There is provided a remote control unit capable of setting time by a simple operation at a time when a battery is attached. In the remote control unit which is operated by the battery to remote-control operation start and stop of an apparatus main body and in which setting of a timer operation by a clocking means is possible, when the battery is attached to start the operation, a forced mode setting means displays a clocking initial value in a liquid crystal display in step 1, starts a monitor timer in step 2, and sets a “time setting mode” in which the setting of a clocking start initial value is possible by UP and DOWN switches without depending on the operation of a time set switch. When the UP or DOWN switch is not operated in step 3, and time is up in the monitor timer in step 6, processing advances to step 7, and the forced mode setting means switches the mode from the “time setting mode” to an “operation instructing mode” in which the operation of the apparatus main body is possible by an ON/OFF switch.