Need help setting up my Autopilot Eclipse F60

The temperature and humidity settings seem clear enough, but the cycle timer keeps doing unexpected things. For one thing, I'm trying to set it to 18hr on / 6hr off, but it keeps randomly starting a new cycle for some random duration. I thought I understood that in order to operate a 24hr light cycle I needed to set the ON hours by first setting the DAY / 24 HRS / NIGHT switch to DAY and then turning the dials. Likewise the NIGHT setting for OFF, then dials again. Finally, switch it back to 24 HRS for normal operation. What's happening? The user manual is ridiculously incomplete and brief. Does the cycle timer have additional functionality not covered there? And what's with the mini USB port on the bottom? It's not even on the control surface schematic.

I got zero response from Autopilot (nor here for that matter) but the Amazon vendor contacted Autopilot on my behalf. This was the response:

The mini USB port has no importance for the end user, it's utilized on the manufacturing side for firmware configuration.

The Autopilot F60 recycle timer functions as a countdown timer, not a master 24 hour clock. It's used primarily for irrigation and ventilation mostly, but it can be utilized in a variety of different ways to suit the user's needs (not recommended to be used as a lighting timer since it's not a master clock).

Choose the timer mode that fits your application (day/24hr/night). If using 24 hour mode you'll have to first flip the slide-switch to day mode and program your day settings (on/off cycles during day) and then flip the slide-switch to night mode and program your settings. Once the day and night timer cycle settings are programmed, you can then flip the timer mode slide-switch to 24 hour mode and both your day and night settings will be active.

For example, if you want the cycle timer to be on during the day for 1 hour durations and off for 45 minute durations:
flip the cycle timer slide-switch to day mode
set the on-time for 01:00:00 (hour/minutes/seconds) for 1 hour on
set the off-time for 00:45:00 for 45 minutes off