Programming the weekly switching schedule on Elektrobock switches

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Programming the weekly switching program on Elektrobock switches – complete guide

Elektrobock timers are among the most widespread solutions for automatic control of electrical loads in Slovak households and businesses. Their popularity stems primarily from the combination of an affordable price, reliable mechanics, and relatively intuitive control – once you understand the programming logic, the whole process takes five minutes. Despite this, we constantly receive the same questions from customers: why the switch does not turn on at the correct time, how to set a different program for workdays and weekends, what the lock symbol on the display means, or how to reprogram the schedule without having to delete everything from the beginning.

This article will provide you with a truly comprehensive overview – from the basics of the digital weekly schedule through specific programming steps for individual models CS3-1, CS3-1B, CS3-2 and CS3-4 to solutions of common errors we have seen repeatedly over the years of sales and installation. Nothing here is copied from the manual – it is a synthesis of practical experience from real customer cases.

What is a weekly switching program and why it should be set correctly

The weekly switching program (Eng. weekly schedule, weekly timer program) allows you to define up to several dozen time intervals within seven days of the week when the load should be switched on or off. Unlike a simple daily program, which repeats the same cycle every day, the weekly program distinguishes between individual days – meaning you can have a different mode on Monday than on Saturday.

This practically means, for example: the bathroom heater turns on every workday at 6:00 and turns off at 7:30, while on the weekend it turns on at 8:00 and turns off at 9:30. Or: the outdoor lighting turns on every day at sunset (simulated by a fixed time) and turns off at 23:00, but on Friday and Saturday it remains on until 0:30. Without a weekly program, you would have to handle these scenarios manually or with multiple switches.

Correctly setting the weekly program not only increases comfort but also directly affects energy consumption. From practice, we know that customers who precisely set the program, for example for an accumulator heater, saved 15–25 % on electricity bills compared to manual control – simply because the load ran only when it was actually needed.

Overview of Elektrobock CS3 models and their programming capacity

Before actual programming, it is important to know which model you are working with, as each of them has slightly different interface and capacity. All CS3 series models are mounted under the switch (into a standard installation box) and are controlled via an integrated LCD display and a set of buttons. If you are still choosing the right model, I recommend reading the article How to choose the right Elektrobock timer for your household in our Knowledge Center.

CS3-1 – basic model, digital weekly program, up to 16 switching programs (8 on + 8 off), resolution step 1 minute, load up to 3 500 W.
CS3-1B – identical programming capacity as CS3-1, additionally with display backlighting and visually different cover; popular in interiors with a darker color scheme.
CS3-2 – extended version with up to 20 switching programs (10+10), also 7-day program; suitable for more complex scenarios where you need more than 8 different time intervals.
CS3-4 – model with 4-channel control (controls 4 independent loads), each channel has its own weekly program; intended for demanding applications – for example, separate control of the bathroom heater, hallway lighting, outdoor light and socket for a charger.

For a typical household, the model CS3-1 or CS3-1B will cover most needs. If you need more switching events, go for CS3-2. For multiple loads, either use multiple CS3-1 units or one CS3-4. More about the differences can be found in the article Timer switch under the switch vs. on DIN rail: which type to choose.

First steps before programming: setting the time and date

This is the point where most problems start. Programming steps on the switch are conditional on the correct setting of the current time and day of the week. If the time is incorrect, the program will be stored but will run at the wrong time. Therefore, always start with setting the time – not with the program itself.

The procedure for models CS3-1, CS3-1B, CS3-2 is almost identical:

Press and hold the CLOCK button (or labeled as clock or „SET") for 3 seconds until the time display starts to blink.
Use the ▲ / ▼ buttons to set the correct time, confirm by pressing CLOCK.
It blinks again – set the minutes, confirm with CLOCK.
Set the day of the week: 1 = Monday, 2 = Tuesday, … 7 = Sunday (some models display abbreviations MO, TU, WE, TH, FR, SA, SU).
Confirm and the display returns to normal view.

Practical note: CS3 models have an internal backup power source (lithium button battery CR2032), which keeps the time even during a power outage. If the battery is low (the battery symbol or the "BATT" symbol is flashing on the display), replace it first, then set the time – otherwise, the time will reset after the first power outage. Under normal use, the battery lasts 2–4 years.

