diff --git a/python/slsdet/detector.py b/python/slsdet/detector.py
index 39dfdd450..3998b23a9 100755
--- a/python/slsdet/detector.py
+++ b/python/slsdet/detector.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ from _slsdet import IpAddr, MacAddr
 runStatus = slsDetectorDefs.runStatus
 speedLevel = slsDetectorDefs.speedLevel
 dacIndex = slsDetectorDefs.dacIndex
+detectorType = slsDetectorDefs.detectorType
 
 from .utils import element_if_equal, all_equal, get_set_bits, list_to_bitmask
-from .utils import Geometry, to_geo, element
+from .utils import Geometry, to_geo, element, reduce_time
 from .registers import Register, Adc_register
 import datetime as dt
 
@@ -170,6 +171,9 @@ class Detector(CppDetectorApi):
 
     @property
     def exptime(self):
+        if self.type == detectorType.MYTHEN3:
+            res = self.getExptimeForAllGates()
+            return reduce_time(res)
         res = self.getExptime()
         return element_if_equal([it.total_seconds() for it in res])
 
diff --git a/python/slsdet/utils.py b/python/slsdet/utils.py
index 4c9fa6c87..65d54145e 100755
--- a/python/slsdet/utils.py
+++ b/python/slsdet/utils.py
@@ -7,10 +7,17 @@ but not directly used in controlling the detector
 from collections import namedtuple
 import _slsdet #C++ lib
 import functools
-
+import datetime as dt
 
 Geometry = namedtuple('Geometry', ['x', 'y'])
 
+def iterable(item):
+    try: 
+        iter(item)
+    except TypeError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
 def get_set_bits(mask):
     """
     Return a list of the set bits in a python integer
@@ -41,6 +48,9 @@ def all_equal(mylist):
 
 def element_if_equal(mylist):
     """If all elements are equal return only one element"""
+    if not iterable(mylist):
+        return mylist
+        
     if all_equal(mylist):
         if len(mylist) == 0:
             return None
@@ -49,6 +59,13 @@ def element_if_equal(mylist):
     else:
         return mylist
 
+def reduce_time(mylist):
+    res = element_if_equal(element_if_equal(mylist))
+    if isinstance(res, dt.timedelta):
+        return res.total_seconds()
+    else:
+        return [r.total_seconds() for r in res]
+
 def element(func):
     """
     Wrapper to return either list or element
diff --git a/python/unit-tests/test_utils.py b/python/unit-tests/test_utils.py
index 15e7aad20..ae80dfa99 100755
--- a/python/unit-tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/python/unit-tests/test_utils.py
@@ -5,7 +5,28 @@ Testing functions from utils.py
 """
 
 import pytest
-from sls_detector.utils import *
+from slsdet.utils import *
+import datetime as dt
+
+def test_iterable():
+    assert iterable(5) == False
+    assert iterable('abc') == True
+    assert iterable([]) == True
+    assert iterable(5.9) == False
+
+def test_reduce_time_to_single_value_from_list():
+    t = 3*[dt.timedelta(seconds = 1)]
+    assert reduce_time(t) == 1
+
+def test_reduce_time_to_single_value_from_list_of_lists():
+    t = 3*[dt.timedelta(seconds = 3.3)]
+    tt = 5*t
+    assert reduce_time(tt) == 3.3
+
+def test_reduce_time_when_sublist_is_different():
+    t = [dt.timedelta(seconds = 1), dt.timedelta(seconds = 2), dt.timedelta(seconds = 1)]
+    tt = 4*t
+    assert reduce_time(tt) == [1,2,1]
 
 
 def test_convert_zero():