What is split or accumulated time on a stopwatch?
When looking for a stopwatch, there are features that can sometimes be confusing. This article will clarify what a lap/split time and cumulative time mean on a stopwatch. For most people who are not experts in stopwatches, looking at lap/split time versus cumulative time as a function on a stopwatch can be a roadblock to ordering. If you don’t know what the feature is, how can you tell if you need it? We will explain the difference in a simple way with clear examples.
Generally, lap/split time means the time between events. For example, someone is running the mile on the track (4 laps), it will start the stopwatch and each time you press the lap/split button, it will record the time for each lap. In this example the runner will run the mile in 4 minutes and each lap will run in 1 minute, lap 1 will show 1.00, lap 2 will show 1.00, lap 3 will show 1.00, lap 4 will show 1, 00. So in this example the runner ran each lap at 1.00, this is how the split time will be displayed on the stopwatch.
Cumulative time is the total time in each stage a split time is clicked on the stopwatch. In the same example of someone who runs a 4 minute mile and each lap is run in 1 minute, it will start the stopwatch and each time you press the lap/split button it will display the accumulated time. The cumulative for the example above will show the total time, so the lap 1 split time will show as 1.00, the lap 2 split time will show as 2.00. lap 3 split will show as 3.00 and lap 4 split will show as 4.00. So, in this example, the total time for each split will be displayed.
Some stopwatches display both the lap/split and the accumulated time. I always think it’s better to have the option of both, but in some cases where you may have kids or volunteers using the timers, it’s better to keep it simple and only have the feature you need.
Here are some examples of simple stopwatches with lap/split functions:
oslo 2.0
Oslo 1000W
Robic SC501
Acculit AX625
Here are some examples of simple stopwatches with cumulative division functions:
ultrak 320
ultrak 330
ultrak 340
oslo 2.0
Acusplit S3CL
Oslo 1000W
ultrak 420
robert 501
As you can see, some of the listed timers are on both lists and that’s because they can be set for lap/split time or cumulative time. Depending on what you’re timing, you may need one type of timing or another.
Example one:
When you are timing a race with multiple runners and you need to get the final time for each runner, you will only see the accumulated times.
Example two:
If you had a table assembled and you needed to know how long it took to assemble each part of the table individually, you would need the lap/split time.
Example three:
If you’re timing an individual runner running something like the mile, you’ll want both lap and cumulative times so the runner can see how they’re running each lap and their total time.