Step by step: how to program a weekly schedule on CS3-1 and CS3-1B

Models CS3-1 and CS3-1B use the same programming interface. The procedure is as follows – it is important to follow it precisely, as the switch works sequentially and skipping a step will result in the event being saved with incorrect values.

Entering switching events (ON/OFF pairs)

Each switching program consists of a pair of events: the ON time and the OFF time. On the CS3-1, you can enter up to 8 such pairs, i.e., 16 events in total. The procedure for programming one event is as follows:

Press the PROG (Program) button. "P01" will appear on the display, and "ON" or "1ON" will start flashing – this is the first ON event.
Use the ▲ / ▼ buttons to set the hour of turning on.
Press PROG – now you are setting the minutes of turning on.
Press PROG – now you are setting the day(s) on which the event should occur. This is a key point for the weekly schedule.
Press PROG – confirmation, moving to "1OFF" (the time of turning off).
Set the hour and minute of turning off and the days in the same way.
Press PROG – the event is saved, moving to "P02".

If you want to enter fewer programs than the maximum, after saving the last one, press the CLOCK button or wait – the switch will return to normal display mode. Unprogrammed slots will remain inactive.

Setting the days in the weekly schedule – this is often overlooked by most people

This is exactly what distinguishes a weekly schedule from a simple daily one. On the display, a day abbreviation or number (1–7) appears. Use the ▲/▼ buttons to switch between these options:

1–7 individually (Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su) – the event applies only to that day
1-5 or MO-FR – the event applies to workdays (Monday to Friday)
6-7 or SA-SU – the event applies only to the weekend
1-7 or ALL – the event applies every day

Real-life example: A customer had an electric floor heater in the bathroom. He wanted it to turn on at 5:45 AM on workdays (when he got up earlier) and at 7:30 AM on the weekend. Solution: First pair ON 05:45 / OFF 07:30 with setting "MO-FR", second pair ON 07:30 / OFF 09:00 with setting "SA-SU". Overall, only 2 out of 8 available pairs were used, the remaining 6 remained empty. The monthly savings compared to the previous situation (heating the whole day) were significant.

Programming CS3-2: more events, the same logic

CS3-2 works identically to CS3-1 in terms of programming logic, but offers 10 switching pairs (20 events). The display shows "P01" to "P10". The procedure is the same – press PROG, set the ON time, the day, confirm, set the OFF time, the day, confirm, and proceed to the next slot.

You will appreciate CS3-2, for example, when controlling exterior lighting with separate programs for each day of the week (7 ONs + 7 OFFs = 14 events) – this would not fit on CS3-1 with 8 pairs unless you use combined day settings. On CS3-2, you can do it with ease and have plenty of room left.

CS3-4: programming a multi-channel switch

Model CS3-4 is specific in that it controls four independent outputs. Each channel (CH1–CH4) has its own complete weekly program. When programming, you must first select which channel you are setting – this is done by pressing the PROG button for a long time until "CH1" (or "CH2", etc.) appears. Then you proceed in the same way as with CS3-1.

Typical application of CS3-4: a family house, where one switch controls (1) a heater in the bathroom, (2) an external light at the entrance, (3) an electric water heater (TUV), and (4) an outlet for seasonal decoration. Each of these appliances has a different weekly schedule and CS3-4 can handle it all from one box under the switch.

Common programming errors and how to avoid them

Over the years of working with customers, we have identified several recurring errors. Most of them are not caused by a faulty switch, but by human error during setup.

1. Mixing up 12h / 24h format

Certain CS3-1 units sold on the Slovak market may be pre-set to the 12-hour format (AM/PM), while the typical Slovak user expects the 24h format. Result: you set ON to "6:00" and the switch interprets it as 6:00 AM (correctly), but when you set OFF to "7:00 PM", you enter it as "7:00" – and the switch takes it as 7:00 AM, turning OFF one hour after turning ON. Solution: always check in the settings menu which time format is active, and switch it to 24h if necessary.

2. Incorrect day of the week setting

When setting the time, users sometimes set the wrong order of days. If the switch displays "3", it could mean Wednesday (in the convention 1=Mon) or Tuesday (in the convention 1=Sun). We recommend always verifying that after setting day "1", the display shows "MO" (Monday), not "SU" (Sunday).

