diff --git a/beams/tests/artifacts/im2l0_test.json b/beams/tests/artifacts/im2l0_test.json
index bb8d1cd..23a14ff 100644
--- a/beams/tests/artifacts/im2l0_test.json
+++ b/beams/tests/artifacts/im2l0_test.json
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
               "pv": "IM2L0:XTES:MMS:STATE:GET_RBV",
               "value": "OUT",
               "loop_period_sec": 0.01,
+              "caput_paradigm": "EVERY_SECOND",
               "termination_check": {
                 "name": "check_reticule_state",
                 "description": "",
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@
               "pv": "IM2L0:XTES:CLZ.RBV",
               "value": 25,
               "loop_period_sec": 0.01,
+              "caput_paradigm": "EVERY_SECOND",
               "termination_check": {
                 "name": "check_zoom_motor",
                 "description": "",
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@
               "pv": "IM2L0:XTES:CLF.RBV",
               "value": 50,
               "loop_period_sec": 0.01,
+              "caput_paradigm": "ONCE",
               "termination_check": {
                 "name": "check_focus_motor",
                 "description": "",
@@ -89,4 +92,4 @@
       ]
     }
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/beams/tree_config.py b/beams/tree_config.py
index 7ec3f2c..8e92b40 100644
--- a/beams/tree_config.py
+++ b/beams/tree_config.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from beams.behavior_tree.ActionNode import ActionNode, wrapped_action_work
 from beams.behavior_tree.CheckAndDo import CheckAndDo
 from beams.behavior_tree.ConditionNode import ConditionNode
+from beams.sequencer.helpers.Timer import Timer
 from beams.serialization import as_tagged_union
 from beams.typing_helper import Evaluatable
 
@@ -157,28 +158,59 @@ def cond_func():
         return cond_func
 
 
+class CaputParadigm(str, Enum):
+    AT_LOOP_FREQUENCY = "AT_LOOP_FREQUENCY"
+    ONCE = "ONCE"
+    EVERY_SECOND = "EVERY_SECOND"
+
+
 @dataclass
 class SetPVActionItem(BaseItem):
     pv: str = ""
     value: Any = 1
     loop_period_sec: float = 1.0
+    caput_paradigm: CaputParadigm = CaputParadigm.AT_LOOP_FREQUENCY
 
     termination_check: ConditionItem = field(default_factory=ConditionItem)
 
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        is_timer_periodic = True
+        timer_period = 1
+        if (self.caput_paradigm == CaputParadigm.ONCE):
+            is_timer_periodic = False
+        if (self.caput_paradigm == CaputParadigm.AT_LOOP_FREQUENCY):
+            timer_period = self.loop_period_sec
+        if (self.caput_paradigm == CaputParadigm.EVERY_SECOND):
+            timer_period = 1
+
+        self.work_frequency_timer = Timer(name=f"{self.name}_caput_timer",
+                                          timer_period_seconds=timer_period,
+                                          auto_start=False,
+                                          is_periodic=is_timer_periodic)
+        self.do_once = False
+
     def get_tree(self) -> ActionNode:
 
         @wrapped_action_work(self.loop_period_sec)
         def work_func(comp_condition: Evaluatable) -> py_trees.common.Status:
             try:
+                if not self.do_once:
+                    self.work_frequency_timer.start_timer()
+                    self.do_once = True
+
                 # Set to running
-                value = caget(self.pv)  # double caget, this is uneeded as currently the comp_condition has caget baked in
+                value = caget(self.pv, as_string=isinstance(self.value, str))  # double caget, this is uneeded as currently the comp_condition has caget 
 
                 if comp_condition():
+                    self.do_once = False
                     return py_trees.common.Status.SUCCESS
                 logger.debug(f"{self.name}: Value is {value}")
 
                 # specific caput logic to SetPVActionItem
-                caput(self.pv, self.value)
+                if (not self.work_frequency_timer.is_elapsed()):
+                    caput(self.pv, self.value)
+                    logger.debug(f"{self.name} CAPUTTING")
+
                 return py_trees.common.Status.RUNNING
             except Exception as ex:
                 logger.warning(f"{self.name}: work failed: {ex}")