Question on new Digital timer

[goblin072]

I purchased this coralife digital timer the other day. Has anyone tried this model? Its the only one I found that allows me (Hopefully) to auto on the lights 5 days then off on the weekends. Its all good except the directions. They are weird.

It has two Yellow outlets (Day) two blue outlets (Night) which alternate. When yellow is on the blue is off. They can't be on at the same time. I only need to use one set.

I set slot one (There are up to seven) to turn ON-9AM OFF-8pm. The next day they went on then off in 1 hour. (Like it jumped to setting 2- Weekend)
It says OFF really means that BLUE are on. ON means Yellow is on. Take a look at the docs.
PRessing the Mode cycles through 4 settings
Yellow on all the time (NO TIMER)
BLUE on all the time (No TImer)
AUTO (WHich I think is the timer)
RND - NOt sure how the random works or why I would need it.

Coralife Aqualight Digital Power Center Aquarium Timer - (eBay item 320149919623 end time Aug-30-07 09:00:50 PDT)

Activating Time Cycle:
Press the MODE button to display:
A. Off: Yellow outlets are off
Blue outlets are on
B. On: Blue outlets are on
Yellow outlets are off
C. Auto: Programmed Time cycle(s) timer settings activated
D. RDM: Activate +/- 15 min. before and after time cycle 1 and time cycle 2.

Its at work so I don't have much time to mess with it. I just want the yellow to turn on at X-time and Off at X time. I don't care about the blue.

I only used two slots.

1. ON - 9AM (MTWTHF)
OFF - 8PM
2. ON 9AM (S,SUN)
OFF 10PM

I think when I left (10PM) it may have jumped to slot 2 (Weekend) as it only went on for 1 hour today.

Thanks to anyone that can simplify this timer for me!

[tim]

see if this helps http://www.marineandreef.com/PDF/Pow...rDualTimer.pdf

[goblin072]

Thanks for that nice site Tim.

The one I own is the digital version or this one. They have the Docs for that one too.

http://www.marineandreef.com/PDF/PowerCenterDigital.pdf

I looked at them and I think I have it set properly. What they do not list is when it goes from Time cycle 1 to the other 7. May have to go back to the old trusted analog dial type timers, never had a problem with one of those.


I will just set it from M-sun to do the same thing and see if it works.

Thanks for the link.

[tim]

sweet glad I could help.

[goblin072]

I think I solved the case. I went back and looked in the box. Along with a manual they had a little note that had a short FAQ.

1. Yellow switches don't turn on, why?

Ans: You have to let the timer cycle for 24 hours if you set it after the on time.

This means that if you set it to turn on every day at 9am and off 8pm and the current time is in between (ie. say 10am) the yellow switches will not turn on even though you may want them to be on. They won't turn on until the next cycle.

No way to force it through.

Some poor programming on the timers software. Once its cycled it should be good though. They need to have a test button and also a software fix to make it turn on the Yellow socket without having to wait for the next cycle.

[tim]

you would think so. good luck. let us know how it goes.