Intermatic 158ej11853 User Manual

Ratings
500W single gang or 2 gang installations (40W minimum)
4A Tungsten (Incandescent)
4A Ballast (Inductive)
120VAC, 60 Hz
Operating Temperature: 0 deg C - +40 deg C.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
• This switch is suitable for use in up to 2 gang installations.
• EJ500 is designed to operate standard incandescent light

bulbs or (thermally protected Class P ballast) fluorescent

lighting ONLY.

• The switch can handle a minimum load totaling 40 Watts.
• This device is NOT TO BE USED to operate MERCURY

VAPOR LIGHTS, APPLIANCES, RADIOS, TV’s, 

STEREO’s, etc.

• Separate dimmers and photoelectric switches cannot be

used in combination with your timer.  

• It is recommended that your timer not be used with PAR or

“R” type outdoor flood lamps or lamps larger than 150 watts,
since currents generated during lamp burn-out could dam-
age the timer.

Thank you for purchasing Intermatic EJ500 Indoor Wall Switch Timer
with Astronomic Feature.  This timer can replace your regular or 
3-way light switch (where two switches control the same light) to
control incandescent and fluorescent lights. (See important notes)
You will need a Decora style wall plate with this timer (wall plate not
included).
Features
• Automatic or manual operation.  Push the control

cover to switch ON or OFF at any time.

• Program up to 7 ON/OFF setting pairs.
• Automatic Daylight Savings Time (dST) option.
• Multiple daily settings options:

o All days of the week
o Individual days of the week
o 5 weekdays
o 2 weekend days

•  LCD digital clock and readout.
• Random feature automatically varies switching times for a

“lived-in” look.

• Two SR44/LR44 batteries keep time  for up to 3 months, of

power interruption.

•  Built-in memory holds settings indefinitely without battery.

Installation Instructions - Single Switch or 3-way - to replace
an existing switch:
1. TURN OFF POWER by REMOVING FUSE 

or turning the CIRCUIT BREAKER OFF.

2. Remove the existing wall switch.  

7/16”

Trim building wires bare to 7/16”.

BLACK WIRE

BLUE WIRE

RED WIRE 
(Capped, Not Connected)

Single switch:
3. Connect one of the building wires to
the black wire from the timer, using the
wire nuts provided.  Connect the other
building wire to the blue wire from the
timer.  
THE RED TIMER WIRE IS NOT USED
FOR SINGLE SWITCH INSTALLA-
TIONS.  Cap the red wire with a wire
nut. 
BE SURE  THAT ALL THE WIRE NUTS
ARE SECURE.

3-way switch:   (See “Other Installations”  if switching from 3
or more locations)
3a.  A three way switch has three wires connected to it. One of 

the wires is “common” (the terminal has a different colored 
screw or there are markings on the old switch).  Connect the 
Black wire from the timer to the common wire.  Connect the 
other two wires to the Blue and Red wires from the timer (it 
doesn’t matter which goes to which.)

WIRE FROM 
“COMMON” OF 
OLD SWITCH 

BLACK WIRE

RED WIRE
BLUE WIRE

REMOTE
3-WAY
SWITCH

MOVE
JUMPER WIRE
TO OTHER 
TERMINAL 
IF THIS
SWITCH
DOES NOT
TURN LIGHT
ON

COMMON

3b.  Identify the “common” terminal at the other (remote 3-way) 

switch. Connect the supplied jumper wire from the common 
terminal to one of the other two terminals of the switch.  
(If the light does not turn on when you get to step 6, turn power 
off at the fuse or circuit breaker and switch the jumper wire to 
the other terminal.)

4. Tuck the wires into the wall box leaving room for the timer.
5. Using the screws provided, mount the timer to the wall box then

install the wall plate.

After display starts flashing "12:00 AM", press the 

button. The display should switch between ON and OFF. Your timer 
is now ready to set.   

Battery Replacement
The two LR44/SR44 batteries maintain the time of day clock and the calendar during power interrup-
tions, for up to 3 months of accumulated interruptions. All the other settings will remain in memory
indefinitely without batteries or AC power. Remove the batteries if the timer will be without AC power
for an extended time.Replace the batteries if the display is dim or the message “lobAT” is displayed.
The batteries may be safely changed without removing AC power. If AC power is removed, please
change batteries within 15 seconds to avoid losing your time of day setting.Remove the battery hold-
er by prying at either finger hole, left and right of holder. Install the new batteries into the holder as
marked inside holder. Re-install holder with the notch down. If the display is flashing 12:00 AM, reset
the time and check the date settings. The “lobAT” message will disappear within 10 seconds of
installing new good batteries.

Switch from one
program mode 
to another.

Switches between
ON and OFF settings
when programming
the timer. Confirms
program entry and
advances timer to
next selection.

Press RESET while holding
down NEXT/ON/OFF
button to clear all previous
programming.

Advances months in the
calendar mode.
Advances minutes in the
clock and program modes.
Advances years in the
calendar mode.

Subtracts years in the
calendar mode.
Advances hours in the
clock and program modes.

Changes days when
setting calendar or
programming ON and
OFF times.
Press to select
automatic or manual
daylight savings time.

Fig. 1