IMPORTANT

1. Make sure your unit is plugged in.
2. Make sure your unit is connected and online.
3. Make sure your firmware is up-to-date. If the app does not give you the option to update, you have the latest version.

Preparation

Litter-Robot 4 is equipped with OmniSense™ detection that utilizes laser and weight sensor technology to provide real-time litter and waste drawer levels. 

There are three laser sensors located in the top of the bezel, called Curtain Sensors, that accurately measure the capacity of the waste drawer. During each Clean cycle, the DFI Sensor will measure the level of waste within the waste drawer as the waste port passes over the waste drawer.
 

The waste drawer level will be displayed on the Whisker app.

If the waste drawer level on the app is not accurately representing the level in the waste drawer (within 5%), please follow these troubleshooting steps.

Troubleshooting

Emptying the waste drawer when indicated is important to ensure that your Litter-Robot continues to automatically cycle.

You'll want to ensure that the waste drawer is empty and you have a new waste drawer liner.

1. To install a new waste drawer liner, you’ll need to remove the drawer. Simply grab the step and slide the drawer out until it’s clear of the unit.
   
2. Now take your new waste drawer liner and open it all the way. Wrap the edges of the waste drawer liner or bag over the rim of the waste drawer.
3. Ensure the bag is pushed flat against the side walls and bottom of the drawer.

   Stretched bags or bags not pressed flat will cause the DFI (drawer full indicator) to inaccurately measure the waste drawer level. 

4. Finally, push the drawer back into the unit.
5. Now, let's run a test cycle. Short press the Reset button, then short press the Cycle button to run a clean cycle.
   

Successful: After your Litter-Robot cycles, it should return to the Home position, displaying a solid blue light. If your waste drawer gauge is accurate (within 5%), you've been successful. 

Unsuccessful: If your waste drawer gauge is still inaccurate (within 5%), we'll need to further inspect your unit for next steps.

Cleaning the sensors

Let’s take a closer look at the sensors located in the bezel.

Any debris on the bezel, such as dust or cat fur, can interfere with the DFI sensor. This can cause the unit to inaccurately measure the waste drawer level and litter level, as well as cause false cat detects.

1. Wipe the bezel area where the sensors are located with a dry clean cloth to remove debris such as hair or dust.
2. Vacuum the inside perimeter of the bezel with a brush attachment, passing over the holes at the top of the bezel where the curtain sensors are located. 
3. You may need to clean the sensors with a cotton swab. Please refer to our Laser Sensor Cleaning Instructions to learn how.
4. Now, let's run a test cycle. Short press the Reset button, then short press the Cycle button to run a Clean cycle.
   

5. Check your app to ensure that the waste drawer level displayed is accurate.

   Successful: If your waste drawer gauge is accurate (within 5%), you've been successful. 

   Unsuccessful: If your waste drawer gauge is still inaccurate (within 5%), please follow these troubleshooting steps.

Check for obstructions

Let’s check for any additional debris that may interfere with the sensors during the cycle.  We will remove the bonnet and globe to look for any issues.

1. Make sure the unit is in the Home position. Press the Power button to turn the unit off, then unplug the unit from the wall.
2. To open the bonnet, press and hold the latches on both sides of the bonnet, then lift and rotate the bonnet to its open position.
    
3. To remove the bonnet completely, unlatch the center tab on the bonnet from the catch clip on the unit frame behind the robot. Set the bonnet aside.
4. To remove the globe, grab the black handle located on top of the globe and lift the globe off the base.
    
5. Lift the globe high enough or place it on the ground and roll it away from you slightly.
6. Cat fur can get stuck in the seal strip located at the front of the globe. When the globe rotates, fur can interfere with the DFI sensor. Ensure the seal strips on the inside of the globe are not peeling up or have any debris (cat fur, etc..) stuck in them.
   
   
7. Check the waste port opening in the globe and base for any clumps or objects stuck around the opening (the sensors need a clear field of view to measure the waste drawer level).
   

Install the globe & bonnet

Now that we’ve checked for any obstructions, let’s re-install the globe and bonnet and check for proper operation of the unit.

1. To install the globe, hold the globe by the black handle and set it onto the base.
    
2. When installing the globe, keep the globe handle and waste port oriented toward the top to ensure the globe is close to the Home position.
3. The large black gear on the rear of the globe should easily engage with the smaller white drive gear in the base.
   
4. To close the bonnet, rotate the bonnet downward over the globe, applying slight inward pressure at the latches to align the bonnet within the base. You should hear the latches snap into place.
   
