Automatic Litterbox Central

I bought my litter robot on 5/7/2006. It has been working fine untill about a week or so ago. Now it does not cycle correctly. It will go in a complete circle, thumping over the waster port spot and spilling a ton of litter on the left side of the robot and pouring a bunch into the waste pan. I have emailed tech support plenty of times with NO responce. Has anyone had this problem before. Is it something I can do to fix it or is it covered under warrenty? Any advice would be great. Thanks

Is it running smoothly? If the gear looks like it's lifting the globe off of the base, it might not detect the small magnet in the globe that tells it how far it's turned.

I can't believe it: I'm having the exact same issue. If Litter Robot has been notified about this issue, why isn't it responding?

Anyone have any ideas on how to solve this problem?

Perhaps one of you can answer my question above.

The sensor is not detecting the "dump" position therefore the globe keeps going and then the door slams shut. The rotation eventually times out and then returns to home position.

Causes:

-bad position sensor, especially if it got wet/soaked
-magnet not present in globe (sensor detects magnetic field)
-not enough litter in globe (weight of litter helps keep the globe closer to base)

Your unit is definitley in warranty. We will be happy to ship you a replacement unit. Just contact customer service or me directly at mailto:bbaxter@litter-robot.com.

Thanks.

One more way that this can fail. If the globe is not moving smoothly in the base due to wear or a build up of gunk, the gear will lift the globe out of its track as it tries to turn it. It will turn the globe, but you'll hear a "thump thump thump" as it rotates.

If you're unlucky, the gear will lift the globe out of the track right as the magnet passes over the sensor. The sensor won't detect it since its too far away so it will keep turning, "thump thump thump".

If your LR is thumping like this, make sure the globe and the track are clean. You can also try a silcone lubricant on the four pads the globe sits on but the manufacturer doesn't recommend this.

I had the problems described, cleaned up the litter robot, shut the sliding tray a couple of times, and viola: it started working again . . . for two weeks. Now I can't get a light to come on. I checked the adapter and it is working fine (proper voltage outputed, no shorts). I left Litter Robot a message a couple weeks ago, no response. I sent them e-mails, no response. I tried today, phone number does not work. In a last desperate attempt, I searched and found this forum and Brad's e-mail. I hope it was just a series of bad luck on my part and Brad will help me out. I purchased my unit 13 months ago (it has an 18 month warranty).

I will let everyone know what happens. Hopefully I'll get some response, as I love the litter robot (and my cat really needs to use the facilities)

No lights usually means the surface-mounted fuse on the circuit board is blown.

This can be caused by a short in the motor (that's how I did it anyway) although the circuit board may have been defective. You could try replacing the circuit board yourself (they sell them and it's pretty easy to do) but if the motor is defective, you'll end up right where you are now with another shot circuit board.

Thanks Scott. Finding a technical side to caring for the family cat (usually my wife's domain) has really given me new interest into pet care!

After my last message, I plugged it in and it started cycling continuously in the same direction. I heard back from the folks at Litter Robot, who apologized for not getting back to me sooner (I think my message may have been caught by a spam filter--I use one of the free mail services, and this happens on occassion). Anyway, they are sending me a remanufactured repalcement base, as it could be the circuit board or possibly the magnet you mentioned. Hopefully I'll get a chance to change a circuit board at some point! (my sodering iron is feeling neglected)

I look forward to reading this forum, as I really appreciate your expierience with the LR.
Robert

As a post script to my experience, technical support suggested that the connection between the external transformer (wall wart) and the base might be loose. Tech support suggested that I expand the male part of the plug with a screw driver. That actually fixed the no-light situation, and every thing seemed to work fine over the next few weeks with a couple of unexplained continuous revolutions. Brad at Litter Robot did not want to take any chances and sent me a replacement base around the time of my last post--which has worked perfectly. Thanks Brad!

Eventually I'm sure I'll upgrade to the new Litter-Box 2. Scott, do you know if it uses the same globe as Litter-Box 1?

The globe looks the same but I'll throw an old globe on a new base tonight to make sure if APCP doesn't give a definifive answer.

LR II Bases will work with LR I Globes shipped after 3/29/2006. LR I Globes shipped prior to 3/29/2006 will not work properly on the new LR II Base.

Brad

I HAVE 6 LITTER-ROBOTS. This morning one had no lights working at all. I changed out the cord to the wall outlet <nothing>, expanded the male part <nothing>, exchanged the boards from one to another and it worked fine in the other robot. Still <nothing> so does this mean the motor is burnt out or is there somehting else someone can advise me to try?????

Rather than wait for an e-mail reply; I would give them a telephone call. I have not heard of anything similar although I have only had a LR for about a year and love it. I have two adult rescue cats and one of them took to it right away and has been using it without fail. The older rescue cat wanted no part of the LR.

Fast forward six months & one day I see her coming out of the LR. Looks like (recently) she decided she was interested enough to go inside and now, she's taken to also using it.

I have NOT as yet removed "her" litter box (she used up until now), and so far, so good. She has not used her own box is over three weeks now. Looks like I lucked out and now both of my guys are happily using the LR.

Our litter robot "in use" light stays on but it doesn't rotate now... Anyone else have this problem? How did you fix it?