Question and disappointment with T1000 Series Intermatic timer

[TheGoose]

Model T-10604R for dual speed pumps/motors like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-T10...5810734&sr=8-1


I bought this because I have a new two speed motor. What I didn't realize is that BOTH timers work together to operate the pump. I was under the impression that you could use simply the T-106M timer to start and stop the pump on high and low speed. Now that I have the unit in hand I see that it takes both timers. One to start it on high and one to switch to low.

I bought the double because I was going to replace my Polaris timer and I thought it would be handy to have everything in one cabinet.

Now with this new unit I will have 3 timers. One for the high speed, one for the low, and one for the Polaris. I'm not getting a great life span out of these timers and I have replaced all of my mechanisms 2-3 times over the years. I had 2 that the contacts welded shut when it was very damp. The box was in a rain tight enclosure.

Also I'll now have to make sure that all the clocks are synced with one another, and instead of two I'll have three.

Another thing that bothers me is there is no built in switch to move from high to low, I still need to buy a switch and I'm not sure if I have to get a special one or if I can just use a regular switch since the timer supposedly has the SPDT (single pole double throw) built in. I haven't really looked far enough into it yet to know exactly how to switch the speeds manually. I see how to set them with the clock, but I'm unsure how to over-ride if I'm vacuuming etc.

I'm thinking about doing away with the polaris timer and just getting a timer that you set for like 30 minutes and it automatically runs for 30 minutes, like a wind-up deal I have seen in bathrooms etc. I never run the polaris for more than 2-4 hours anyways so there is really no need for a timer and I only run it every few days and not everyday. I have been manually setting it for awhile so a hand timer makes much more sense.

[TheGoose]

Well I got it wired in and I'm able to switch between high and low speed. Now I have to tie in my SWCG and the polaris pump but that shouldn't take too long. It's kinda weird to see the pump run in slow motion.