Cat Genie dirty water sensor (3 beep) solution

Here is my solution to the dreaded constant three beep problem the Cat Genie has due to the plastic water sensor in the unit getting dirty. I designed an electronic water sensor and replaced the plastic light sensor on the unit with an IR emitter LED. The circuit board turns the IR LED on and off according to the water level it senses. The board has a green light for 'empty' and red light for 'full', so the user can see what the water level sensor is seeing. The sensor itself is two stainless steel screws duct taped to the side of the inside of the bowl (under the actual litter bowl). This should let it avoid the majority of poopy water and the stainless should not corrode anytime soon, a problem I experienced with the previous version corroding the copper water sensors. Time will tell if this solution continues to work.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Cat
• Genie
• water
• sensor
• solution
• three
• beep

[as20059]

Oregontt: You should of gotten an email on how to install it. We don't have a walk through of the installation. :-/

[as20059]

I can't post the link, go to google, type in instructables(dot com) ku4zs. It should be your third link down.

[nitewalker777]

Do you have an instructable yet? I am having the 3 beep problem and it's driving me crazy. I am cleaning the sensor every other cycle! Please let me know as soon as you have the information ready.

[as20059]

@nitewalker777 I will be doing an instructable this weekend, perhaps today. You can see more info on the circuit and design at litterbox-central (dot) com

[silentmovie55]

I'm very interested in this as well. My mother-in-law bought this last month and I have had to clean the water sensor twice now. No big deal, but if she lived far away it would be. And what is this "upgrade" CG wants us to get.

[as20059]

@silentmovie55 CG wants you to upgrade to get more money outta ya. I will be making a schematic and probably an instructable on this. Also I will be making etched pcbs to create a kit for those who don't want to build one. Look at litterbox-central (DOT) com for more.

[givy999]

Where can I buy the kit from???? How much are you selling it for?

[Oregontt]

I have the sensor that I bought off eBay from someone, I just don't know how to set it up. Do you have a video that does a step by step? That would awesome

[mbpeakperformance]

Are you selling or plan to sell this invention of your? Similar to one of the guys that that sells the device that allows you to reset so you can re-use your existing cleaning cartridges?

[Kinagis]

I have three cats. AND the three beep problem. It started about two months after I got the CG 120. I have to clean the plastic sensor with a soft cloth, soap and warm water after every cycle. Yet, still, sometimes it will not work. I was just about to toss the spendy POS, but now you gave me hope. Thank you for your post and sharing your fix.

[mickyunit]

which kinda defeats the purpose of having the catgenie. i also add vinegar to the cleaning cycle, when i happen to be around, and this seems to keep me from having the triple beep code. i love the idea that this box cleans itself, but i'm also feeling like i shouldn't have to scoop the poop out. i feed the cats iams food, maybe i should start feeding them something else to reduce the poop soup smell, and i won't have to scoop the poop??

[mickyunit]

after 1 mo., problems began....it would smell like poop stew while drying out the granules. i've taken it apart so many times to clean it, it's like the drain out of the hopper isn't a tight seal to the drain hose under the hopper..... i used to have it set on the cat activation mode, so it would clean after every use, but then i'd get the triple beep error & this was even a day after running the maintenance pkg so now i set it to clean 3x a day and i scoop out the solid poop.