Cyclic Timer vs Clock Timer vs Auto Off Timer
Nearly every VUKAR panel and device carries a timer, and several carry three at once. The names sound interchangeable and are not. Choosing the wrong one is the commonest reason a panel does something the owner did not expect — a pump that stops too early, a tank that overflows anyway, or a motor that restarts on its own at two in the morning.
This page explains what each timer actually does, which product carries which, and how to decide.
The difference in one line each
- Auto Off / Stop Timer — you start the motor; it stops itself after a set run time. One shot, no schedule.
- Cyclic Timer — the motor repeats an on/off cycle by itself, and can retry automatically after a dry run.
- Clock Timer — the motor runs at set times of the day and on set days, by the real clock.
| Auto Off / Stop Timer | Cyclic Timer | Clock Timer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who starts the motor | You, by hand | The timer, repeatedly | The timer, at set times |
| Who stops it | The timer, after the run time | The timer, at the end of each run | The timer, at the set stop time |
| Knows the time of day | No | Only if operating hours are set | Yes — time, day and date |
| Repeats on its own | No | Yes | Yes, per programmed event |
| Needs level sensor wiring | No | No | No |
| Typical use | Stopping overflow on a manual fill | Irrigation, and dry-run recovery | Filling during supply hours |
Auto Off / Stop Timer
This is the simplest of the three and the one on the entry-level panels. The panel works in semi-automatic mode: you switch the motor on yourself, and it switches off automatically once the run timer expires.
Its real job is preventing overflow. On a panel with an Auto Off timer there is no external level sensor wiring to run — the timer stands in for the sensor. If you know your tank fills in roughly a set time, you set that, and the pump stops whether or not anyone remembers it is running.
Two limits are worth being clear about. It is not a water level controller: it does not know whether the tank is full, only how long the motor has run, so a slow borewell day means an under-filled tank and a fast one still risks overflow. And it does not start the motor for you.
On the DM-Universal-V1 controller the Auto Off timer is the run parameter, set in minutes, and the panel must be in ST (Auto Stop with Timer) mode. Set it to the time your tank actually takes to fill. Setting it to 0000 disables the run timer entirely.
Some devices additionally carry a Power On Auto Start Timer — the ast parameter — which is a different thing. It delays startup after the supply returns, so the motor does not restart into unstable power.
Cyclic Timer
A cyclic timer runs the motor through repeating on/off cycles on a schedule you set, without anyone touching it. It is the timer that suits irrigation, where the requirement is a pattern of runs rather than a single fill.
Two capabilities go with it on the models that have them:
- Operating hours — the repeating cycle only runs between the daily hours you set, so a cyclic pattern can be confined to the hours you have supply or want water.
- Hierarchical timer — multiple individually programmed cycles inside a broader schedule, for cases where one repeating pattern is not enough.
On the DM-Universal-V1 the cycle is a pair of parameters: run sets how long the motor runs, and rst (Rest Timer) sets the mandatory rest before it may start again. The rest period is what lets a low-yield borewell recharge between pumping cycles, and it also limits motor heating from frequent starts.
The dry-run connection
The cyclic timer is also what makes automatic dry-run recovery possible. On a programmable auto-restart dry run timer, the controller shuts the pump off when it detects a dry run, then waits for the timer to expire before resuming — giving the borewell time to recharge rather than hammering a dry pump.
This has a safety consequence that owners often miss: with the cyclic timer and restart timer enabled, the pump can start again with nobody present. If you are working on the pump, sump or pipework, isolate the supply. Do not rely on the motor being stopped, because a stopped motor may simply be waiting out a timer. Our fault code guide covers this under FDR, along with the permitted reset methods.
Clock Timer
A clock timer works by the real time of day. You set the times and the days, and the pump runs to that programme — on the models that carry it, up to 20 separate start and stop events, which is enough for a different pattern on different days of the week.
These models carry a digital clock display showing time, day and date, so the programme can be checked and changed without guesswork. On the DM-Universal-V1 the ON times are held as n.01 to n.20 and the OFF times as f.01 to f.20 in the TIM menu, with the days chosen separately in the DS menu.
