# String Items set using OnOffType ON will always appear to be OFF **URL:** \ **Category:** Scripts & Rules\ **Created:** [April 21, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/string-items-set-using-onofftype-on-will-always-appear-to-be-off/97174 "2020-04-21T15:26:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 10
**Author:** ![rossko57](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rossko57/32/70263_2.png) [@rossko57](https://community.openhab.org/u/rossko57)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/string-items-set-using-onofftype-on-will-always-appear-to-be-off/97174/10 "2020-04-21T19:38:49Z")
If you’re sticking with DSL rules for now, you may be interested in - > [@Design Pattern : Expire Binding based Countdown timer](https://community.openhab.org/t/design-pattern-expire-binding-based-countdown-timer/49225): > > Problem Statement Sometimes you need to run a timer, but want to able to inspect the remaining time. This is not directly possible with either createTimer() or the Expire binding. Example - I have lighting-on timers that run for different duration depending on the trigger source or time of day. It is useful to have the timer behave “intelligently” - do not apply a new 5-minute request where there is still seven minutes of a previous trigger to run. But do apply it if there is only two minu… --- _[View the full topic](https://community.openhab.org/t/string-items-set-using-onofftype-on-will-always-appear-to-be-off/97174)._