5. Check to make sure the center tab at the top of the bonnet is secured in its pocket by pushing down on the bonnet at the tab location.
    
6. If the bonnet was completely removed, rotate the bonnet upward and align the hinge feature of the bonnet at the back of the base.
7. Plug the unit in and power it on.
8. Litter-Robot will then perform a Clean cycle and return to the Home position with a blue light bar.
9. After it completes the first cycle, press Cycle again to allow the unit to complete a full cycle.
    

Next, you'll need to make sure your firmware is up-to-date.

Firmware update

Whisker has the ability to provide updated firmware to your robot with fixes to correct known issues with the unit. We recommend that you always keep your Litter-Robot’s firmware updated to ensure the best possible operation.

1. In the Whisker app, select your Litter-Robot 4 unit from the dashboard.
   
2. Tap on the gear icon in the top right corner.
   
3. On the Robot Settings screen, tap on Firmware Information.
   
4. On the Information page, tap Update Firmware to begin the update process. If you don’t see the option, then you already have the latest firmware update.
   

This may take up to 30 minutes to complete. You will see a single white light blinking on your unit’s control panel while your robot’s firmware is updating

Once the update is complete, your Litter-Robot should be ready for use.

Before you check the waste drawer level on the app to ensure it's accurately representing the level in the waste drawer, press the Reset button, then press the Cycle button to start a Clean cycle.

Check your app to ensure that the waste drawer level displayed is accurate.

Successful: If your waste drawer gauge is accurate (within 5%), you've been successful.

Unsuccessful: If the waste drawer gauge is still inaccurate (within 5%), we'll need to further inspect your unit for next steps.

Recalibrating the DFI

Occasionally, the DFI sensor will require a recalibration to ensure proper measurement accuracy. Follow these steps or refer to our Calibrating OmniSense Laser Sensors guide for visual reference.

1. First, confirm that your firmware is up to date
2. Next, remove the waste drawer liner and wipe the drawer clean of debris.
3. Add a piece of plain white paper to the bottom of the drawer. For example, half a sheet of printer paper.
   1. The purpose of the white paper is to provide a reflective surface for the DFI lasers.
   2. Make sure the paper is plain white and does not have a pattern. Also make sure that it will lay flat on the bottom of the drawer.
4. Insert the waste drawer again. Do not add a waste drawer liner yet.
5. Next, press the Power button to turn Litter-Robot 4 off. Do not unplug the unit.
6. Wait at least 5 seconds before beginning the following button press sequence.
7. Now press the control panel buttons one at a time in this order: Connect, Reset, Connect, Empty, Cycle
   1. Make sure that you press each button within 5 seconds of the previous button press.
8. If the control panel buttons are incorrectly pressed, the unit will remain off. Wait 5 seconds and repeat the previous step again.
9. If correctly pressed, the unit will perform a lamp test. That means the LED display will illuminate red, green, and blue lights.
10. Then it will begin to cycle to the Dump position, illuminating a round-robin green light bar.  This will allow the DFI lasers to “see” the white paper at the bottom of the drawer when the waste port is positioned over the waste drawer.
11. During calibration, the LED display will illuminate a yellow light bar with a partial flashing green light.
12. If the calibration is successful, the LED display will illuminate a yellow light bar with a flashing blue light for five seconds. Then the unit will cycle to the Home position.
13. You can now remove the white paper from the waste drawer, add a new waste drawer liner, and resume use.

Tip - for optimal DFI laser accuracy, you can leave the white paper in the bottom of the drawer - always under the drawer liner.

Successful: If the calibration is successful, check the Whisker app to ensure that the waste drawer level displayed is accurate.

Unsuccessful: If the calibration fails, the LED display will illuminate a yellow light bar with a red flashing light for five seconds. Then the unit will cycle Home. If this happens there's likely an issue with your Litter-Robot.

Issue not resolved?

To repair your Litter-Robot, you will need a Laser Board or a Base.

What do I do?

My unit is covered by WhiskerCare™
If your Litter-Robot is covered by WhiskerCare™ warranty, you have access to replacement parts, at no cost, to get your Litter-Robot up-and-running quickly. Please contact our Customer Experience Team for further assistance.

The warranty on my unit has expired
If your unit is no longer under warranty, we can help you with the necessary parts and instructions to properly fix your unit at home.

Parts Needed (choose one):

• Litter-Robot 4 Laser Board (Contact Customer Experience) | Installation Instructions
• Litter-Robot 4 Base | Installation Instructions

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Troubleshooting Wizard