How To Program an Orbit Two Outlet Hose Faucet Timer (56544)

This video is about HD Two Outlet
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[turbojav]

After 3 years of setting these up every year and returning to this video each time, this is what you need to know that they don't tell you: Station 1 and Station 2 can only run sequentially. Station 2 turns on only after Station 1 finishes. If you set Station 1 for 30 minutes at 6 a.m., Station 2 will come on at 6:30. You can't change that. I assume it's to preserve water pressure since both are fed from a single hose.

You CAN set Station 2 to water for a different duration of time, say for an hour in this example. I did not check if you can set it to run independently on different days of the week. Did not want to go there. Needed to preserve sanity.

To be fair, it's a tough problem: multiple days, multiple times, multiple stations. They tried. This is a classic example of a highly capable system that is difficult to understand for the average person. It's as if there is one dimension too many. The single-station model is a lot easier to understand. It probably would work better if the outer ring had a notch for each day + all days, and then you drilled down from there.

[Michael]

After days of frustration, I'm done with this unit and have purchased two separate one-port timers (which not only work well but are so simple to program).  I followed the additional instructions provided by Orbit to John Ruiz and the narrative posted by Joel Adamson but without success.  All I wanted was one timer that was able to water two different locations at two different times for two different durations.  At least now with the two separate timers that can happen, of course, with a dual faucet attachment.  The plus side to this experience is that I got to use the alarm feature on my new smartphone for the 3:00am and 5:00am wake up times to go out and check on the timer. :-)

[stevesmith]

After watching this video programming was a breeze. Love this controller. Very versatile and flexible. Once you know how to program it, you’ll love it.

[jking]

I think it’s easier to solve a Stephen Hawkins physics equation Then figure this out

[dw]

After having to work out how to program every year, I finally figured this out (for me anyway). I have to begin programming from a different setting, first setting the how long (duration) for each station:
I think the timer can only be set to water for two durations (how long). Each station, 1 or 2, can only do one duration (how long) and each station duration, once set, then stays the same when selected for any start time A, B, or C. In other words, once station 1 is set for 20 min, it will always go for 20 min with any start time. (I have not been able to get different durations for different start times).
Each start time can do either station 1, or station 2, or both (first 1, then 2). A station is selected to open for the start time when there is a box around the station number.

So I use a unique start time (A, B, or C) for different durations (how long) and days or intervals (how often).
Then I select which station (and therefore how long) for each different start time.

So, to program for my two different areas, spots - a garden and a vegetable container: I start programming with how long (duration) at each station:

1. decide how long I want to water the garden, and how long to water the container. Set station 1 to 60 min (for garden); and station 2 to 3 min (for container).
2. Decide when and how often I want to water garden - 6 AM every other day. Select start time A, set to 6 AM, hit station button to station 2 (flashing) and deselect ( minus sign = no box). Station 1 still has a box around it. Then turn dial to how often and work thru to INT, 2 days. So now at 6 AM every other day, station 1 will go on for 60 min.
3. Decide when I want to water container - 7:30 AM every third day. Select start time B, set start to 7:30 AM, hit station button to station 1 (flashing) and deselect (minus sign = no box). Station 2 still has box around it. Then turn dial to how often and work thru to INT, 3 days. So now at 7:30 AM every third day, station 2 will go on for 3 min.

So now the timer at start time A runs station 1 at 6 AM for 60 min every other day, and at start time B runs station 2 at 7:30 AM for 3 min every 3rd day.
Clear as mud probably, and as Orbit says, simple programming ;).
The timer has worked well now for three years.

[joeladamson]

Help for those figuring this out:
After reading comments and watching the video, I've figured this timer out.
The one important thing they fail to mention in the instructions is 1. You can not program a start time for both of the two water outlet! They go consecutively, one after another. (It is impossible for them to run simultaneously). In other words, if you program 5 minutes for outlet #1 and 10 minutes for outlet #2, and you have a start time of 5am, then outlet #1 will start at 5:00am, then after it finishes, the valve will close on that outlet and the second outlet will open (at 5:05am) and run for 10 min. It is that simple. The "start time" is the start time of outlet #1. The device won't let you program a start time for #2 because it goes right after #1. What those additional programming procedures are for is the A, B, C run start times. If you want it to operate only once a day (instead of 2 or 3 times a day), then leave "B" and "C" blank. It is a little complicated because it gives you the power to program outlet #1 to operate at times A, B, and C if you want to water 2 or 3 times each day, and also let you do the same for outlet 2. For example, you can have outlet #1 water 2 times a day, and outlet #1 only water 1 time a day, thus, for that configuration it allows you to enter a second "start time" (the "B" start time for your #1 outlet). Bottom line, you only can program a single start time for both outlet #1 and outlet #2 for start time A (if you have only 1 watering time in a day), or time A and B if you want it to water twice in a day, or A, B, and C if you want it to water 3 times in a day. But because outlet 1 and 2 go off one after the other, you only program one time for each A, B, and C. (If it would allow you to program independent start times for outlet 1 and outlet 2, then you would need to enter 6 start time (two for each, A, B, and C) but that is impossible with this device. Hope this helps.

[joiningconversationcomment]

Thank goodness for this video. And Yes!! Complicated and prone to breakdown (which I blamed on my own set up errors for two days but it wasn't that.) I have spent more than 3 days researching, testing, and giving up. FIVE HOURS straight at a time and I have a Masters degree in psychology!! I spent 30 minutes listening to pleasant music two weeks ago but no help on their helpline.

