EcoPlus Digital Timers

rich_one

rich_one

AC Members
Nov 7, 2008
309
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Maryland
I have three of these things, and I am struggling mightily with getting it to work right. I have it turned on, I set the time. No problem. Now, setting the timer, and understanding what is supposed to happen. The instruction sheet that comes with this thing is just not very good. So...

I program the thing according to the instructions. I assume that when the thing is on "Auto", it should be now be working by what I programmed, even though, as far as I can tell, there is not actual way to determine if the program you entered is "active"... meaning, once you program the thing, there's no step that literally implies the device now knows to follow the program. Essentially, I just hit "Clock" to display the time again, and hope the program is active, with the device set to "Auto". Anyway, herein lies further confusion:

1. There is a button that says "On/Auto/Off". When I press this button, obviously, it toggles between these modes. There is a little red indicator light, that seems to indicate when it is on. When I press the button, and "Off" is in the display, the little red light is off. To be expected. Now, for the confusing part. If I press the button again, and the display says "Auto", and the light was already off, it stays off. In this state, neither my T5 light, nor my moonlights, come on when plugged in. Then, if I press the button again, "Auto" stays on the screen, but the light will turn on. In this state, my moonlights will turn on, but my T5 lights, will not turn on, when plugged in. Then, if I press the button again, and the screen says "On", my moonlights will turn on when plugged in, but my T5 lights will not turn on, although they did turn on one time, when I plugged them in. But I have been unable to get them to turn on again, over about a 25 minute span of trying.

2. Another confusing aspect, is what is actually being controlled. To attempt to clarify... the time has a socket on each side, so you can plug in two different things. In this case, my T5 light, and my moonlights. My assumption of this product was that I would be able to set two different on/off times... one for each socket. Yet, this device seems to indicate it can control up to eight on/off times... which is now leading me to believe it will control whatever is plugged into both sides equally, based on whatever variety of up to eight different timer settings you have programmed. Is this correct? I admit this sucks... but I do have three of the things, so it's not the end of the world... I can just use two of them, if I have to. Just would be disappointing, because I bought them because I thought I could set two things to turn and off individually using the two outlets.

I know this is a lot to read, and I may not even be as clear as I am hoping. But hopefully, someone here knows this timer, and can lend me an assist, since I am clearly to stupid to understand how to get the dang thing to operate the way I want it to.

Thanks!

-Rich
 
Got a link to post of what you have?
 
i found this

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I have the same timer. I kept my instructions.
Here it is, verbatim... broken Engrish & all.




Instruction Manual
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and integrated circuit are used in this digital . The screen of the timer are large display, multi--function, east to use, heavy loading. etc.

The digital timer display the present time accurately. It can control eight groups of on/off switch. It can give out a random timing output when required. There are also many combinations, such as hourly, daily, weekly, group of the week, for the timer on & off selection.


1. Setting of time
1.1 Press "CLOCK" & "HOUR" at the same time for setting the hour.
1.2 Press "CLOCK" & "MIN" at the same time for setting the minute.
1.3 Press "CLOCK" & "WEEK" at the same time for setting the week.

2. Setting of timer program
2.1 Press "PROG" to enter into the setting mode. The display shows "1 ON".
2.2 Press "HOUR", "MIN", & "WEEK" to set the hour &minute as well the day of the week for the timer on.
2.3 Press "PROG" again for setting the off time. The display shows "1 OFF".
2.4 Repeat 2.2 above for the off time.
2.5 Press "PROG" again to enter into the second on/off mode.
2.6 Repeat 2.1 to 2.4 for setting the timer on/off.

There are totally eight groups of timer setting. During time setting mode, press "R" for cancelling the setting time.
Press "R" again for coming back to the previous set time.

3. Combination weekly setting
3.1 During the timer on/off setting mode, press "WEEK" once. The display will show Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr,Sa,Su. This means it is a daily on/off setting.
3.2 Press "WEEK" again, the week day will show. Set to the required week day. In this setting the timer will only work in the set week day.
3.3 After the display showing Su, the next press will show Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr. The timer gives the setting only for the working day in the week.
3.4 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show Sa,Su. That means the timer gives the setting only in the weekend & Sunday.
3.5 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show the whole week day except Sunday. That means the timer will work on the week day except Sunday.
3.6 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show Mo,We,Fr. The timer will work in these 3 days.
3.7 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show Tu,Th,Sa. The timer will work in these 3 days.
3.8 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show Mo,Tu,We. The timer will work in these 3 days.
3.9 Press "WEEK" again, the the display will show Mo,Tu,We. The timer will work in these 3 days.