The clock timer is the right choice when your constraint is external and time-based: a fixed supply window, a shared borewell with agreed hours, or a tariff that makes some hours cheaper than others. It is the wrong choice when the constraint is the tank level, because the clock does not know how full the tank is.
What happens after a power cut
A programmed schedule is only useful if it survives an outage. On models with power failure recovery, the timer picks the schedule or cycle up where it left off when supply returns, rather than resetting to the beginning.
Combined with a Power On Auto Start Timer, the sequence after a cut is: supply returns, the start delay runs so the motor is not hit by unstable voltage, then the schedule resumes.
When a timer is the wrong tool
All three timers share one blind spot: none of them knows how much water is in your tank. They control the motor by time, not by level.
If your actual requirement is "fill the tank and stop when it is full," a timer is an approximation and a water level controller is the answer. It starts the motor when the overhead tank is empty and stops it when the tank is full, which is a different mechanism entirely. On VUKAR model codes, the A-series panels carry the water level controller and the M-series carry the auto switch instead — the starter panel chart explains how to read those codes.
The two are not exclusive. Several products carry a water level controller and a cyclic or clock timer, and on some the controller itself can be limited to set hours of the day — level control inside a time window.
Which timer do you need?
| Your situation | Timer to look for |
|---|---|
| You start the pump yourself and just want it to stop before the tank overflows | Auto Off / Stop Timer |
| You irrigate on a repeating pattern | Cyclic Timer |
| Your borewell yields slowly and the pump keeps dry running | Cyclic Timer with auto-restart |
| You have supply only in fixed hours | Clock Timer |
| You need a different pattern on different days | Clock Timer (multi-event) |
| You want the tank filled and stopped automatically, whatever the yield | Water level controller, not a timer |
| You want level control, but only during certain hours | Water level controller with settable operating hours |
Timer settings reference (DM-Universal-V1)
These are the actual ranges on the DM-Universal-V1 Custom Motor Protection Device (96 × 96), taken from its user manual. Other models in the range have their own manuals and their own values — check the label on the unit in front of you before using these figures.
| Code | Name | Unit | Range | Default | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| run | Run Timer | Minutes | 0000 – 9999 | 0030 | Typical tank fill time, e.g. 30–60 min. 0000 disables. |
| rst | Rest Timer | Minutes | 0000 – 9999 | 0120 | Typically 30–120 min, based on motor cooling needs. |
| ast | Auto Start Time | Seconds | 0000 – 0999 | 0030 | 0060–0300 s. 0000 disables auto start. |
| atc | Auto Reset Timer | Seconds | 0000 – 9990 | 0003 | 0060–0300 s, by motor size and cooling. |
| trq | Torque Timer | Seconds | 000.2 – 060.0 | 001.0 | 000.5–001.5 s. Do not change without technical support. |
trq is worth understanding even though you will rarely touch it: it is how long the green push button holds the start capacitor in on a single phase motor, or the time allowed to switch from star to delta on three phase. Too short and the motor never starts cleanly, which damages windings.
Protection settings you should set at the same time
The timers decide when the motor runs. These decide when it is stopped to protect it, and they matter more. All are on the same DM-Universal-V1.
| Code | Name | Unit | Range | Default | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ol | Overload Ampere | Amperes | 001.5 – 999.9 | 100.0 | 110% to 120% of the motor's rated full-load current. |
| olt | Overload Trip Delay | Seconds | 001 – 250 | 0010 | 0005–0015 s. 0000 disables overload trip. |
| dr | Dry Run Ampere | Amperes | 000.5 – 998.9 | 000.5 | 5–10% below the motor's normal running current. |
| drt | Dry Run Trip Delay | Seconds | 0001 – 250 | 0005 | 10–15 s. 0000 disables dry run protection. |
| hiu | High Voltage Cut-off | Volts | 140 – 500 | 500 | 460 V three phase, 270 V single phase. 500 disables. |
| lou | Low Voltage Cut-off | Volts | 130 – 490 | 130 | 350 V three phase, 200 V single phase. 130 disables. |
Two things in that table are worth knowing. The factory defaults for hiu and lou are the disabling values — 500 V and 130 V — so a unit ships with voltage protection switched off. That is deliberate: on an unstable supply, voltage cut-offs can trip so often that the pump becomes unusable, so the choice is left to you. If you do want voltage protection, set limits that suit your supply. And the dr figure cannot be guessed: it has to be based on your motor's actual measured no-load current, because the controller detects dry running by current draw, not by sensing water.
