I want to set the timer to go out pm, and on am. I find the instructions very confusiing

Following link has product manual that might match your timer:
Use + button at top of manual to enlarge print.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Argos-7day-Electronic-Timer-Manual-TS-EE8.pdf

Please add a comment and say if this manual matches your timer...fixya will send me email... and I will answer.

Include where you get confused.
You set current time first... that's the time that shows on your wristwatch right now.
You set day of the week... same day it is right now.
You set hour and minute.

The timer allows you to set up to 8 programs... you can set just 1 program or 2 or 3 etc.
Each program must have ON time
You set program 1 ON
Each program must have OFF time.
You set program 1 OFF
Each program must have a day or days of operation
So you might select monday ON at 10:10 am and OFF at 3:36 pm.
And other program for Tuesday ON at 10:45 and OFF at 4:00 pm.

When programming is finished, you set mode to auto for programs to run on the schedule you set.

Gene

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If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

LW28080 is NCC brand digital power center.
Copy following link to identify timer and download manual
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#0050024
Programming should start on the day you selected for Program 1 ON. So if Tues was selected, timer should start Tuesday.

Use paper clip, and push in Reset button for 2 seconds. Repeat. Always reset digital timers before programming to clear memory glitches.

Plug timer in for 10 minutes to charge battery.
Be sure to set current time with correct day, hour am-pm and minute.
Each ON program requires OFF program
Set program 1 ON and then set program 1 OFF.
Make sure selected day(s) of operation match for both ON and OFF settings.
Check am-pm conflicts in programming.
Avoid 12:00, to avoid am-pm confusion. Use 12:01 or 11:59
Avoid programming overlaps and conflicts that cause timer not to function as expected.

When programming is finished, press current time button to return to current time.
It appears timer is ready for programmed operation at this point.
Install Mi-MH battery that comes with timer.
Do not exceed watt rating.
This timer comes with 1 year limited warranty and can be expected to last 1 or 2 seasons, and probably quit season 3.
1-800-730-3707

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Copy following link to identify timer:
http://waterheatertimer.org/GE-timers-and-manuals.html#zilla
Is this a new timer??? Or old timer that stopped working?
Replace battery.
Press reset button to clear all memory traces before programming.
Check programming for overlaps and mismatched day(s) of operation.
Test outlet for correct polarity and grounding using circuit analyzer.
Make sure light bulb is turned ON. Timers do not reach out and rotate on-off switch.
Make sure outlet has at least 80% rated voltage shown on load label. For example 115 volts x 80% = 92 volts

About your specific programming needs:
Zilla selects 12 o'clock as changeover time between am-pm.
So if you want 8:02 to 7:59 operation, then that is under the 12 hours, but it crosses the 12 o'clock am-pm changeover.
Workaround: Shorten your times to less than 12 hours just like you have done.
But set current time differently so 8-8 falls under either am or pm, but does not cross am-pm. The timer does not actually know what the current time is, so simply fudge by amount needed.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

http://waterheatertimer.org/GE-timers-and-manuals.html#zilla
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Zilla-digital-manual.pdf
1) There is no repair for defective timer.
According to manual, under Initial Timer Operation: yellow outlet is ON at 4:00 pm.
Make sure Mode button is not set to OFF.

2) Scheduling timer: Think about the zilla timer this way:
Day is 12 hours and night is 12 hours.
Your total schedule is only 9 hours, but it overlaps day and night.

If timer 'night' starts at 6pm and ends at 6am, then your programming overlaps day and night.
If timer 'night' starts at 12midnight and ends at 12noon, then your programming still overlaps day and night.

3) To solve zilla time problem, set current time differently.
4) Or buy GE or Utilitec 24-hour programmable power strip

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And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on timer or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

Each pin/segment represents 30 minutes.
To set timer for 2 hours, move 4 consecutive pins/segments up or down.
For 8 hours, move 16 consecutive pins/segments
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Raise-segments-240.jpg
Dark background for numbers are usually 'night' or 6pm to 6am.
Timers usually have am and pm printed on timer dial.

Open following link for analog timer instructions:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-set-timers.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#59200

Utilitec makes 2 different plug-in timers.
Utilitec 0155671 is about size of baseball and has 5 buttons and two outlets. Programming is shown on link below.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-program-Utilitec-0155671.html

Utilitec 0144506 timer is small and rectangular with 5 buttons and slide switch located on top of timer. This timer can turn lights on-off once a day and has 1 outlet. 0144506 Instructions are given in steps shown below.
Also see:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-program-Utilitec-0144506.html

Steps:
-Plug timer into wall for 1 hour until rechargeable battery is charged and display shows.
-If battery will not charge, then check electricity to wall outlet, if electricity is good and battery will not charge, then timer is no good.
-Lamp has to be turned on for timer to work. Check bulb if timer stops working.

-Unplug timer to set program.
-Press reset button with paper clip to remove any programming.

-Slide switch on top of timer to 'Timer'
1) Set current time
Hold down Time button
Press HOUR until current hour am-pm shows in display.
Hold down Time button
Press MIN button until current minute shows
Since this is a one-day repeat timer, no day program is available.

2) Program ON > this is when you want lamp to turn ON
Hold down ON button.
Press HOUR until ON hour with am-pm displays.
Hold down ON button.
Press MIN until ON minute displays.

