If your timer's face reads Hunter SRC, you've got one of the older controllers still running across York Region. It does the job, and the programming is straightforward once you know the dial. But it's worth knowing up front: the SRC has been discontinued, so if yours is acting up, parts are getting scarce and a replacement may be the smarter call. Here's both — how to set it, and how to think about it.
How do you program a Hunter SRC?
The SRC follows the same family logic as newer Hunters: set the clock, set one start time, set each station's run time, then choose the days — and return the dial to RUN. If it waters several times a day, the cause is an extra start time or a second program left active.
The SRC's face is a little older than the X-Core or Pro-C, but if you've used either of those, this will feel familiar. The dial picks what you're setting; a program button and the plus/minus and arrow keys do the rest.
What do the SRC's controls do?
You've got the dial to choose a function, a program button to switch between watering programs, + / − to change the flashing value, and an arrow to move to the next field or station. Most homes only ever use one program.
How do I set the time on a Hunter SRC?
Turn the dial to Set Current Date/Time. Set the year first, then press the arrow to move through the month, the day, AM/PM, the hours and the minutes — setting each with + / −. As always, double-check AM vs PM so the schedule doesn't run twelve hours off.
How do I set one start time?
Turn the dial to Set Watering Start Times, choose your program, and set the time with + / −. One start time runs all your stations in sequence — you don't need a separate one per zone. Setting several start times is exactly how an SRC ends up watering several times a day.
Why does my SRC run several times a day?
Same two culprits as the rest of the Hunter family:
- Extra start times. On the unused start times, minus out until OFF is displayed, leaving only one active.
- A second program left running. Check the other programs and zero the run times (0:00) on any program you aren't using — a station at 0:00 is skipped, so the program won't water.
How do I set each station's run time?
Turn the dial to Set Station Run Times, select the program, and use + / − to set the run time — the SRC's range is 0 to 99 minutes per station. Press the arrow to advance to the next station and repeat for each zone you use.
How do I set the watering days?
Turn the dial to Set Days to Water, select the program, and use + / − to choose your days — or pick odd/even watering if that's what your municipal bylaw runs.
What's the last step?
Turn the dial back to RUN. The SRC only follows its schedule from RUN; left on a programming position, nothing waters on its own.
Should I repair or replace an old SRC?
Here's the honest part. The Hunter SRC is discontinued — it isn't made anymore — so replacement parts and whole units are getting harder to come by. If yours just needs reprogramming, the steps above will sort it. But if it's losing time after every outage, dropping a zone, or acting erratic, pouring money into an old discontinued controller usually isn't worth it. The comparable replacement is a current Hunter — an X-Core if you want a like-for-like dial timer, or a WiFi controller if you'd rather never set a schedule by hand again. If it's drifting no matter what you do, see why sprinklers run at the wrong time.
Done fighting the timer?
Since the SRC is discontinued, replacing it is often the smart call. A Hunter HPC-400 (Hydrawise) keeps perfect time through power outages, handles the daylight-saving change on its own, and skips watering when it has rained. It reuses your existing valve wiring and heads, so it is a swap at the controller, not a rebuild. For a typical Newmarket property that is up to $580 a year in saved water.
See the WiFi upgradeWhen should you call us?
If you're in Newmarket, Aurora, King City, Stouffville, Bolton or Woodbridge and you'd rather not fight the timer, we can program it, work out why it's misbehaving, or upgrade it — usually same-day through the in-season window across our York Region core. If the rest of the system needs attention, here's our sprinkler repair page.
Start with our AI diagnostic tool, call (905) 960-0181, or book online.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hunter SRC still made?
No — the SRC has been discontinued, so new units and parts are increasingly scarce. For a like-for-like dial controller the current equivalent is the Hunter X-Core; if you'd rather set the schedule from your phone, a Hydrawise WiFi controller is the upgrade.
Why does my SRC run multiple times?
Either an extra start time is set (minus it out until OFF shows), or a second program is quietly active with its own start time and run times. Zero the run times on any program you aren't using so it's skipped.
How do I set the SRC clock?
Turn the dial to Set Current Date/Time, set the year, then arrow through the month, day, AM/PM, hours and minutes, setting each with the plus and minus keys. Confirm AM vs PM before you leave it.
Should I repair or replace an old SRC?
If it just needs reprogramming, set it and carry on. But because the SRC is discontinued, if it's losing time or dropping zones, replacing it with a current Hunter — an X-Core or a WiFi controller — is usually the better money.