Getting into the menus
| Menu | Press | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| SET | MENU | Motor protection — ol, olt, dr, drt, hiu, lou |
| CYC | SET | Cyclic timer — ast, run, rst, trq, atc |
| PRC | MENU + SET | System configuration — mod, cts, mem, acl, vcl, olm, wrt |
| CLK | Long press UP | Clock — date, month, year, day, hour, minute, second |
| DS | MENU + UP | Day selection — Sunday to Saturday |
| TIM | UP + DOWN | Clock timer schedule — n.01–n.20 ON, f.01–f.20 OFF |
| CCT | MENU + DOWN | Run/rest schedule — r.01–r.20, s.01–s.20 |
Inside any menu: UP increases the value, DOWN decreases it, SET saves and moves to the next parameter, MENU saves and exits.
The AUTO/MANUAL switch sits above this. In MANUAL every timer and automation is disabled and you start the motor with the green push button — hold it until the green LED comes on. In AUTO, the mode set in mod decides the behaviour: FAUT fully automatic, SS manual start and automatic stop on the tank sensor, ST manual start and automatic stop on the run timer. DRO is reserved for future use and should not be selected.
For the full parameter list, download the manual for your unit from the product manual page, and compare feature sets across a range on the borewell, openwell, monoblock and three phase DOL comparison pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cyclic timer and a clock timer?
A cyclic timer repeats an on/off cycle over and over; it is concerned with the pattern, not the hour. A clock timer works from the real time of day and date, running the pump at the times and on the days you programme. Some models carry both, so a repeating cycle can be confined to set hours.
What does the Auto Off or Stop Timer do?
It stops the motor automatically after a set run time. You start the motor by hand and the timer switches it off, which prevents overflow without needing any level sensor wiring. On the DM-Universal-V1 this is the run parameter, adjustable from 0000 to 9999 minutes with a default of 0030, and the panel must be in ST mode. It does not start the motor and it does not detect the tank level.
Can the pump restart by itself with a cyclic timer?
Yes. On models with a programmable auto-restart dry run timer, the controller stops the pump on a dry run and restarts it once the timer expires, so the water source can recharge. Because restart can happen with nobody present, isolate the supply before working on the pump or pipework.
Will my timer settings survive a power cut?
On models with power failure recovery, the schedule or cycle resumes where it left off when supply returns rather than starting over. Some models also delay the restart with a Power On Auto Start Timer so the motor is not started into unstable voltage.
Can a timer replace a water level controller?
Not reliably. A timer runs the motor for a length of time; a water level controller starts the motor when the tank is empty and stops it when the tank is full. If your borewell yield varies, the same run time fills the tank differently from day to day, so a timer will sometimes under-fill and sometimes overflow.
How many programmes can a clock timer hold?
On the DM-Universal-V1, 20 ON times (n.01 to n.20) and 20 OFF times (f.01 to f.20), in the TIM menu, with the active days set separately in the DS menu. Simpler clock timer models hold fewer, so check the manual for your unit.
Where do I set the timer on my panel?
On the DM-Universal-V1, press SET to open the CYC menu, which holds ast, run, rst, trq and atc. Use UP and DOWN to change a value, SET to save and move on, MENU to save and exit. Other models have different menus and different ranges, so identify the model code printed on the panel and use that unit's guide.
Still unsure which model to buy
If you are choosing a product rather than operating one you already own, work in this order: pump type and HP first, then whether you need level control or a timer, then the extras. The starter panel chart by motor HP covers the first step, and the product selection pages walk through the rest.