Before I tare into my catgenie had a few questions

[Bill Anderson]

Hello,

I have a newer CatGenie serial 69640.. something (sorry I don't remember it 100% i looked at it last night) and was looking at doing a combo of CatGenius and CartrigeGenie but at least looking at the CatGenius page it looks like the latest code is from 2013.... I wanted to make sure this is the latest and greatest code available, and that it is the correct code for my CatGenie. 

Also do I need both CatGenius and CartridgeGenius? What I would like to accomplish is to 

1. be able to reprogram the CatGenie so that it only washes once or twice a day but scoops a couple times a day or so (I have  two cats, two out of 3 use it the 3rd and oldest took to toilet training like a champ!, so it is very common that one attempts to use the box and finds it cleaning, we found a nice little "treasure trove" in the basement last weekend and are trying to figure out ways to limit this as much as possible!

2. hopefully stop putting the cleaning solution down at the end of the cleaning solution and leaving the pellets sticky (unless someone can tell me a good reason for doing this) 

3. by-pass the requirement to use CatGenie cartridge (or at least be able to use large external bottle of cleaning solution) I have 2 or 3 empty cartriges so if I have to modify one to hook up to an external container that is 100% fine

4. I am trying to keep costs down because if the above steps don't work to correct the "treasure trove" issue then we will need to purchase a 2nd CatGenie and I would rather not have to double up on the extra expenses on top of the extra genie!

Bill

[Robert Deliën]

Let me answer your message as I go through it.

> I have a newer CatGenie serial 69640.. something (sorry I don't remember it 100% i looked at it last night)
> and was looking at doing a combo of CatGenius and CartrigeGenie but at least looking at the CatGenius
> page it looks like the latest code is from 2013.... I wanted to make sure this is the latest and greatest code
> available, and that it is the correct code for my CatGenie.

CatGenius needs a little love and attention, but what is there will get your box clean. I'm currently doing two full-time projects at a time, so I currently don't have time for it. I don't even have time to finish the move to GitHub...
But when I do have time again, I will start working on a replacement controller board, with a Raspberry Pi on board, making it much easier of people to customize their box and contribute to the project.

You shouldn't combine CatGenius and CartridgeGenius; That serves no purpose. They are two different projects for two different kinds of people.
CatGenius is for geeks like me and it is a complete firmware replacement for your CatGenie box. The old firmware will be erased and the new CatGenius firmware will take over control. Since we cannot read the original firmware from the box, this is an irreversible process; Once a CatGenius, always a CatGenius. If you want to go back, you'll need to buy a new box. So I recommend people to use CatGenius only if they are familiar and confident with software development, to make sure they are able to fix problems in case things aren't as expected. CatGenius can read cartridge chip contents, but doesn't actually used them. CatGenius allows you to modify your box' behaviour in any way so see fit.
CartridgeGenius is an emulator, emulating the cartridge reader and a cartridge chip. It replaces the original cartridge reader and it makes the original firmware believe it still has an original cartridge reader and a cartridge chip. The difference is that it allows you to manipulate the contents of this cartridge chip. This will allow you to use your catbox the way _you_ want to.

> Also do I need both CatGenius and CartridgeGenius?

No.

> What I would like to accomplish is to 

> 1. be able to reprogram the CatGenie so that it only washes once or twice a day but scoops a couple times a day
> or so (I have  two cats, two out of 3 use it the 3rd and oldest took to toilet training like a champ!, so it is very
> common that one attempts to use the box and finds it cleaning, we found a nice little "treasure trove" in the
> basement last weekend and are trying to figure out ways to limit this as much as possible!

You can only do this with CatGenius. But I'm no longer using scoop-only anymore. It appeared to be a good idea at the time, but for my cats it turns out not to be a good idea: The scooping spreads the scent of one cat all around the bowl, making it smell much stronger for another cat, which will go find an alternative spot.

> 2. hopefully stop putting the cleaning solution down at the end of the cleaning solution and leaving the pellets
> sticky (unless someone can tell me a good reason for doing this)

You can only do this with CatGenius. Alternatively you can use CartridgeGenius and no cleaning solution at all. Just fill your cartridges with water instead, to prevent the dosage pump from clogging up.

