Automatic Litterbox Central

I don't know if others have experienced this but [flash=]since there is a cure[/flash], I thought I would post it here.

For no reason I could discern, all three control lights started blinking at once and the litter robot stopped functioning. Turning off the power and unplugging did nothing. I took the box apart for a complete cleaning thinking maybe that would help...but it didn't. So I called customer support. They recognized the problem right away.

It seems that sometimes cats will face the wrong way or inadvertently spray where it leaks into the control panel and shorts out the circuit board located there. Another sign that the problem was occurring, the felt seal around the base was wet (urine).

They sent a new circuit board, which was very easy to install, and suggested I use tape to seal the control panel. I used heavy duty clear packaging tape to cover the entire thing well out from the edges. I also taped from bottom to top so the overlaps of the tape faced downward. When I clean the box, I check and clean the taped area too.

The customer support people said the design crew is looking into a permanent solution...but for those of expecting a long and useful life using the current model, pull out that tape!

You can also coat the thing in silicone sealer. Easier and less likely to leak, should dry enough to use in about 45 minutes.

Does not really matter if its coated as for 99% of people the circuit board contains no useable parts.

Good tip though for a quick fix......

Was this with an older LR1? The LR2 has more protection for the circuit board. It's now in a completely sealed compartment. The circuit board is mounted about an inch away from the buttons (which are still sealed). Also the new globe's liner extends out of the entrance which prevents the liner from getting loose from the globe and leaking right above the board.

This is a great improvement over the LR1 where the circuit board was literally taped to the inside of the base with no other protection. When I fried my first one, I also wrapped it in packing tape.

I suppose I need to call and get a replacement board then. Having gotten George, my cat, to use the litter robot, while having simpily refused to acknowledge it was even here for 2 months, I switched to Dr Easley's Clumping litter and Cat Attract, let me tell you George forgot all about that other box. After 3 days, I had been scopping afraid George would think it was a vacum cleaner which he avoids even when off. I had plugged it in to initilize when i first got it, but knowing he'd have to get use to it, I had unplugged it after the set up. That was the last time it moved, heading to work on the morning of day 4, which was to be scoop free, I thought i was spilling coke out of my can (my morning coffee equivlant), but no, out the opening, over the opening lip, George is releaving himself on the carpet and the buttons of the litter robot. The button lable/cover and adhesive while providing resistance to liguid, doesn't create a seal between the outside and the board.

George had spelled it out, no literally, but i was in a hurry and I freeze mouth open when confronted with acts of irrationality, reguardless of scientific classification, human, cat, etc.

Feeling defeated and to an extent responsible for enabling the cat to be the head of the house, that was a couple of months ago and here I am with a non working, cat box I call, 2LR (Litter Robot Litter Room), George having been adopted his last name could have been Lucas.

I'll try to call today. I know he'll love it once he lets it do it's thing. He requires a clean box/bowl. He'll scratch on the outside of a litter box as if to say, "Excuse me, bathroom attendant, I'm afraid you failed to top off the box with fresh litter as required when servicing." I'll just say that he could scratch for a much longer time than I have ever taken to do what he wanted, lol, while knowing i'm as much the problem as the cat.

Great it's 4:30 am and I see no spell check, atleast my embarrasement will be virtual embarrasement.

Tom