Press "R" for cancelling the setting week days. Press it again for coming back to the previous week day.

4. Timer ON/OFF turn on or off mode
4.1 Press "ON/AUTO/OFF". There is an indicator in the display show "ON" or "AUTO' or "OFF" stage.
4.2 Press the indicator to "ON". The timer will give a permanent 'Switch On' output.
4.3 Press the indicator to "AUTO". The timer will be switched on & switched off during the set time.
4.4 Press the indicator to "OFF". The timer is turned off.

5. Special functions
5.1 Press "WEEK" & "HOUR" at the same time. The display will show 'O' at the right hand side. This means the On timing & Off timing will be extended from 2 minutes to 32 minutes randomly.

6. Notes
6.1 Output loading should not exceed 1725W/15A.
6.2 Before use it is recommended to plug the unit into a power mains for a few hours for charging the battery inside the timer.
6.3 The tolerance of the timer is 2 minutes per month.
6.4 'Summer time' can be added to the timer (optional, please contact your dealer).
6.5 This timer is 24-hour display. 12- hour version is available, please contact your dealer.​
 
Thanks, reefdiver. I really appreciate it. But I do have the instructions. The thing is, the thing is not working the way I am expecting. I cannot get my T5 light to come on with any consistancy, while I can get my moonlights to come on, consistently. It doesn't seem to be my T5 lights... They come on fine when I plug them in the wall, or the old analog dial timer.

I just had a thought, though... I'm going to test it out and see. I set up two programs, with conflicting times, on the same dates, thinking one program would control one socket, and one program would control the other socket. Looking at this device, it is obvious I was mistaken with how it functions, and I think the programming controls both sockets equally. So, I am going to use one program, delete the 2nd program, then see if it behaves differently... though, it would still be a mystery to me why the moonlights come on every time plugged in, when the red light is on, and the T5 lights don't... but anyway...

-Rich
 
so much for that idea... that made zero difference. Right now, it is set to Auto, with the red light on. The moonlights are plugged in the left socket, and the T5 in the right socket. The moonlights are on, the T5 lights are off. I only have one program set, turn on at 10 am, turn off at 10 pm. If I switch the sockets, and plug the moonlights in the right socket, and the T5 in the left socket, same result... moonlights on, T5 off. If I take the T5 out of the timer, and plug it into the wall or the analog timer... comes on, no problem.

This is extremely frustrating. Now I guess I have to try this on a different tank, and see what happens. Dammit.

-Rich
 
I don't have this exact timer, but let me see if I can help. For most timers, the 8 on/off times actually means that you can time something to turn on, then off for eight times or 8 sets total. The two sockets allow for you put 2 things on the same timer schedule. It does not let you time one socket differently from another socket. If you want a different time schedule, you have to use another timer.

For the Auto thing: It's a little difficult to explain this in writing, but read this example thoroughly and you will get it.

Once you set up the timer schedule, you have to put it on auto for it to work. If you have the timer scheduled for on at 8am and then off at 10am; and presently the time is earlier than 7am, you would select auto off, which tells it to go to auto but at this time you don't want it turn on (since it is not 8am yet). If the time presently is after 8am but not yet 10am, you would set it to auto on, which tells it to go to auto, and you want it to go on right now. Once that is done, it will begin to follow the timer schedule.
 
Ah... okay. Got it. So now, the trick will be to get my dang T5s to turn back on... or, maybe I'll just reprogram this one, set it to off, plug in the moonlights, and see if the T5s behave better with another one.

Thanks for the explanation... I'll post what happens either way, and I appreciate all of the advice!

-Rich
 
with all my various digital timers throughout the house one thing i find irritating is... once they're set, many of them need to be off... during "off" times or on during "on" times to continue their respective timing cycles correctly. as well if a ballast or starter is "going" (which could take several years to complete) and throwing the amperage off on the lamp it can interfere with the switch in the unit itself... especially since flouros pull a lot more amperage during start up.

i've seen mention of electric vs magnetic starters making a difference on some timers also. not sure how that works out as it seems i've never experienced that issue, personally.

now, i have mist king timers that seem almost identical to the one you have. what i find that works with that particular model is that i set the whole setup/times etc. during a time when my flouros would be off... and let it come on on it's own later. to test this i would set the timer for say 2 minutes or so from when you'll be done and let it come on on it's own from there. if that works, then set the timer before bedtime or so when the lights will be off anyways and see how that does you in the morning.

stupid Q (for sake of double checking)... is the t5 unit switch to the on position?
 
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