When setting my timers should the manual switch be left in the on or off position?

There is no manual specific to the PB800-900 series timers.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Intermatic-trippers-and-parts.html#PB
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Intermatic-PB800-PB900-timers.pdf

Timer uses 107TTN222 ON tripper and 107TN221 OFF tripper.
Push trippers onto dial at times you want timer to turn on-off.
Rotate dial until current time lines up with arrowhead located in center of timer dial.
images show that timer has override knob that can be rotated.
Timer has 4 terminal connections. 2 connections are for 120Volt clock motor, and 2 terminals are the switch for turning Load on-off.
Black hot wire and white neutral wire connect to clock terminals.
Switch terminals are dry.
Dry terminals mean they have no power when wires are connected to clock motor.
The switch terminals wire just like ordinary light switch: Power connects to one of the terminals, and wire to Load connects to other terminal. Neutral wire does not connect to switch terminals, just like wiring an ordinary light switch.
Offhand I do not know which set of terminals is for clock motor.
Use continuity tester on each set of terminals.
Clock terminals will show continuity at all times, no matter which position override knob is set.
Switch terminals will show continuity with override knob in one position, but not the other position.

Legrand 037 30 is vertical analog timer similar to hagar EH 010
Open following link for illustration how to set and wire timer.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/EH-010-2-2-500.jpg

Hours of the day appear on timer dial as you rotate dial around.
Hagar timer you push segments left for ON times, and right for OFF times.
To set current time, manually rotate 24-hour timer dial until current time lines up with mark.

You can also move some of the segments to the right and leave rest of segments to the left.
Then manually rotate timer dial several rotations with thumb while listening to the hot water system turn on-and-off, or use tester to test power at terminals 3 and 4 or use tester at hot water system.
If timer has override lever, then move lever to each position and repeat test by rotating dial with each switch setting.

Resourceful do-it-yourselfer will find following information helpful for solving problem.
Max Load 1000Watts incandescent
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-program-Hagar-timer.html#700-series
Manual uses several languages including English
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Hager-EH711-Timer.pdf

Hagar 700 series analog timer has mechanical dial that rotates as time passes.
Segments located on outer edge of dial are moved down-and-out, or up-and-inward to set on-off times.
As dial rotates, segments move lever that turns Load on-off.

With segment timers, all consecutive segments between on and off times have to be pushed in place.
Since EH700 series timer has NO NC terminals, segment position is determined by how timer was wired.
This is because segments-in and segments-out turn different terminals ON.

As a result, the best way to set this timer is to push 10 consecutive segments down-and-out.
Leave rest of segments up-and-inward.
Then manually rotate timer dial to watch when Load turns on-off.

Hagar analog timers also have a switch located in bottom right.
This is the manual override switch.
Set switch in position "I" and then rotate timer dial to watch when Load turns of-off.
Set switch in position "O" and then rotate timer dial again to watch when Load turns of-off.

Manually rotating dial and experimenting with segments and switch will tell resourceful do-it-yourselfer exactly how to set timer.
Once segments and switch are set, then rotate timer hands until current time shows on analog dial face.

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Grasslin qe1 and qe2 manual does not show troubleshoot section.
http://www.grasslin-controls.co.uk/assets/graphics/static/QE1-QE2_GB%20instructions.pdf

1) Remove power to unit and see if it will reset.
2) Press reset and hold button longer
3) Manual says: SLIDE SWITCH MUST ALWAYS BE LEFT IN "RUN PRESET PROGRAMME" OR, "RUN OWN PROGRAMME" POSITION, OTHERWISE THE CLOCK WILL NOT RUN, AND NO SWITCHING WILL OCCUR.
4) Timer has stopped working. I test timers, and they all stop working one day.

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You posted under UPM programmable timers
Open following link to identify product and download manual
http://waterheatertimer.org/UPM-timers-and-manuals.html

Q1) Some UPM timers, and other brands, offer countdown feature in addition to regular programming.
So you choose between regular programming and countdown.
Countdown is for a bathroom fan for example.
Push the button and fan turns on for set amount of time.
After countdown is over, fan turns off automatically.

