We put up a new control unit at my uncle's place but ran into an issue with the programming. The timer was already connected and I didn't realize that the instructions were on the back. I did find instructions when I got home (http://the-timer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/The-Timer-Operators-Manual.pdf) but it doesn't address my issue or my questions, so I am here for help!

I am not sure if it was the default setting or what I might have done, but when I set the clock time, the run time was already at 5 seconds. We set the first feeding and the run time at 1 second to test it. When it ran, it ran for a lot more than 1 second. So I figured that the run time on the clock overrode any run times on your feed settings. I tried to set the run time on the clock to 0, but the lowest it would go back to was 1 second. We wanted a 3-second run time in the morning feed and a 3-second run time for the lone afternoon feeding. We didn't have much time to monkey with it, so we improvised and left the clock run time at 1 second and did 3 consecutive 1-second runs for the morning (6:45, 6:47, 6:49) and a similar thing for the afternoon....figured that 6 one-second runs would feed the same amount as two 3-second runs.

But that's tougher on the unit and the battery, so I want to change it next time out. Should we have set the clock run time at 3 seconds, done a 3-second morning run, a 3-second afternoon run, and set the other feeder times with a run time of 0? We thought of that but thought the run time for the clock setting might override the time runs for the other settings. So how are the run times related, what overrides what, etc.?

Thanks.

Mr Technology Challenged

The clock run time only controls the test run time. Set one run time for 3seconds in the am & 3 seconds in the pm. Set all other run times to 0.

Thanks. So the run time on the “clock” setting controls all the “test” run times no matter what the P1, P2, etc run times are set at? So, that would explain why my P1 test run time of 1 second ran for the 5 seconds that was on the “clock” run time. Will reset next time I go out to the ranch. I appreciate the help.

Correct, the run time on the clock setting only controls the ‘test’. Each P# setting is unique to that feed time.

Thanks again for the answers and clarification. This is another reason I love this forum.

Going from memory, the test mode will run for 5 seconds, totally separate from your programmed times. As mentioned above, you set each program (P1, P2, etc..) how long you want the spin plate to run for each feed time.

This is correct

What they said !