I bought this because it didn’t have a remote control - nothing to lose, no dead batteries. It turns out to be a very feature rich unit. The dimmer, night sensor, and timer functionality can all be applied independently of each other, and in any combination. There is no need to tape over the photocell sensor to make the lights go on in daylight. See the user manual photographs.With the sensor and timer toggled off, it is just a dimmer.With the sensor off, the lights are on immediately for 1, 3 or 5 hours before turning off.There are ten total dimming settings in even increments. Dimming the lights decreases the power draw proportionally.I did not measure any additional power draw when the lights were on, and there was zero power draw with the lights off.The device outputs direct current (DC), which is odd out of a pronged plug. My light string Shine Decor LED Rope Lights already has a rectifier to turn wall-outlet alternating current (AC) into the DC the LEDs need. I didn’t notice a difference between being plugged into the dimmer or the wall.It loses all settings when power is removed. When power is restored, it defaults to sensor = off, dimmer = dimmest setting, and timer = off. Basically the lights turn on at their dimmest level until you push buttons.