of all flavors are generally readily available.
[edit] Sorry, I was thinking 1-2 seconds instead of 1-2 minutes, but the comment above still applies. Automation Direct has dozens or hundreds of timers and many of them are square in the range you need.
Or an Arduino mini with a relay and a couple of pushbuttons for around $50 total would probably do it. The DIY way usually isn’t as cheap as it first seems. If you can handle Javascript & PHP you should be able to manage enough C to get a timer working.
I use Omron HC3R timers for life-testing and similar controls in the lab. Programmable on and off times from seconds to hours. The ones I use have a 120VAC coil, and I drive a contactor or relay to control heavy loads.