Find Freedom in Your Backyard: How to Set Up and Program the HET100 and HET200 Timers
Your backyard should be a place to relax, recharge, and enjoy the moments that matter most. Whether you are growing a vegetable garden, maintaining a healthy lawn, or simply unwinding after a long day, your outdoor space plays a big role in your everyday life.
Keeping it green and thriving takes consistent watering, but that is not always easy to keep up with when life gets busy.
That is where the Rain Bird HET100 and HET200 hose end timers come in.
At Rain Bird, we believe in “The Intelligent Use of Water™.” That means making it simple to care for your landscape while using water efficiently and responsibly. By switching from manual watering to an automated system, you can reduce water waste, lower your monthly bill, and support smarter water use without adding more to your to-do list.
More importantly, these timers give you something even better: backyard freedom.
Set your schedule once and let your system do the rest. Your plants get the water they need, and you get your time back.
In this guide, we will walk you through how to quickly set up and program your HET100 (1-station), and HET200 (2-station) timer.
Get Started in Minutes
Setting up your timer is fast and requires no tools. In just a few steps, you will be ready to automate your watering.
Step 1: Power Up Your Timer
Before heading outside, install the batteries:
- Locate the battery tray on the back of the timer unit and slide it out.
- Insert two new AAA alkaline batteries. Make sure to align the positive and negative ends correctly.
- Slide the tray back into the timer until it clicks securely into place.
The screen will turn on immediately, confirming power.
Pro tip: Start each watering season with fresh batteries. The built-in battery indicator makes it easy to monitor power levels, so you are never caught off guard.
Step 2: Attach the Timer to Your Faucet
Connecting your timer to your outdoor water source is easy.
- Locate the top threaded collar on your timer.
- Check that the black rubber washer with debris screen is inside the inlet and seated flat and in place.
- Hand-tighten the collar directly onto your outdoor water spigot by turning it clockwise.
Avoid using tools or PTFE tape. A firm hand-tightened connection is all you need for a leak-free seal.
Step 3: Connect Your Watering System
Attach your garden hose, soaker hose, or drip irrigation system to the bottom outlet of the timer.
- For standard hoses: thread onto the outlet and hand-tighten
- For drip irrigation systems, use:
- A blackflow preventer connected to the outlet of the timer. This stops irrigation water from siphoning back into your clean drinking water.
- A pressure regulator connected below the backflow preventer. Drip systems require lower water pressure than a standard faucet provides.
- A tubing adaptor connected to your drip line, screwed onto the pressure reducer.
After your drip system is assembled, slowly turn on the water at the spigot. Check all your connection points for drips or leaks.
Programming Your Timer
We designed the HET100 and HET200 timers with an oversized dial and a large LCD screen. This makes programming highly intuitive. You simply turn the dial to each setting and use the up and down buttons to make adjustments.
Set the Current Time and Day
Start by telling the timer the current time and day of week. This ensures your watering schedule runs exactly when you expect it to, without guesswork.
- Turn the dial to “Clock.”
- Use the up and down arrows to set the current time. You can press and hold the button to advance the time more quickly. Press the “OK” button when you are finished.
- Use the arrows to select the current day of the week and press “OK.”
Choose How Often to Water
Next, you will set your watering frequency. Turn the dial to “How Often.”
You have two flexible scheduling options. Use the arrow buttons to select specific days of the week or switch to cyclic mode for interval-based watering. Cyclic mode allows you to water as frequently as every hour or as infrequently as every 14 days. This flexibility makes it easy to comply with local watering restrictions while adapting to your landscape’s changing seasonal needs.
Set your Start Time
Turn the dial to “Start Time” and use the arrow buttons to select when you want watering to begin, then press “OK” to confirm. Early morning is typically the best time to water, helping promote healthier plants while minimizing evaporation.
If needed, you can add a second start time later in the day to better support your landscape.
For the HET200 (2-station model), you can manage two independent watering zones. Simply press the “Station” button to toggle between outlet 1 and outlet 2, and program a unique start time for each.
Choose How Long to Water
Dial in the right run time to give your plants exactly what they need, no more, no less.
Turn the dial to “How Long”. Use the up and down buttons to select your watering duration, from as little as one minute up to six hours.
If you are using the HET200 (2-station model), press the “Station” button to set a customized duration for each outlet independently, so every zone gets the right amount of water.
Activate Your Watering Schedule
Let your timer take over so you can enjoy your yard without the hassle of manual watering.
Turn the dial to “Auto.” Your timer will now run automatically, opening the valve at your scheduled start times. At any point, a quick glance at the LCD screen will show your selected watering days or cyclic schedule.
Use Manual Features When You Need Them
Sometimes your yar needs a little extra attention. The “Water Now” feature lets you activate manual watering for up to 72 hours without changing your programmed schedule. With the dial set to “Auto,” simply press “Water Now,” use the arrows to choose your duration, and let the water flow.
When Mother Nature lends a hand, use the “Rain Delay” feature to pause your schedule. When the timer is not actively watering, press the “Cancel Water” button once to set a delay of up to 96 hours. The LCD screen will show the remaining delay time, and once it sends, your timer automatically resumes its normal schedule.
Troubleshooting Tips
Even the most reliable systems occasionally run into issues. If your timer is not working as expected, try these quick fixes:
Blank screen.
This usually indicates a power issue. Remove the battery tray, check that the metal contacts are clean, and install two brand-new AAA alkaline batteries.
Leaking at the faucet connection.
Turn off the water and remove the timer from the spigot. Inspect the black rubber washer inside the inlet collar. If it is missing, twisted, or worn, replace it with a standard garden hose washer. Re-attach the timer and hand-tighten securely.
Not watering on schedule.
First, make sure the dial is set to “Auto.” Then check the display for an active “Rain Delay” icon. If a delay is set, watering will pause until it expires. You can press “Cancel Water” to resume your schedule immediately.
Low water pressure.
Confirm that your outdoor faucet is fully open. If you are using a drip system, inspect the pressure regulator and filter for debris or mineral buildup that could restrict flow.
More Than a Timer
The HET100 and HET200 are more than timers. They’re “backyard freedom,” giving you a healthier landscape, smarter water use, and more time to enjoy your outdoor space.
