CTT-4P
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Explain the basic operation of the unit.
The most common use of the CTT-4P is to time two periods--an "exercise" time and a "rest/changing" time. A popular time period used is 60/20. (60 seconds for exercising and 20 seconds for rest/changing). If the channel is set to 60/20 and started, the CTT-4P does the following:
The display starts at 60 seconds, with the green light on, and the chime sounds two dings (indicating the beginning of the exercising time).
Unit counts from 60 down to zero with the green light on (exercising time).
The display resets to 20 seconds, and the red light turns on, and the chime dings once (indicating the beginning of the changing/resting time).
Unit counts from 20 down to zero with the red light on (changing apparatus/resting time).
Upon reaching zero, go back to step (a), and continue repeating this sequence.
2. What are the differences between the CTT-4P and the CDT-4?
The units have the same display and lights, and the CDT-4 can do everything that the CTT-4P can do. Both units can run continuously (until paused by the user). CDT-4 has the added ability to count sets or repetitions and automatically stop after a user-programmed number of sets if desired, or it can be set to run continuously. This adds some versatility, if you wish to use it. The CDT-4 also comes standard with the louder buzzer for use in large loud areas, but can also be ordered with the more pleasant chime if desired.
3. Explain the three time ranges.
The exercise time and rest/changing time can be programmed with the following three ranges:
From 1 to 99 seconds which counts down at once per second.
From 0.1 to 9.9 minutes which counts down every .1 minutes (changes every six seconds).
From 1 to 99 minutes which counts down once per minute.
New! In range b and c (Tenths of a minute mode and full minutes mode), the display will automatically switch to seconds countdown in the last 60 seconds.
Each time period of each channel has an individually selectable range. In addition, the rest/changing time can be set at zero, which means that the unit skips the rest/changing time altogether, thus making the selection a repeating one-period timer.
4. What does the horn sound like, and how loud is it?
The standard horn is an electronic chime, and it has the sound of a hotel desk bell. It is intended to be loud enough to be heard, but not irritate customers. The loudness is adjustable over a fairly wide range of volumes by turning the mechanical shutter on the front of the chime. The volume adjustment can make the loudness very low, but not off. If you need zero sound, we can instruct you on how to disconnect the chime internally. If you never need the chime, you can order the unit without the chime, and the price of the unit will be $25 less.
The optional extra loud horn is significantly louder, and has a completely different sound. Instead of a pleasant chime sound, it sounds like a typical buzzer on a gymnasium scoreboard, intended to get attention. The extra loud horn is commonly used in rooms where loud music is being played which would drown out the normal chime.
It is possible to change to the alternate horn after purchasing the CTT-4P. Contact ScoreTronics for details.
5. Can I use two units in the same room?
Operating two units at once presents two challenges: (1) How to start the units with the remote control at exactly the same time, and (2) Once started, how to keep the units from drifting apart. Both problems can be overcome.
Issue #1 is solved by changing a setting in the unit (auto-run) that makes it automatically start running as soon as the power is supplied. Ordinarily, when you plug the unit in, it sits waiting for the "run" button to be pressed on the remote. By changing this option setting, the unit will go into "run" as soon as the power is turned on. If you plug the two units in the room into the same switched outlet or extension cord, both units will start at the same time.
Issue #2 is solved by specifying at the time of order that the units need to be precision matched. To do this, we adjust the timing of the unit to a global standard, and thus two or more units will remain together over a period of time. The matching will have a drift of a fraction of a second over the day, but it's best to restart the units every day to keep them perfectly in-sync.
6. What if my facility is unstaffed (like a hotel exercise room)?
There is a setting (auto-run) that can be made in the unit that causes it to automatically start running as soon as the power is applied. Thus the unit will automatically restart itself after a power interruption, not needing the remote control to start it.
7. What power does the CTT-4P operate on?
The unit uses a wall plug-in power supply that accepts 100 to 240 volts, 50 to 60 Hz.
We can supply it with a US, Australian, European, or UK plug. Click here for a picture of the power supply and the available plugs, and let us know which plug you need.
8. Do you ship the CTT-4P internationally? How much does it cost?
Yes. We have shipped them to a number of countries outside the US and Canada. The lowest cost shipping method is usually the postal service, which offers 5 day or 6-10 day service for a reasonable price. You can find out the shipping cost by going to the US Postal Service website at this link: https://postcalc.usps.com/ Select your country, select package, and enter a weight of three pounds. Click continue, and select either Priority Mail International or Express Mail International. Click "Add extra services". Check "Insurance", and enter an amount of $300, and click "Add". The total shown is what we charge for the shipping. Faster international shipping is available from UPS, FedEx, and others, at of course higher costs. For international payment, we accept Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and bank transfers.
9. Do you have a distributor or dealer in my state or country?
We manufacture the product, and sell direct. This allows for the lowest cost to the customer by eliminating distributor and dealer markups, which are commonly 30% each. Our experienced sales staff can answer any questions you may have about the product. Product support is handled by our technical specialists in the same location.
ScoreTronics is located in Willowbrook, IL, a suburb of Chicago.
10. What is the warranty on the CTT-4P?
The official warranty is for one year, and covers defects in materials and workmanship. We are very lenient on covering defects after the warranty period. We provide FREE lifetime support for phone and email questions.
The unit is designed with a design goal to last a lifetime, and is constructed with industrial quality, long life components. For example, the LEDs have a rated life of 100,000 hours (34 years at 8 hours/day). Failure of anything is extremely rare, and to date, the only customers who have ever had to pay for a repair were those that involved physical damage.
The only part that may eventually get some wear is the buttons on the remote control, and these have a life of a typical TV remote control. If the remote ever wears out or gets lost, replacement remotes are available for a very reasonable cost.
11. How long will the batteries in the remote control last?
The power usage from the batteries in the remote is extremely low, and the expected life of the two AA batteries is essentially the shelf life of the batteries (5-10 years). The only thing that would affect this is if the remote were stored with the buttons continuously pressed (like down in the cushions of a piece of furniture), which would drain the batteries in a couple of days.