3. Overlapping programs

If you set, for example, program P01: ON 06:00 OFF 08:00, and program P02: ON 07:00 OFF 09:00, you have overlapping events. The switch turns ON at 06:00 (P01), then receives an instruction to turn ON again at 07:00 (P02, but it is already ON – that is fine), then receives an instruction to turn OFF at 08:00 (P01) – which it will do, but P02 still says it should remain ON until 09:00. The result depends on the firmware implementation – some versions will handle it correctly (the load remains ON until 09:00), others not. I recommend always cleaning up overlapping programs and using complete, non-overlapping time blocks.

4. Forgetting about summer/winter time (DST – daylight saving time)

Most versions of the CS3 models do not have automatic summer/winter time correction. Once a year (when the clocks are adjusted), you must manually adjust the time on the switch. If you forget to do this, the program will be shifted by one hour. We recommend setting a reminder on your phone for both transitions (last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).

5. Not clearing old programs

If you take over a switch from a previous user (e.g., when buying a property), old programs may still exist and conflict with new ones. Always start with a full reset: hold the buttons (depending on the model PROG + ▼ for about 5 seconds, or CLOCK + PROG) to delete all programs and return the switch to factory settings. Then set the time and start programming from scratch.

Manual mode and switching between AUTO and MAN

All CS3 models allow switching to manual mode (MAN), where the switch ignores the programs and the load is either permanently ON or permanently OFF. The MAN button (or ON/OFF) is used to quickly override the program – for example, when you come home earlier and want to turn on the heater immediately without waiting for the scheduled time.

The display shows "MAN" or a hand symbol in manual mode. The switch returns to automatic (AUTO) mode either manually or – depending on the setting – at the next programmed event. Caution: if you forget to switch back to AUTO, the program will not function. This is the cause of many "malfunctions", which are in fact not malfunctions – the switch is just stuck in MAN mode.

Integration with other Elektrobock devices

The CS3 timers can be combined with other products from the Elektrobock portfolio. For example, the remotely controlled socket WS101 can be connected to the output of the CS3 – the switch controls the time, the socket controls the device. This way you can schedule the load without having to connect the device directly to the switch's power terminals. This is advantageous, for example, with loads that have a lower plug-in installation (desk lamp, smaller heater, humidifier), where you do not want to interfere with the fixed electrical installation.

More on this topic can be found in the article Remotely controlled socket WS101: setup and pairing with a controller. You will learn about the maximum power that individual devices can handle in the article What is the maximum power that an Elektrobock timer or socket can handle?.

Tips for optimal program setup in different applications

Heating and heaters

With electric heating (floor heating, storage heater, infrared panel), thermal inertia is key. A 600 W infrared panel can heat a small bathroom (5–6 m²) in 5–10 minutes, so a 5-minute program before waking up is sufficient. A storage heater charges at night (low tariff), so the program should be set to nighttime hours according to the distribution tariff in your area – typically from 22:00 to 06:00, but ALWAYS check with your electricity provider, as the times vary.

Practically: a customer in Bratislava had a 1.5 kW storage heater in the entrance hall. He set the charging program to 22:30–05:30 (within the low tariff), resulting in a 30% saving on this load compared to random operation.

Outdoor lighting

An ideal program for outdoor lights mimics the seasonal changes of sunset/sunrise. Since the CS3 does not have an astronomical clock (a feature of more expensive switches), you must set the times manually or with a monthly buffer. Good practice: set the ON time with a 15-minute lead before dusk (e.g., around 19:30 in September) and OFF at 23:00 – and shift the times forward to 16:30 in January.

Garden irrigation system

A typical irrigation program: turn on at 5:30, turn off at 6:30 (in the morning before the sun to reduce evaporation). On weekends you can add a second cycle, for example 20:00–21:00. For the CS3-1, 2 program pairs are sufficient for weekdays and 2 for weekends, a total of 4 pairs from the available 8.

Water softener and other technological devices

Water softeners typically regenerate at night (2:00–4:00). For such an application, one ON/OFF pair with setting to ALL (all days) is sufficient, or even just a few days a week depending on water consumption. An advantage is that the CS3 retains the program even during a power outage (thanks to a backup battery for the clock), so the regeneration timing remains correct.

How to verify that the program is working correctly

After programming, we recommend always performing a verification step. Go through the stored programs by pressing PROG and check each slot – the ON time, day, OFF time, and day will be displayed. Compare this with what you wanted to set. If something doesn't match, correct only that slot without deleting the entire program.

