Automatic Litterbox Central

MustLoveDogs wrote:Ok, wow. But why? Is all of this somehow cheaper or easier than just buying the refil carts and dropping them in? Or is this about not being forced to submit to a corporate entity and be forced to buy only their products.

Funny, all of you line up to buy the $300.00 litter box then run the other way when it comes time to buy the accessories. I wonder how long they will be in business without the extra sales of their cartridges and solution?

I guess it's the same prinicple as bagless vacuum cleaners. No hassle about wanting to use the product but be out of the part needed to make it work. Other than that, I just don't understand.

What don't you understand about .... Stickiness residue, No EPA registration, not convenient when you run out forcing you to keep multiple carts on hand, putting carts in the trash (not green) AND paying for shipping charges.

And I only paid $250... gotta love AMAZON baby!!!

flyguyjake wrote:

MustLoveDogs wrote:Ok, wow. But why? Is all of this somehow cheaper or easier than just buying the refil carts and dropping them in? Or is this about not being forced to submit to a corporate entity and be forced to buy only their products.

Funny, all of you line up to buy the $300.00 litter box then run the other way when it comes time to buy the accessories. I wonder how long they will be in business without the extra sales of their cartridges and solution?

I guess it's the same prinicple as bagless vacuum cleaners. No hassle about wanting to use the product but be out of the part needed to make it work. Other than that, I just don't understand.

What don't you understand about .... Stickiness residue, No EPA registration, not convenient when you run out forcing you to keep multiple carts on hand, putting carts in the trash (not green) AND paying for shipping charges.

And I only paid $250... gotta love AMAZON baby!!!

It's such a perfect alternative....so simple....I just didn't see it.....

Hi,

Where did you get your Cat Genie dome? It looks very different than the one shown on their site.

Thanks,
nemrut

I guess I left that out...so much info I was trying to include in the post. The dome is the traditional dome from CatGenie. My cats are so large they did not fit. I cut out the opening so they could stand up and do their business, but still keep the extended walls. Not only are they large they are ferocious kickers. When making the cuts tried to leave enough substance to keep the support of the dome. I sanded the edges to smooth them out.

wow, great work it looks very nice for a custom job. btw, you mentioned in a previous post that you ordered a different cleaning solution(Triple 2?). Is that better than the Petzyme and is it non-toxic?

I have not used up the Petzyme in the tank yet. I have the Triple 2 that others have used ready in the wings, but as of yet not used it. I will post my thoughts after I have given it a try.

Well...I finally got mine built and tested it fer leaks and connectivity. It all works...time to install it fer my brother's Cat Genie.

I used a Gatorade cap, computer network connectors, 6' Cat5 cable, polyethylene tubing, Sumo glue, #10 O-ring, 33/64" drill bit, ¼" OD quick connects (Watts PL-3005, PL-3000, PL-3011), 64 oz juice bottle, 1 used cartridge,

The cartridge is installed into the Cat Genie and 1/4" hose is hooked up to the cartridge via the quick connect coupling and to the 64oz bottle. I used a quick connect straight valve to shut off the flow of the solution when filling up the bottle. Cat5 network cable (6' in length) is used to connect the cartridge to the reset device.

I found that the polyethylene tubing fit better into the nipple...nice and tight. No way is that sucker coming out!


Top of the modified cartridge...


I will still be able to use the reset device in it's normal configuration if I needed to.


Using the 33/64" drill bit, I was able to drill out the cap and thread the PL-3005 adapter straight into the bottle cap. No thread tapping was required...the o-ring kept it from leaking.


Once I git it installed at my brother's house...I'll post up some piccies of the setup.


I still have to poke a hole at the bottom of the container so it will provide a vacuum relief once it's turned over on the cap. I'm still debating whether or not to make it either a gravity feed system or a siphon based system. With the connector in the cap, I can add a length of polyethylene tubing to convert it over to a siphon based system...I would have to poke a hole into the lid though...

My reset device is programmed fer a count of 252...it worked out better fer the math. 252 count divided by 4 cycles a day = 63 days, 252 divided by 3 cycles a day = 84 days, 252 divided by 2 cycles a day = 126 days, or 252 divided by 1 cycle per day = 252 days.

I decided to go with the siphon method instead. Less parts, no worries about hanging/balancing the container, and easier to prime the hose.



