Home > Consumer Reviews > Timex TX5170 Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Indoor Hygrometer and Clock

Easy to set up - needs one AAA battery. Compact unit, yet has nice, large digital display showing humidity, outside temperature and either indoor temperature or clock (a button allows you to select which one will display). The unit seems very accurate and I consult the readings several times a day. I would definitely purchase this product again.

After one week of normal use the Timex TX5170 stopped functioning: The readout displayed random digits. The battery tested fine (1.5 volts on my voltmeter), but I decided to give the TX5170 the benefit of the doubt, so I went out and bought a new alkaline AAA battery and installed it. And, lo and behold, the TX5170 sprang back to life -- for six hours. Then it gave up the ghost completely. Installing ANOTHER new alkaline battery did no good.
I once met a retired advertising executive who purported to be the guy who came up with Timex's classic slogan, "It Takes A Licking But Keeps on Ticking." My problems with the Timex TX5170 recalled this slogan to my mind. "Perhaps that's the problem," I said to myself. So I covered the TX5170 with chocolate syrup and proceed to lick it. Alas, still only random digits in the readout. [Just kidding.]
The online product description states that the TX5170 is covered by "Timex's one-year warranty." That sounds good, only the "instruction manual" included with the unit does not mention a warranty, nor does it provide any contact information for the manufacture. The fine print on the back of the unit itself states that it was manufactured in China for the Maverick Corporation of Edison, New Jersey, and that the name "Timex" is used under license in the United States and certain other territories.
Very helpful.
So the question is, how much time and effort am I going to expend to gain satisfaction for a non-functioning fifteen dollar thermometer?

Funny that I had to Google to find this in Amazon (I guess stuff that's sold out doesn't come up in the Amazon search) and then when I do I read the "Failed in One Week" review. Well, at least that reviewer got a week out of it. Mine failed in about 3 days. Several different batteries later and I determined that its the unit. Ditto "how much trouble will I go to for a $15 thermometer". Guess its the trash heap for this one.

I bought this after reading the reviews here, thinking that this would be a value for money item. The thermometer failed the calibration test- the indoor and outdoor readings did not match up even though the sensors were in the same place. Further on, the readings were inaccurate and not consistent.

Great product, excellent performance and accuracy. The display is of good size, it's easy to set up and use, has some features I did not expect (switches between Farenheit and Celcium, option to show time of day). I have it on the wall next to my bed and I use it daily. Helps me get ready before I leave the house as I peak at it to see what the external temperature is. It's very helpful when using a humidifier too to prevent air from drying out from too much or letting too much moisture in the air. I strongly recommend it vs. some of the cheaper available products.