So my LR3c purchased 2020-07-30 with 24mo extended warranty has been acting up for a few months now. I’ve finally managed to catch the problem as it happens and have found that it gets to the cycle position (upside down with hole on bottom), then after about 2 seconds, it tries to continue going counter clockwise instead of returning to home position and appears to ride up and over a bump then gets stuck with a pinch sensor fault and rapid blinking yellow light. Sometimes a power reset will make it go back properly, but often, i have to take the globe off and put it back in the correct position before it will resume proper operation. Have cleaned the pinch sensor, and the bonnet connectors, and still does this. Verified magnets are in place and strong enough to hold a keyring. Also (and possibly unrelated) i noticed the molded fins underneath the big black position key on rear of globe have been “pushed though” as if they were designed to stop travel, but the motor had caused the globe to forcefully overcome them, folding the plastic fin in the process. I have contacted whisker support, but afterwards, i realized the purchase was through robot shop, and i am only in my exeltended warranty period.
Hello @NDau ,
Welcome to RobotShop community.
We are sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your Litter-Robot.
Please provide us with your order number or a copy of the invoice.
The beige plug should be inside the globe and fixed to the center via a screw that’s connecting it to the black key from the other side as shown in the following video:
As for the issue of the fast blinking yellow light, this issue could be coming from 3 parts:
1- The contact pins.
We will need to see the 3 pairs of contact pins shown in the following videos:
Anti-Pinch Pins:
Bonnet’s Pin:
Base’s Pin:
No need to take them out of the robot, we only need to see them from the outside.
2- Magnets inside the globe.
Please test the magnets by putting any metallic object on these two areas circled in red and check if the magnets would attract the object or not.
3- Misplaced or defective hall-effect sensor:
If the magnets are okay then the issue is coming from the hall-effect sensor and it needs to be replaced.
We have attached a guide to show you how to replace this sensor.
Awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
I have attached images of all three sensor pin locations. (Its been a couple weeks since cleaning) also, the magnets are strong and will hold a small keyring without issue. I believe that once the globe decides to proceed counterclockwise and jumps up, it is tripping the pinch sensor setting it off ( i assume this means pinch sensor and bonnet sensor are functioning as normal). And the magnets and hall sensor seem to be recognizing position due to the fact that it does stop at end of cycle position. The odd factor is that it decides to continue counter clockwise after stopping for a couple couple seconds instead of reversing rotation. As for the beige plug, its all reassembled, i simply attached the image to display the bent plastic tabs and the damaged fins that i noticed during a previous cleaning session. The order number was 1006393
Hello @NDau,
Thank you for your reply.
The pins are damaged so we will send you new ones under the extended warranty.
Since the robot can’t find the home position and the magnets are fine… then the hall-effect sensor is the defective part and needs to be replaced.
Please provide us with the following:
1- Shipping address.
2- Phone number.
3- Serial number located on the back of the robot.
You can send us these details via private message for more security.
Awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Have private messaged you. Thank you for your assistance
One more question. In the original post at the top there, i had shown images of the fins under the black key, as well as tabs on the retaining plug being damaged. Is it fair to assume that this was a result of the globe proceeding past its stopping point due to a hall sensor issue? And if so, should the globe/plug be replaced as a result of consequential damage due to warrantable fault? Im not sure if this is related or not, but i think this allows the key to move past its stopping point when the globe is moving.
Hello @NDau ,
Thank you for your reply.
This is not a damage, this was in the design of the globe to make such cracking noises in the case of the globe over-rotating past the dump position.
Very well, we will forward you now to our replacement department to carry on with the process.
You will be contacted shortly via email with further details about the shipping.
Have a lovely evening, stay safe.
Sincerely,
Thank you for your assistance
You are welcome.