Intermatic Pool Timer, tips & troubleshooting

The Intermatic Timer is the most common pool timer on the market. Here are some user guide tips and some troubleshooting for the most common problems you will have.

There are two voltage rated versions used on pool equipment. The most common is the 240 volt (208-277 volt) T104M, and 120 volt T101 Model. Most pool equipment is on a 240 volt breaker. Check your sub panel or main breaker panel to see if the timer is hooked up to a double breaker (240Volt) or a single breaker (120 volt). The timers are not interchangeable so if you need to replace yours, get the right volt/amp rating.

These timers seem to last forever. The first 3 pictured here are over 20 years old. I am surprised when one breaks down. A very well constructed product.

If you follow the tips and the timer is still not working, then you will need to swap out the Timer Mechanism. Refer to these two videos if you need to change out your non-working timer:

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POOL PUMPS:

FILTERS & BACKWASHING:

HEATER TIPS:

NOTES:
The Intermatic Timer is the most common pool timer on the market. Here are some user guide tips and some troubleshooting for the most common problems you will have.

There are two voltage rated versions used on pool equipment. The most common is the 240 volt, and 120 volt is less common. Most pool equipment is on a 240 volt breaker. Check your sub panel or main breaker panel to see if the timer is hooked up to a double breaker (240Volt) or a single breaker (120 volt). The timers are not interchangeable so if you need to replace yours, get the right volt/amp rating.

These timers seem to last forever. The first 3 pictured here are over 20 years old. I am surprised when one breaks down. A very well constructed product.

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[SPL]

When I order a set of trippers the bag comes with four of them in it; one green "on" tripper, one silver "on" & two "off" trippers. I just use the silver ones. There is a note in the bag specifying the green tripper as you commented but I haven't had any issues.

[nealhamel]

If it is not running, it is not working. BRILLIANT

[MarkNOTW]

Good tips. There's another video out there titled how to save 300 annually on your energy bill by changing the timer on and off to cause your pump to turn on and off 3 times a day and only run 3 hours a day. As a pool tech if you have seen the video please do NOT do that! Your pump needs to run 6-8 hours a day in the summer AND turning your pump motor on and off several times a day is not good for it. So what you save in electricity you will pay in motor repairs and chemicals to fight algae etc.

[rottdogsparky]

Thumbs up my manual override was not working correctly it must have been wired Wrong by the previous owner yours was the first video I found with somebody using a manual override switch

[SPL]

I have that scheduled for October. Really busy this month as Summer is not ending anytime soon here in So Cal...

[aacconcrete]

3 of my 3 Intermatic time Clock Motors burned out after only 3 months !!! Clock Motors don't worth the $20 replacement cost, i am going with TORK. ((3x$60) $180) in the trash ! Thank you Intermatic.

[guy_harrison]

I read that the Series 100 Timer uses the green ON tripper and the other series use the silver (IIRC). I understand if you have a 100 series timer and use the non-green tripper, the timer will start the pump.

[bensides]

My timer motor stopped working so I had to take the cover off the timer motor to clean the debris from the gears due to ants that kept the gears from meshing. Simple to do, just little tabs that needs to be bent back. Under the big drive gear on the motor is a metal indexing tab that if put on the wrong side will make the timer

motor run backwards, so make note when you carefully remove the gear cover. Been working great after a little cleaning and oiled.

[Dggb]

Great video. Concise and informative filled. Thank you.

[angellemus]

I have one of this timer and my problem is..I have power from the braker but there is no power to the pump, what can I do to fix it? thanks you and your videos are amazing !!!

[SPL]

They sell them at your local pool store or online. Here is the actual part description:
Intermatic Timer Motor Cover Plastic Insulator 124T1952

[allanjeong]

2:11 The motor is working but the dial is not moving. How do I fix a dial that doesn’t seem to click into its slot so that it gears are engaged to turn the dial?

[froggy]

Not sure where to put this question. When I put my spa HEAT on using indoor control panel. I jump in, it heats up, it shuts off at 104 deg. BUT, when I leave the spa and go inside and look at the control panel, it's still RED, calling for heat ON even though it's up to temp. and shut off. It's supposed to turn GREEN when it's off/up to temp.


Thoughts? Thanks!

[dynomax]

Cool thanks! I run mine about what you say, 8-10 hours... .question is my salt gen is supposed to have a flow sensor and shut the gen off, but it doesn't appear to be... so iv'e been trying to remember to go turn it off and then back on the next day. problem is, I often forget... and very rarely the gen will shut off with the no flow light on. Should i get a second intermatic timer, or get a diff timer for the salt gen, been looking at a woods 1000w timer.. appears to be for things such as block heaters?

[kaylahughes]

We just replaced the mechanical timer in our box (after watching your video and it was super easy), however that did not solve our problem. The pump does not respond and turn off using the manual lever and changing it to the stop position. Is there some other component that could be bad and not allowing the manual switch to break the current? Right now we are having to operate the pump by using the circuit breaker. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[MarkMelesenka]

This was very helpful. Thanks for the video.

[jessespeer]

Great video! My breaker is tripping immediately when I switch the timer on - every time. If I play around with the breaker switch and timer switch for a while (flipping them on and off a bunch of times) I can sometimes get it to stay on for roughly 5 minutes and then the breaker trips again. Any ideas what the problem might be?

[paulrezkalla]

Thanks for the video! I just replaced my timer and the pump runs when I manually flip the switch on, but the clock mechanism isn't working. So the clock doesn't rotate. Any ideas?

[allanjeong]

I bought a replacement but the new one only has three screws/contacts to connect the electrical wires (instead of five contacts like the one shown in your video). Where can I find info on where to connect each wires to the three contacts?

[markhopkinsphoto]

My timer is off by about an hour a day. So if i have it set to go on at 8 am it will go on at 9 am the next day. Then about 10 am the following day, etc. I don’t see any missing teeth in the gears so not sure why. But it still works.