Rain Bird Simple To Set (SST) Timer
Configuration and Operation Instructions
Introduction
This document provides configuration and operation instructions for the Rain Bird Simple To Set (SST) Timer.
Image shows the Rain Bird SST timer unit with its display and control dial.
Installation
Tools and Materials Required
- Phillips screwdriver
- Wire strippers
- Hammer
- Direct burial wire (multi-strand, color-coded)
- 18-gauge for lines under 800 feet (244 meters).
- 14-gauge for lines over 800 feet (244 meters).
- Wire connectors
Step 1: Mount the Timer
Mount the SST in an easily accessible location.
ℹ️ Indoor SST timers must be used indoors only. Outdoor SST timers can be used indoors or outdoors.
For indoor installation, choose a location within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of an AC outlet and at least 15 feet (4.6 meters) from air conditioners and large appliances.
Insert a screw into the wall, leaving a 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) space between the screw head and the wall (use included anchors if necessary).
Locate the mounting slot on the back of the unit and hang it securely on the screw.
Remove the cable access cover on the bottom of the unit and pass a screw through the central hole as indicated (use included anchors if necessary).
Diagram showing screw placement for mounting the timer unit, with a 1/8 inch space from the wall.
Step 2: Connect to Electrical Power
⚠️ WARNING: Do not connect or supply electrical power to the timer until all wire connections have been made and verified.
Indoor Timer
Attach the transformer connector to the 24VAC terminal on the terminal block.
⚠️ WARNING: Do not attempt to connect two or more timers using a single transformer.
Diagram showing the indoor SST model, its transformer, and the connector being plugged into the terminal block.
Outdoor Timer
The outdoor version of the SST includes a power cord and a 24VAC transformer already connected.
⚠️ WARNING: Disconnect or turn off external electrical power before connecting or disconnecting wires to the timer.
- Remove the cable access cover on the bottom of the unit.
- Locate the wire compartment in the lower left corner of the unit and remove the front cover of the compartment with a screwdriver.
Diagram showing the outdoor SST model and its wire compartment.
Step 3: Connect Valve Wires to the Timer
Valve Connections
- Use direct burial wire to run lines from the timer to the valves in the field.
- Connect one direct burial wire with color coding to either of the two wires on the valve.
- Connect the remaining wire from each valve to a "common" wire, which in turn connects to the timer.
ℹ️ Use wire connectors for all wire-to-wire connections. Depending on your garden layout, you may need wire extensions for common and power connections.
Timer Connections
- Use wire strippers to remove approximately 1/4 inch of insulation from the end of the valve wire.
- Insert the stripped end of the color-coded wire from each valve (or zone) into its corresponding zone number on the terminal block.
Diagram illustrating valve wiring and timer terminal block connections. Shows connecting common wire to COMMON terminal and zone wires to zone terminals. Also shows the RAIN SENSOR terminals and a note about the jumper wire.
ℹ️ To insert or remove a wire, use a screwdriver to press the release mechanism.
⚠️ WARNING: To avoid damaging the timer, connect only ONE valve to each zone slot available on the terminal block.
Connect the common wire to one of the COMMON terminals on the terminal block.
Verify all wires are connected correctly.
ℹ️ Do not remove the yellow jumper wire from the terminals marked RAIN SENSOR unless you are connecting an optional rain sensor. For more information, see "Rain Sensor" on page 3.
Step 4: Verify System Operation
Battery Pull Tab
To activate the internal battery, pull the yellow tab on the side of the timer and remove it.
ℹ️ If the timer does not receive AC power for more than one week, the time will need to be reset. This preserves the battery for future power outages. Program information is stored in non-volatile memory and is not lost even during prolonged power outages.
Apply Power
Indoor Model
Connect the transformer to a wall outlet.
Outdoor Model
Turn on the main power supply or connect the power cord to a weatherproof outlet.
ℹ️ Do not connect the timer to an outlet controlled by a secondary light switch or a ground fault interrupter outlet.
Test Watering
- Turn the dial to the ZONE 1 position.
- Press the WATER 1 ZONE NOW button. Watering will begin for the zone and run for the default 10 minutes; the green LED corresponding to the WATER 1 ZONE NOW button will illuminate.
- To stop watering before the full time elapses, press the WATER 1 ZONE NOW button a second time. The green LED will turn off.
- Repeat the previous steps until all zones have been tested.
- Replace the cable access cover on the front of the unit.
Diagrams illustrating the process of testing watering for Zone 1 and other zones, showing the timer display and buttons.
Optional Accessories
Rain Sensor
Connecting an Optional Rain Sensor to the Timer:
- Remove the cable access cover on the bottom of the unit.
- Remove the yellow wire or jumper from the terminals marked RAIN SENSOR on the terminal block.
- Connect the two sensor wires to the terminals identified as RAIN SENSOR.
Illustration showing how to remove the wire or jumper from the RAIN SENSOR terminals.
