The timer is a handheld device that resembles a mobile phone or remote control. The Sliders have a finite amount of time to stay in each world, a time which is beyond their control, and is revealed on the timer's display upon arriving on the parallel Earth. The only time they are able to leave a parallel Earth is when the timer hit "zero." If they do not slide at that time, they will not have another opportunity to slide for another 29.7 years. In the episode "Rules of the Game", it is first stated that the Sliders must wait 29 years for the next slide, if they miss it when the timer hits zero. It is mentioned again in several more episodes. The timer has frequently been lost, stolen, or damaged during the slides. However, it is almost always recovered, repaired, or replaced before they are scheduled to slide.
Different timers have different countdown times — if you miss the window on one timer, you could still slide out with another.
In the first two seasons, the prop of the timer is a rebuilt Motorola cellular phone, however it changes in later seasons to a television remote.
Quinn's Timer
Quinn's make his timer with a Motorola cellular phone. When they slide in from Ice World the first episode, Quinn opens the portal before the timer hits zero and the timer is damaged so they can't select the time of their departure from one world or which world they will go to next.
Egyptian Timer
Quinn takes the Egyptian timer in the episode "Slide Like An Egyptian". With this timer they can select the place (if they have the code).