How to Install an Intermatic Pool Timer

Turn off the power to the pool at the circuit breaker. The pool should have a dedicated circuit in the breaker box.

Open the door of the pool timer. Inside there will be a dial, lever and the wires. The wires are covered by a plastic cap that needs to be removed. Remove the cap by prying it off with the blade of the screwdriver.

Pop out the round discs from the bottom of the box. Usually this can be done with the screwdriver. You do not need to keep the discs. Place the wire clamps into the newly opened holes. Lock the clamps into place with the included nuts.

Cut the wires that power the pool pump. Thread each end through a wire clamp in the timer housing. Pull enough wire through so that you can easily work with it. Tighten the wire clamps around the wires with the screwdriver.

Strip the wires that have been threaded through the wire clamps. Each side has two insulated wires, one black and one white. Each side will also have one bare wire. This is the ground wire. You need to remove about 1/2 inch of the insulation from the wire.

Attach the white wires first. Inside the box there are labeled screw terminals, from 1 to 4. There is also a green screw for the ground wires. The white wire that leads to the circuit breaker attaches at terminal 1. The white wire that leads to the pool pump attaches at terminal 2. Loosen the terminal screws, wrap the wire around the screw, then re-tighten the screw.

Attach the black wires next, in the same manner as the white wires. The black wire that runs to the circuit breaker attaches at terminal 3. The one that leads to the pump attaches at terminal 4.

Loosen the green screw and wrap the ends of the ground wires around it. Tighten the screw with the screwdriver. Make sure the ends of the ground wires are nowhere near the other wires.

Replace the cap that covers the wires. Turn the circuit breaker back on. Test the timer by using the manual switch in the timer box. Set the timer for when you want the pump to turn on and off.