ℹ️ Do not remove the wire or jumper unless connecting a rain sensor. The timer will not function if the wire or jumper is removed and no rain sensor is connected.
Diagram showing the connection of a rain sensor to the timer's RAIN SENSOR terminals.
Master Valve or Pump Start Relay
The SST timers can be used with a master valve or a pump start relay. A pump start relay connects the timer the same way as a master valve, but the connection to the water source is different.
- Using direct burial wire, connect one of the master valve (or pump start relay) wires to the terminal marked MSTR VALVE on the timer.
- Using direct burial wire, connect the remaining master valve (or pump start relay) wire to one of the terminals marked COMMON on the timer.
Diagram showing the connection of a master valve to the MSTR VALVE and COMMON terminals.
Additional Instructions for Connecting a Pump Start Relay
To prevent possible pump damage, connect a short wire or jumper from any unused zone terminal to the previous terminal, continuing to the nearest active zone terminal (as shown below). For example, if a 4-zone timer is used with only two zones connected, run wires from zone terminals 3 and 4 to the nearest active zone (zone 2 in the example).
⚠️ WARNING: Ensure that the total current of the master valve (and/or pump start relay) plus the valve current does not exceed 650mA at 24VAC, 60Hz. Note that the timer does not supply power for a pump.
Diagram illustrating how to jumper unused zone terminals for a pump start relay.
Controls and Indicators
- AUTO RUN (Automatic Watering): Turn the dial to this position to execute all programmed watering.
- OFF (Off): Stops all watering.
- RAIN DELAY (Rain Delay): Delays watering up to 72 hours.
- SEASONAL ADJUST (Seasonal Adjustment): Adjusts watering percentage based on seasonal changes.
- ZONES (Zones): Select a zone to program (a 6-zone model is shown).
- WATER ALL ZONES NOW (Water All Zones Now): Waters all zones sequentially.
- WATER 1 ZONE NOW (Water 1 Zone Now): Waters one zone manually.
- SET TIME (Set Time): Used to set the current time.
- SET DATE (Set Date): Used to set the current date.
- DISPLAY SCREEN (Display): Shows current time, zone information, and program settings.
- RUN DAYS (Watering Days): Select which day(s) of the week a zone will water.
- TIMES PER DAY (Times Per Day): Select how many times a day a zone will water.
- ZONE OFF (Zone Off): Stops watering for the selected zone.
- ODD/EVEN DAYS (Odd/Even Days): Pressing twice sets watering for odd or even days only. Pressing multiple times cycles between odd and even day watering.
- CYCLIC WATERING (Cyclic Watering): Select a watering interval of 1 to 29 days.
- UP/DOWN ARROWS: Use the left or right button's UP/DOWN arrows to set the time, date, watering time, etc.
Configure the Timer
Step 1: Set Time
Turn the dial to the SET TIME position.
Press the UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the clock (ensure AM/PM is correct).
Diagram showing the timer display with the time being adjusted.
Step 2: Set Date
Turn the dial to the SET DATE position.
Press the LEFT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the year.
Press the RIGHT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the month and day.
Diagram showing the timer display with the year, month, and day being adjusted.
Step 3: Program Watering
Turn the dial to select the desired ZONE (from 1 to 12).
Set Start Time and Run Time
Press the LEFT UP/DOWN arrows to program the watering start time.
Press the RIGHT UP/DOWN arrows to program the watering duration.
ℹ️ If multiple zones have the same start time, they will water simultaneously based on their zone number. For example, if zones 3 and 4 are programmed to water at 8:00 AM, zone 3 will water first, then zone 4.
Diagram showing how to set the start time and run time for a zone.
Select Watering Days
Press the RUN DAYS buttons to select which days to water. Active watering days will have their lights illuminated.
ℹ️ By default, ALL days are illuminated. Press buttons to turn off any day you do not wish to water.
Diagram showing the RUN DAYS buttons and the display indicating selected watering days.
Select specific days of the week, or ODD/EVEN DAYS, or CYCLIC WATERING.
When selecting ODD/EVEN DAYS:
- Pressing the first time displays "Odd Days".
- Pressing a second time displays "Even days".
ℹ️ The first time you press Odd Days or Even Days, it will flash on the screen for a moment before remaining illuminated.
When selecting CYCLIC WATERING:
- Press the LEFT UP/DOWN arrows to increase or decrease the interval number [EVERY XX DAYS].
- Press the RIGHT UP/DOWN arrows to set the cyclic watering start date.
Diagrams showing the display for Odd Days, Even Days, and Cyclic Watering settings.
Select Watering Frequency Per Day
Press the TIMES PER DAY buttons to program the number of times watering occurs daily.
Press the LEFT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the start time.
Press the RIGHT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the run time (duration).
Repeat Step 3 for other zones.
Turn the dial to AUTO RUN.
Optional Functions
Multiple Start Times
After selecting a start time, the display will show that time first, as an example.
Press the LEFT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the start time.
Press the RIGHT UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the duration.
