Using this method with argparse parameter type=delay_check. Returns a value in seconds according to units specified. For example 51m or 120s or 2d, or defaults to seconds.

delay_time_units_check.py

    def delay_check(self, delay):
        # get the units and the delay value
        unit = delay.lstrip("0123456789")

        # TODO: this raises exception, still caught by the parser, but incorrect
        # for example input node 1 timer on aksldjhf will crash here
        if unit not in "":
            value = int(delay[:-len(unit)])
        else:
            return int(delay)

        # manipulate the returned value
        if unit in "s" or "":
            pass
        elif unit in "m":
            value *= 60
        elif unit in "h":
            value *= 3600
        elif unit in "d":
            value *= 86400
        else:
            # raise the argparse error
            msg = "'{}': {}".format(delay, "is not in valid time format")
            raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(msg)
        return value