Fill the bottle with solution.
Insert cap assembly.
Tighten cap.
Open valve and squeeze bottle until solution primes the hose.
Close valve.
Prime cartridge (might be able to do it with a small syringe).
Insert valve onto cartridge.
Open cap to equalize pressure/relieve vacuum.
Connect cabling to reset device and cartridge.
Insert cartridge into the Cat Genie.
Top bottle off with solution as needed.

I have 20 extra caps that I drilled out. If you want one, PM me with yer address and I'll send it out to you. These are just the caps that are drilled out with my 33/64" drill bit. There isn't any o-ring or PL-3005 male quick connect adapter included or installed. These caps will fit most juice bottles or Gatorade 32oz/64oz bottles.

Looked at the Cat Genie cam and saw that he had an error...

Got to his house about 12hrs later and found out that it was the 3-beep...

Pulled the processing unit out and checked out the sensor...and found this:


Guess it all depends on what kind of cat(s) you have and how it will affect how much fur build up you will have. He just cleaned out his Cat Genie 30 days ago...

Here's the bulk solution setup at his house...



Now before he goes on the road...he'll be able to glance and see how much solution he has to work with.

..did you have any problems getting the ethernet jack to work with the reset device?

nemrut wrote:..did you have any problems getting the ethernet jack to work with the reset device?

Nope...it was a simple solder and wire job...at least from my perspective. I'm sure you could use the telephone jack and wiring just the same. I'm only using 4 of the 8 wires/slots in the cable/jack. I just needed a quick connect system and I already had the network stuff.

Hi CG Hackers, and cat lovers.
I've got the CG, had it for a couple months now. Had to get the processing unit replaced already due to malfunction. I've already started to customize my CG and joined this site for that reason. This posting is amazing and my mind is already going crazy planning to put this to use. I've noticed that this posting has several references to one by "Panhandledan" but haven't found that original posting from this person. Can someone please send me that link. I've also got a couple questions about this cartridge reset system. is there a schema of the wiring for the cartridge connector (what each of the 4 wires is used for)? does the power from the CG to the cartridge have to be "off" in order for the reset device to do its job? can the reset device get its power from the CG cartridge jumpers? (back to which jumpers are for power, etc...) Thank you all.
Jeff

Hi, I included the link to panhandledan's post that inspired my project and the topic. But to make it easier to find here it is again. http://www.litterbox-central.com/litter-box/catgenie/topic2537-150.html#p15233

As far as schematics others will have to help you. I just examined the pictures in panhandledan's post and the numbers mentioned in item 4.

4. The breadboard has a handy adhesive backing, perfect for slapping on top of a cartridge. Solder wires to contacts 1,4,7,10 from chip jumper positions 11,12,5,2, respectively. As far as I can tell, the only important thing with the soldering is to make it even. My wiring job overall is a bit sloppy, you could do a better job with those 6.3" extra jumper wires. Ignore the wires in the pic on the far left, as well as the battery on the right. The battery is unnecessary, as the Catgenie will power up the unit! I just used it for testing.

The reset device I purchased has a battery. If the battery was installed and the Cat Genie was plugged in the reset device did not work. Therefore I removed the battery from the reset device and the Cat Genie powers it as long as it is plugged in. Or if you should wish you could still use the battery, but unplug the Cat Genie.

Hope that helps...I am still waiting for someone to post how they bypass the needle completely, or pictures of the guts of the processing unit to see if I want to crack mine open. The possibility of the silicone nipples failing over time could be an issue for me.

Happy hacking,
Mother of EEs

Borrowing the information from this Instructable reply...

The pin-out is (looking at the cartridge, from left to right) of the cartridge is:

1 - SDA
2 - SDA
3 - NC
4 - SCK
5 - SCK
6 - VSS
7 - VSS
8 - NC
9 - VCC
10 - VCC
11 - NC

I finally figured out why my first try wasn't running with the reset device plugged in, the cartridge inserted in the Cat Genie, and the Cat Genie plugged in. I had the #3 wire connected to #8 pin on cartridge. Doh!!

Guess I'll have to fix it fer my brother when I git back there next month. I'll be building another one later today fer my Cat Genie here...

MOTHER OF EE'S wrote:Hope that helps...I am still waiting for someone to post how they bypass the needle completely, or pictures of the guts of the processing unit to see if I want to crack mine open. The possibility of the silicone nipples failing over time could be an issue for me.

Happy hacking,
Mother of EEs

This is what it looks like under the cartridge. You can see the hose is connected to the needle and connects to the pump. If you were to mod the processing unit to remove this needle, you'd better be out of warranty as it would be detectable.