gistfile1.js

function error () {
 console.log("timed out");
}

function main () {
 
  setTimeout(function () {
  error();
  //halt
  }, 1);
  
  async.series([
   function (cb) {
    httprequest({...}, function () {
      console.log("a");
      cb();
    }); // takes a few seconds to connect to webserver
   },
   function (cb) {
    httprequest({...}, function () {
     console.log("b");
     cb();
    });// takes a few more seconds to connect
   }
   ], 
   
   function (err, result) {
   }
   );
  
}

main();