I returned one to Home Depot because it really did stick open. Yes, I know. The valve (one side or the other) will stay open if you have overlapping times but I KNOW I programmed it with big gaps between times and days. I am now coming back to the same unit though because there is NOTHING else out there for more than one watering zone for two different gardening needs. Found the same unit re-branded under Ace Hardware but nothing else and I shop in a big city.

Clue # 1: instructions are truly incorrect. Ignore them pretty much.

Clue #2: A, B, C are three options for Times of Day (not the watering zone as per dumb, wrong instructions that come with it).

Big clue # 3 (in this video that I've seen no where else) is that DEFAULT MODE has stations (watering zones) tied together for both stations to water at the same time under A, B, or C. Hard to split them. You must hit MINUS to remove one of the stations (watering zones) from that watering time of day (A or B or C).

Set A with Station 1, then minus out Station 2

NEXT go back up and --

Set B with Station 2, then minus out Station 1.

Note that: Time B cannot overlap with Time A so if time A is set for 7 am (and you later set the watering time for 30 minutes), Time B must start later than 7:30. I use different days completely, but still I don't overlap times.

THEN go on to how long for each A and B timing using arrow to toggle between A and B and THEN how often (days of week) for each A and B. Use arrow and plus or minus signs to choose

My mistake was trying to go all the way through how long and how often for timing A and then go through all the settings for Timing B. Doesn't work that way.

Counterintuitively hitting Off saves changes -- it will tick -- and then you put it to Auto and cross your fingers the valve doesn't lock open while you are out of town. I have an elderly mom who lives far away so this dang thing needs to work correctly!

[PeterCane]

I bought two of these things and gave one to a friend before we moved, I laugh to myself every time I think of him trying to figure out how to use it. You have to spend 10 minutes searching the internet, and then watch a 20 min youtube video every time you want to use it.

[simoneyeadon]

I just spent 1 hour trying to program this thing and I am an IT developer! I still can't get it to program correctly UGH

[dougjefferies]

Is this a joke? They start off by informing you how easy the set up is, than after you program the time and day you're gonna need to take notes cause this shit is bat ass crazy complex to water your freakin flowers once a day.

[jerseysooner]

Surprised by all of these negative comments. I had no problem with it. Perhaps people are trying to figure it out inside. Just take it out to the faucet and give it a whirl.

[mmperr]

I've watched this video 7 times and still can't program the hose!!

[measuretwicetubeyou]

hey Orbit - which port is station 1 vs 2? in the first 6 secs of better video
left = 1. right = 2

[chardee]

Purchased this last weekend and I'm very disappointed. I set it up according to the instructions and hooked everything up and turned on the water. To my surprise the water started pouring out of the Station 2 hose even though the water wasn't supposed to come on for another hour. I reset everything and reprogrammed the timers and that seemed to fix the problem. Monday morning the water went on at 8 and off at 8:30 am as planned. I had it set for 1:00 pm and 1:30 for the front and back yard. Once I got home at 5 I noticed the front yard had a little water on it and the backyard was still going lol. The timer showed the next water cycle was set to go off at 6:00 pm however the backyard never turned off after the 1:30 watering so it ran for 4 hours straight. I can't wait to see that bill. I turned it to off mode and then back to auto and the water continued to pour through the station 2 hose as if the valve wasn't closing to shutoff the water. I have no idea what to do at this point except return the device and find an alternative solution.

[randallglenn]

As I have not yet programmed my unit, please take this with a grain of salt.
I have watched the video like, 5 times, and from what I can take away, the programming focuses on the A, B, C Start Times. I.E. the programming logic is BASED off of the A, B, C "settings."
It's like I kept experiencing at a software company where I worked in Tech Support.
The Engineers kept programming from (for lack of a better word) the Timer's perspective. And while not 'inaccurate', when a Consumer tried to make sense of their instructions it was nigh unto impossible.

I will see if what I /think/ should happen, happens when I 'engage' the timer.

If what I suspect is correct, I will try & make an ASCII Art version of the 'programming tree' & see if I can translate this into a USER Centered instruction set.

(Not that I have any good reason to.
Had the Authors simply made to a set of multiple
"For example, to get this effect, do this"
sets of example scenarios, instead of the
"Here is how the switch functions affect the hose outlet solenoids"
And then expect the user to take that 'Deck of Cards' and
● Throw it up onto the air &
● 'Do the Macarena', and
● "See how your Individual, customized House of Cards Lands on the Table, Perfectly!")

[tomfrey]

I bought 2 or these and had to take one back for exchange. So if you only have one, and it won't work this way, it may be defective. They replaced the defective one at no charge, and I am quite satisfied. Both program just as above.

[freed]

"Easy to Program" (yeah, right) I think I have it, but like most of you posting here, I'll have to wait until the times I think I've set to pass so I can visually observe. I have a second 2-zone timer by Melnor that I want to set up on a different faucet on the other side of the house. It's instructions are different and just as convoluted. I did have this one (the Orbit) set up to run on zone 1 for a drip irrigation system, and I added a second part to the system that I want to water on different days and schedule on zone 2. That's where I got into trouble. It seems there's no way to check each zone for when it will start without actually letting it go through its cycle in real time.

Now if I could just get my VCR to stop flashing "12:00".

[BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

Tried to program it the "man way" (no instructions)...didn't work. LOL. Watched the video...piece of cake. Thanks.

[willclements]

Can I set separate times for station 2? So that way I have two separate zones that will run at different times.

[GB-rbup]

I have programmed a myriad of appliances in my life, and I must say that this unit is quite easy to set up. You won't get all the information that you need from just this video. Keep the instructions or download them if you lost them.