Repeat these steps to add additional start times, up to a maximum of 4 per day.
ℹ️ If a second, third, or fourth start time is earlier than another already programmed start time, the timer will sequentially reorder the start times the next time the dial is turned to that zone number.
Diagram showing the setting of multiple start times and durations.
Seasonal Adjustment
Turn the dial to SEASONAL ADJUST.
Press the UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the percentage.
For example, a +50% adjustment means 10 minutes becomes 15 minutes.
ℹ️ The adjustment applies to ALL watering times in ALL zones.
Diagram showing the Seasonal Adjustment setting with a percentage value.
Rain Delay
Turn the dial to RAIN DELAY.
Press the UP/DOWN arrows to set the delay time up to 3 days (72 hours).
ℹ️ No scheduled watering that falls within the delay period will occur.
Diagram showing the Rain Delay setting with the number of hours set.
Operation
Normal Operation
With the dial set to AUTO RUN, one of the following displays will appear:
No Watering
The display shows the current time, the zone programmed for the next watering, and the date and time that watering will occur.
Diagram showing the timer display indicating "No Watering" status, showing next zone and time.
Watering Now
The display shows the zone currently watering and the remaining minutes for that zone.
Diagram showing the timer display indicating "Watering Now" status, showing current zone and remaining minutes.
Rain Delay
The display shows the current time and the number of delay hours remaining before normal scheduled watering resumes.
Diagram showing the timer display indicating "Rain Delay" status, showing remaining delay hours.
Seasonal Adjustment
The display shows the adjustment percentage for all zones.
Diagram showing the timer display indicating the Seasonal Adjustment percentage.
Error Detected
If an error is detected, the affected zone is shown.
Diagram showing the timer display indicating an error for a specific zone.
Important!
Always return the dial to the AUTO RUN position when programming is complete. The timer will not water automatically unless the dial is set to AUTO RUN.
Manual Operation
Choose between two manual watering options:
Water All Zones Now
Turn the dial to AUTO RUN.
Press the WATER ALL ZONES NOW button to start watering. The display shows which zone is watering and the remaining minutes for that zone.
To advance to the next zone while watering is active, press the WATER ALL ZONES NOW button again.
To stop manual watering, turn the dial to OFF, wait for watering to stop, and then turn the dial back to AUTO RUN.
Diagram showing the timer display during "Water All Zones Now" operation.
Water 1 Zone Now
Turn the dial to select a ZONE.
Press the WATER 1 ZONE NOW button to start watering (default watering time is 10 minutes).
Press the UP/DOWN arrows to adjust the watering time.
To stop manual watering, turn the dial to OFF, wait for watering to stop, and then turn the dial back to AUTO RUN, or press the WATER 1 ZONE NOW button a second time.
Diagram showing the timer display during "Water 1 Zone Now" operation.
Troubleshooting
Watering Problems
| Problem | Possible Cause | Possible Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Manual and automatic watering cycles do not start. | Water source is not supplying water. | Verify that the main line and all water supply lines are open and operating correctly. |
| Wires are not connected correctly. | Verify that wires are connected correctly, including the timer, master valve (or pump start relay), and any wire-to-wire connections. | |
| Wires are damaged or corroded. | Inspect wiring in the field and replace as necessary. Check all connections and replace wire connectors as needed. | |
| Dial is not in the AUTO RUN position. | Turn the dial to SET DATE AND TIME and use the up and down arrows to set the correct date and time. | |
| Date or time is not set correctly. | Enter the current date and time on the controller. | |
| An installed rain sensor may be active. | Operation will continue when the sensor dries. To test operation, disconnect the sensor and connect a wire or jumper between the Rain Sensor terminals. Connect the two yellow wires of the Rain Sensor with a short wire or jumper of 14 to 18 gauge. | |
| If no rain sensor is installed, the wire or jumper may be damaged or out of place. | ||
| An electrical surge may have damaged the timer's electronic components. | Disconnect the timer from power for 3 minutes, press the reset button, and reconnect. If there is no damage, the timer can be reprogrammed and will continue normal operation. | |
| Watering cycles do not stop. | Debris in the valve. | Drain the valve by temporarily opening the drain screw and closing it firmly again. |
Electrical Problems
| Problem | Possible Cause | Possible Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing appears on the LCD screen. | The timer is not receiving electrical power. | Verify that the power cord is connected and plugged in securely (indoor). Verify that the transformer is wired correctly and the switch is on (outdoor). |
| No red LED light on the transformer (indoor only). | Damaged transformer. | Replace transformer. |
| The LCD screen is "frozen" and programming is not possible. | An electrical surge may have damaged the timer's electronic components. | Disconnect the timer from power for 3 minutes, press the reset button, and reconnect. If there is no damage, the timer can be reprogrammed and will continue normal operation. |
| Brief error message for a valve on the LCD screen. | Wires are damaged or corroded. | Inspect the wiring for the indicated zone and replace as necessary. Check all connections and replace wire connectors as needed. |
