Using seconds with rtc for less than a minute timer

[septillion]

relayFlag = (now.hour()*60) + now.minute() + now.second();

You do note minutes and second have the same impact? For the value of relayFlag (which isn't a flag...) there is no difference for:
05:03:10
05:10:03

Instead of messing wih a "flag", just check hours, minutes and seconds