diff --git a/aircon.sh b/aircon.sh
index b216eaf..e1b8db4 100755
--- a/aircon.sh
+++ b/aircon.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ GREY="\033[2;37m"
 WHITE="\033[37m"
 LINK="$BLUE$UNDERLINE"
 
+RULEDB=1
 
 function enable_cronmode() {
     cronmode=1
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ function usage() {
     echo "    Modifies aircon based on configured parameters in $DEFAULT_CONFIGFILE."
     echo
     echo "    -a file     Specify location of arping binary (default: $ARPING_DEF)."
+    echo "    -b          Rule debug mode.  Show processing of time rules."
     echo "    -A db       Log actions to given influxdb database."
     echo "    -c          Cron mode.  Only show output if actions were taken."
     echo "    -D dbhost   Specify influxdb hostname for -I and -A options (default: localhost)"
@@ -1024,6 +1026,10 @@ function processtimeconditions() {
     local ok=0
     local nonmatches=0
     local rv
+    local db=0
+    if [[ $RULEDB -eq 1 ]]; then
+        db=1
+    fi
     if [[ $1 == "-c" ]]; then
         keepgoing=1
         shift 1
@@ -1031,11 +1037,12 @@ function processtimeconditions() {
     line="$*"
     timestr_human=""
 
-    timestr=${line%% *}
-    timestr=${timestr:1}
+    timestr=${line%% *}  # only process first word
+    timestr=${timestr:1} # strip leading @
+    [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "${BOLD}Processing line: '$line'"
     IFS=';' read -ra allconds <<< "$timestr"
     for cond in ${allconds[@]} ; do
-            [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "Processing condition: '$cond'"
+            [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "  processing condition: '$cond'"
             IFS='-' read -ra ttok <<< "$cond"
             if [[ ${#ttok[@]} == 1 ]]; then
                     stype[0]=$(getstrtype ${ttok[0]})
@@ -1098,10 +1105,12 @@ function processtimeconditions() {
                     [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "   check if $nowh is between $starth and $endh"
                     ok=0
                     if [[ $(echo "$starth < $endh" | bc) == "1" ]]; then
+                            [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "   time period does NOT span midnight"
                             if [[ $(echo "$nowh >= $starth" | bc) == "1" && $(echo "$nowh <= $endh" | bc) == "1" ]]; then
                                     ok=1
                             fi
                     elif [[ $(echo "$starth > $endh" | bc) == "1" ]]; then
+                            [[ $db -eq 1 ]] && info "   time period spans midnight"
                             if [[ $(echo "$nowh <= $endh" | bc) == "1" || $(echo "$nowh >= $starth" | bc) == "1" ]]; then
                                     ok=1
                             fi
@@ -1324,7 +1333,7 @@ function canping() {
     local n hname ip db host success=0 mac
     local os arprv arpres
     os=$(uname -s)
-    db=1
+    db=0
     if [[ $db -eq 1 ]]; then
         info "canping() for:"
         for host in $*; do
@@ -1809,12 +1818,15 @@ fi
 
 ALLARGS="$ALLARGS $*"
 
-optstring="A:cD:f:hHi:I:k:l:Lo:pmRsSt:T:wWx:y"
+optstring="A:bcD:f:hHi:I:k:l:Lo:pmRsSt:T:wWx:y"
 while getopts "$optstring" i $ALLARGS; do
     case "$i" in
-        a)
+        A)
             ARPING=${OPTARG}
             ;;
+        b)
+            ruledb=1
+            ;;
         h)
             usage;
             exit 1;