2) Program OFF > this is when you want lamp to turn OFF
Hold down OFF button.
Press HOUR until OFF hour with am-pm displays.
Hold down OFF button.
Press MIN until OFF minute displays.

3) Set timer to operate
Make sure slide-switch on top of timer is set to 'Timer' to run program
Plug lamp into timer, and then plug timer into wall outlet
For manual override, move slide-switch to 'On' and light will stay ON

Manual:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Woods-59203.pdf
59203 plug-in timer: your outdoor lights have to plug into side of timer.

If you want a timer to replace outdoor light switch: buy in-wall timer Aube T1032 or Lowes sells Utilitec 0192773.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Programmable.html#Aube
Add a comment for more help with in-wall.

Here are instructions for 59203 plug-in timer:
Plug in the timer until battery is charged.
Unplug timer so you can program easily.
Press R reset button with paper clip to clear.

Set the time of day:
Press and hold clock button
Press hour button until current hour shows
Press minute button until current minute shows
Press day button until current day shows.
Release clock button

Program review:
Write out ON-off schedule showing hours minutes and days
For example: timer turns ON 6:00 pm all days of week.
Timer turns OFF 1:00 am all days of week.
First step: Set program1 ON > hour, minute, and day.
Next step: Set program1 OFF > hour, minute, and day

If needed, go to next step: Set program2 ON > hour, minute, and day
Next: Set program2 OFF > hour, minute, and day

How to program timer for ON at 6:00 pm and OFF at 1:00 am all days of week:
Step 1: Press PROGRAM button until display shows 1 ON (this is program1 ON)
Press hour button until 6 pm shows
Press minute button until :00 shows
Press day button until all days of week show (MO TU WE TH FR SA SU)

Step 2: Press PROGRAM button until display shows 1 OFF (this is program1 OFF)
Press hour button until 1 am shows
Press minute button until :00 shows
Press day button until all days of week show (MO TU WE TH FR SA SU)

If you want to set another program, you will repeat same steps for program2
Press PROGRAM button until display shows 2 ON

If you are done programming, press clock button
Press ON/AUTO/OFF button until AUTO displays

I answer questions for free.
I know timers and electrical devices, and have tested most of the brands.
You posted under the Woods 7-day timer 59018 or 59028.
Here is the manual:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Woods-59018-59028.pdf

There are several programmable timers today that look like Woods, and each brand has different programming.

If you do not have Woods, add a comment and I will walk through programming your brand

1) You have the clock set correctly which implies the wiring is correct. Good job!
2) Programming review:
Each program requires ON time to be set, and then OFF time to be set
For example you set Program1 ON 5:00PM for ALL days.
And then you set Program1 OFF 11PM for ALL days.

3) Programming steps:
Press PROG button until Timer 1 ON appears on display
Use Hour button to set 5 PM
Use MIN button to set :00
Default selects ALL days
(If you want other days, press DAY button until display shows correct block of days)
Press PROG button again to save Program1 ON

4) Now for Program1 OFF

5) To set Program1 Off
Press PROG button until Timer 1 OFF shows in display.
Use Hour button to set 11 PM
Use MIN button to set :00
Default selects ALL days
(If you want other days, press DAY button until display shows correct block of days)
Press PROG button again to save Program1 OFF

6) Program 1ON and Program1 OFF have been set ... so press the CLOCK button to return to current time.
If you want to set another program, press PROG button until Timer 2 ON displays

7) After setting programs, press Clock button so current time shows.

8) The manual shows one more thing ... if you program the timer during the hours 5-11pm, and the timer should be ON during those hours, you have to 'tell' the timer to turn ON by pressing the manual override ... after that the timer will operate normally.

If you need more assistance, add a comment.
If instructions help, give it a 4-thumb

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2- Set the time of the day (on the hour, example. 2. Pm) using the top TIME button. For pm there will be a dot to the lower right of the 6.
3- Once the time is set push the MODE button, this will replace the 6pm with a flashing P.
4- Push the TIME button again to set the time you want the timer to come on. (Remember for 6pm there will be a dot to the lower right of the 6.
5- Push the MODE button once the desired time is set, an E will appear.
6- Push the TIME button again to select the time you want the timer to go off (example 10.pm).
7- Push the MODE Button again. The time of day 2. (Pm) will be displayed. If the timer loses power just repeat the above steps.

To correctly proceed you have to know the format the timer program is working in. SO you need to know
1Time format IE 12 hour AM - PM or 24 hr military time 2If a day, date is required M-Sun...or IE Sat 12th of March...(some times this is not a peramiter needed)

With the clock and calendar set the delay time should require a "timed mode setting" prior to being able to set the timer. Once in this mode you will have 1 of 3 ways to set the time delay depending on how the timer is set up to read your instructions. .
1 the actual time of day it is to start (set in actual clock time like the equalivant of 3:05 PM or if in military time, 24hr clock 15:05) or 2 the actual delay time until the program is set to start (again set in hours and minutes 2:10 = 2 hours and 10 minutes from now) 3 also is the stop time, when you want to program to end (also set in the format the timer is programed to recieve instructions)


Also the calendar could be waiting for input as to which day to start the program