Countdown Clock Instructions (Big Lots)

[Goliwagmo]

Programming the Big Lots Christmas Countdown Clock

I got mine to work by doing the following (note that once you start the sequence, if you don't press any buttons for about 12 seconds, the display will revert to where it was and you'll have to start over):
1. To start, the time (lower display) should be counting UP. Look at the seconds field. If it's counting UP, go on to the next step. If it's counting down, press the M (mode) button once. It should now be counting UP.
2. Press the S (set) button. The first field (month) should be flashing. Use the U (up) or D (down) buttons to set the current month. When the month is right, press the S (set) button once. The second field (day) should be flashing. Use the U or D buttons to set the current day. When it's right, press the S (set) button once. The third (year) field should be flashing. Again use the U or D buttons to set the current year. When it's right, press the S (set) button once.
3. The display will change to the next set of fields (the time fields). The first field (hour) should be flashing. Use the U or D buttons to set the current hour. NOTE - THIS IS DONE IN 24-HOUR TIME. SO 3 pm GETS ENTERED AS '15'. When the hour is right, press the S (set) button once. The second field (minutes) field should be flashing. Again, use the U or D buttons to set the current minute. Now press the S (set) button once. The third field (seconds will be flashing). Leave it at whatever it is, and press the S (set) button again. The display will revert to the counting mode and you can proceed to the next step. If you want the accuracy to the second, Email me and I'll give you the extra steps needed to get to-the-second accuracy.
4. The current date and time is set and the display should be counting UP at this point. NOW PRESS THE M (MODE) BUTTON ONCE. The display should now be counting DOWN. You will now set the target date and time.
5. Press the S (set) button once. The first field (month) should be flashing. Use the U or D buttons to set the target month. When it's right, press the S (set) button once. The second field (day) should be flashing. Use the U or D buttons to set the target day. When it's right, again press the S (set) button and set the target year. When it's right, press the S (set) button again. The display will switch to the target TIME and show '00' '00' '00' which is midnight. The first field will be flashing. If you want a target time other than midnight (for example, counting down to a birthday when the exact time of birth is known), change the hour as needed. Press the S (set) button to advance to the middle (minutes) field. Change if needed. When it's right, press the S (set) button again. The display will revert to the countdown mode with the number of days, hours, minutes and seconds to go to the target date and time.

[thehoghunter]

5480Did your clock make it to this year? Mine won't program at all...haven't had time to take it apart to see if it's an issue with the battery they mention or if it's just junk now.

[thehoghunter]

Well, it was the battery messing up my count-down clock. I opened it up, found the battery, removed it, plugged in the unit and it came up working. Unplugged it, put the battery back in, plugged in the unit again and it was still happy.

So you know, as you look at the front of the count-down clock, the battery will be in the top left hand corner after removing the cover (a bit above the word "Only"). Pull the plastic cover off...not just the sticker type cover (it will rip if you aren't careful [How does he know this?]).

[Sickie Ickie]

I don't have one yet, but thanks for the tips, HH.

[Goliwagmo]

Just set mine up this year and it worked fine (in fact, the time was only off by about 10 minutes after a full year) but thanks for the info on the battery location - I'm sure it will come in handy at some future date.

Happy Holidays!

[LoisJay]

This was great...set clock and is working. But now the first digital number is missing the bottom half of number...do you know how to fix?

[theedwin]

I have one of these clocks, and I tried programming it last year with the instructions that someone posted on here. (sorry, someone, I forgot your name....) My new roommate saw it, and figured that he could get it to work without reading the instructions. I thought "good luck!" and low and behold, he DID! (several times actually!)

It was Spot On on Christmas eve! But now is holding on 365 days til Christmas... It was fun to be in the front yard on Christmas eve, and see it turn to Christmas! :D

[Meddmann]

This is my fourth or fifth year with my countdown clock and wouldn't ya know it, this year we lost the instructions (not that they were very helpful anyway). I was very thankful I found this site. Easy instructions on how to program was only a click away. Thanks for all the information. My kids (and us adults too) love our countdown timer and without the instructions I would still be trying to program it come Valentines day. Thanks again! I hope you all have a safe & happy holiday season. Merry Christmas! Steve

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks for coming to our forum Meddmann. We may even have a few ideas for your to use, so feel free to look around some more. :D

[kamcco]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! You have no idea how thankful my husband and I are that you took the time to post those darn countdown clock instructions. We used the clock last year, and pulled it out tonight, so excited to set it up for this year... Then after about an hour, all of our joy was pretty much gone because we couldn't get the clock and countdown to work right. We started getting on each others nerves, sort of arguing about it, and so I came and did an internet search to see if I could find a way to do it. AND MIRACULOUSLY, I saw your post! Woo Hoo! It worked the first time we tried it out! We have now printed out your instructions, and taped them to the back of the clock. It's safe to say that every Christmas we will be thinking about you... and grinning merrily! Merry Christmas Goliwagmo!!!

[Sickie Ickie]

You are welcome to stay and have a look around, too kamcco. :)

[haleyp]

Hi,
The directions for the countdown clock were clear,however, it will not work. HELP, please, I must be doing something wrong. It will not countdown, when you hit mode it goes to 000. Can you help? HO HO HO
Thanks Haley

[Sickie Ickie]

perhaps they made more than one version?

[Goliwagmo]

I believe you can just ignore that, just hit SET and proceed with the instructions.

[thehoghunter]

Goliwagmo is correct - when it shows 000, you just hit set and it goes on to the next part.

[Goliwagmo]

Thanks so much for your post and glad I could help. I was feeling rather down and your post really cheered me up. Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you as well.