If you want to quickly test the correctness of the program without waiting for the set time, temporarily change the current time on the switch just before the set ON time (e.g., one minute earlier) and wait to see if the load turns on. After verification, change the time back to the real one. This is a simple trick that saves nerves during installations.

Reset and restoring factory settings

If you need to delete programs and start over, most CS3 models support a hardware reset. On the CS3-1 and CS3-1B, hold the PROG and ▼ buttons simultaneously for 5–8 seconds until the display shows "rSt" or the original welcome screen appears. This action will erase all programs, but the time will remain preserved – the clock is usually stored in a separate memory area.

On the CS3-4 model, the reset is done per-channel or globally – refer to the manual for the specific model, as the procedure may vary between firmware versions. If you don't have the manual, you can find it on the manufacturer's website or request it from us via email.

Common questions about programming the weekly program of Elektrobock (FAQ)

Can I set a different program for each day of the week individually?

Yes, for models CS3-1, CS3-1B, CS3-2, and CS3-4, you can select a specific day (1 to 7) for each switching event. Simply choose a specific day during the day setting instead of a group (MO-FR, SA-SU, or ALL). If you want a different time for each day, simply create 7 separate ON/OFF pairs – each with a different day. On the CS3-2 with a capacity of 10 pairs, you can handle 7 days including a reserve, while on the CS3-1 you would need to combine group day settings.

What happens to the programmed times during a power outage?

Programs are stored in non-volatile (flash) memory of the switch and are resistant to power outages – they remain permanently preserved. The clock time is maintained by a backup battery CR2032. As long as the battery is not depleted, the clock continues to run normally even after a long power outage (hours, days), and the program will start as scheduled. If the battery is depleted, the clock resets after the power outage and you will need to set it again – the programs will remain, but the time will be reset to 00:00 on day 1.

The switch turns on/off at the wrong time, even though I set the program correctly. What should I check?

The most common cause is an incorrectly set current time on the switch – check this first. The second cause is the mix-up of 12h/24h format. A third possibility is that the switch is in manual (MAN) mode and ignores the programs – the display should show "MAN". A fourth possibility is overlapping programs. For more detailed troubleshooting, see the article Common faults of Elektrobock timer switches and their solutions.

How many programs do I actually need for a typical household?

For most common applications (heater, lighting, garden irrigation), 2–4 program pairs are sufficient. For example, a heater with a different program for workdays and weekends = 2 pairs. An outdoor light with turning on in the evening and turning off at midnight = 1 pair with setting ALL (every day). The CS3-1 with a capacity of 8 pairs is more than sufficient for a typical household. Only use the CS3-2 if you have truly complex requirements – more than 8 different time blocks.

Can a program be copied between channels on the CS3-4?

Unfortunately, the CS3-4 does not allow copying a program between channels by default – each channel must be programmed separately. If you have the same program for multiple loads, connect them in parallel to one channel (while respecting the maximum allowed power of the channel), or program each channel manually. Maximum power and limitations for parallel connections can be found in the article What is the maximum power that an Elektrobock timer or socket can handle.

How do I switch the switch back to automatic mode after a manual intervention?

Press the MAN button (or ON/OFF depending on the model) – the switch will switch from manual mode back to automatic (AUTO). The word "MAN" will disappear from the display. In automatic mode, the switch is controlled by the set program. If you are unsure about the mode the switch is in, you can always tell by the display: "AUTO" or no text = automatic mode, "MAN" = manual mode.

Conclusion: thorough programming pays off

Programming the weekly switching program on Elektrobock CS3 series devices is not at all complicated – once you understand the sequence of steps (clock → PROG → ON time → day → OFF time → day → next program) and know where to look for common errors, the entire setup can be completed in a few minutes. The reward is a system that then functions for years without any intervention and saves energy exactly where it is needed.

If you are still choosing the right model for your specific application, we recommend reading other articles in our Knowledge Center – especially How to choose the right Elektrobock timer for your home and Installation of the Elektrobock timer under a switch CS3: step-by-step guide. In case of any uncertainties regarding installation or if you need advice on choosing the right model, our experts are available.

Do you have a question about this topic?

Having trouble deciding or dealing with a specific situation in your home? Write to us – we are happy to help.