Q2) Yes all days of the week can be selected.
Set event 1 ON for all days.
Set event 1 OFF for all days.
Do not set more events unless you want more on-off events.

Q3) Switch position depends on model number.
Add a comment with model number to identify product and I will look at manual alongside you.
Or try the switch in different positions.

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Open following link to identify timer and see manual plus written programming steps:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#59200

Lamp must be turned ON, and Bulb is good.
Raise and lower a few segments on the timer.
Plug timer into wall, and plug lamp into timer.
Manually rotate timer dial clockwise to watch lamp turn on-off.
Notice also that timer has switch located on top.
Move switch into one position and manually rotate dial again.
Move switch to other position and manually rotate dial again.
This will tell you how to set timer switch and segments.
To set current time, rotate dial until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial.
Dial rotates as time passes, and segments click a switch back and forth that turns circuit on-off.

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Slide the middle left switch to TIME SET. Use the DAY, HOUR and MINUTE buttons to set the current day and time.
Slide the middle left switch to PROG.
When you set the switch to PROG, the number on the right on the LCD display will be a 1, and it will say ON above it. Adjust the DAY, HOUR and TIME for when you want your first program to turn on. Then press the bottom left EVENT button to proceed to set the OFF time for program 1. Adjust the DAY, HOUR and TIME for when you want your first program to turn off.
Press the bottom left EVENT button to move on to your 2nd event, and set the ON time. Again, press the bottom left button to move on to your second event OFF time. Continue in this way until you have programmed up to six different ON/OFF events. When you have programmed as many events as you need, slide the middle left switch to RUN at the center position.
To use the timer now, slide the upper left switch to AUTO at the middle position. The upper left switch, when moved to the right hand AUTO RAND position, will run the programs, but randomly start and stop them within a half hour of their programmed settings.
To use the timer manually, slide the upper left switch fully to the left to MAN, and press the bottom left switch to cycle between ON and OFF.

You posted under Woods 59383
Manual for 59383:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Woods-59383.pdf

If you have different model Woods timer, see link below, or add a comment.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html

To set Woods 59383:
Rotate dial clockwise until current time lines up with arrowhead located on inner dial.
Segments located around dial control on-off times.
Pull segments UP for OFF times.
Leave segments DOWN for ON times

Set manual override switch to arrow-down position
Switch unit to ON position.

Plug in timer.
Plug lights into timer.
If lights have switch, switch must be ON.

Max load 500 watts
50-mini-bulb string of Christmas lights is 25 watts

Intermatic does not carry timer or manual any more:
http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/electromechanical%20timers.aspx

Add a comment and send me a photo so I can compare buttons with other known timers.
I believe HB71 timer has slide switches that are positioned for each programming step.
http://www.fixya.com/support/r6568559-post_photograph_fixya_questions_answers

Leviton 6651 Manual.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Leviton-6651-manual.pdf
Timer requires a battery which should be replaced each 12 to 18 months.
Timer replaces single-pole or 3-way switch, and does not need a separate neutral wire.
Timer is for incandescent lights only.
500 Watt capacity
Push the door for manual override to reverse program that is in effect.

The 14 hour timing period is represented by 24 dip switches.
Each dip switch is positioned for ON or OFF.

Click the dip switch right or left
Start at the bottom
For example: ON for 3 hours, OFF for 4 hours, ON again for 3 hours:
Click dip switches 1 thru 3 to ON position, 4 thru 7 to OFF position, 8 thru 10 to ON position
ON position is to the right.
OFF position is to the left.

At the end of the 14 hour program, the timer turns lights OFF until the original start time is reached after 24 hours.
Timer will operate like this while in AUTO mode, until function switch is moved from AUTO to MAN or OFF modes.
Function switch is located at very bottom of timer door.
To activate program (on first day), function switch is set to OFF position for 2 seconds, and then move function switch to AUTO mode, and programming cycle begins.