> 3. by-pass the requirement to use CatGenie cartridge (or at least be able to use large external bottle of cleaning solution)
> I have 2 or 3 empty cartriges so if I have to modify one to hook up to an external container that is 100% fine

You can go either way here.

> 4. I am trying to keep costs down because if the above steps don't work to correct the "treasure trove" issue
> then we will need to purchase a 2nd CatGenie and I would rather not have to double up on the extra expenses
> on top of the extra genie!

I'm running two CatGenies for three cats, but I'm considering to get a third one... But then again; I haven't been using cartridges for 5(?) years now.

[Bill Anderson]

Mindbender,

Thank you for the GREAT reply!!!

So just to make sure I am understanding everything I am reading 100% correctly.... I am a PC geek, and can figure things out quite well and am great at troubleshooting (I am a decent scripter but not a programmer!, and I am a hardware guy :) ) TO accomplish my desired set up I would need the following 

1. a pick it 3 programmer

2. a cable (either per made or custom made)

3. jug for holding cleaning fluid

4. fittings and required seals for hole in bottom of jug

5. tubing to run form jug to CatGenie

6. any required fittings to go from tubing to CatGenie connection (where the cartridge was)  

7. some time and patience to get  the code to do 100% what I want it to do for my cats. 

What are you running for cleaning solution?

Bill

[Cassie Humphreys-Kearnes]

Hi Bill,

I would highly recommended going for the catgenis. The Wiki instructions provided are fantastic and helped me greatly. Be sure to follow along, there is even links to purchase the pic & cables needed.

https://code.google.com/p/catgenius/wiki/HowToProgram

As for the extra tank, I too have this setup. I just purchased a cheap jug from Walmart and screwed a hole in the top lid. Then purchased a tube, and threaded through to an old cartridge & nipple. No need for sealers etc. The cat genie and cartridge does the rest.

- Cassie

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[Bill Anderson]

Cassie,

That looks GREAT! 

What are you using for a cleaning solution? 

Bill

[Bill Anderson]

SO MindBender,

I'm assuming you are thining of a R-Pi solution in place of the CatNIP panel? Or is the CatNIP Panel still in the works also?

Would the CatNIP, or the R-Pi solution take the place of the PICkit 3?

Bill

On Monday, July 13, 2015 at 11:02:45 AM UTC-5, MindBender wrote:

[Robert Deliën]

> 1. a pick it 3 programmer

> 2. a cable (either per made or custom made)

You need them only during development. See the Wiki for details.

> 3. jug for holding cleaning fluid

> 4. fittings and required seals for hole in bottom of jug

> 5. tubing to run form jug to CatGenie

> 6. any required fittings to go from tubing to CatGenie connection (where the cartridge was)

Yes; you can build the plumbing to your own likings. I didn't do any of that. I just filled my cartridges with water a couple of times to flush the dosage pump, and now I'm just keeping them empty.

> 7. some time and patience to get  the code to do 100% what I want it to do for my cats. 

Yes. I really recommend you to spend some time on that first, before you do anything else.

> What are you running for cleaning solution?

Nothing. I flushed it with water at first, and now it's just empty. Many people use Simple Green, but that's not available here in Europe, so I can't say anything useful about that.

Cheers,

        Robert.

[Robert Deliën]

> I'm assuming you are thining of a R-Pi solution in place of the CatNIP panel? Or is the CatNIP
> Panel still in the works also?

CatNIP is an app for an (old) Andriod phone or tablet, talking to your box over BlueTooth.

> Would the CatNIP, or the R-Pi solution take the place of the PICkit 3?

I'm not sure where you're going here. PICkit is an in-circuit programmer for MicroChip microprocessors. It's not an integral part of any solution. It's just a tool.
The RPi solution would be a complete board of hardware, replacing the stock controller board in your box.

[Tammy Dunn]

Just wondering if you remember what diameter tubing fits the nipple?