Last Updated: 3 weeks ago
Are you wondering why your Litter-Robot 3 lights are flashing?
When you’re new to automatic cat litter boxes, it’s easy to get confused when you see your unit’s sensor blinking.
Fortunately, we’re here to explain everything you need to know about Litter-Robot 3 lights.
Just keep reading.
Litter-Robot 3 Troubleshooting: Different Lights Meaning
An automatic litter box is a great choice when you don’t have enough time to scoop multiple toilet boxes every day or deal with clumps sticking to the bottom of the box.
And Litter-Robot 3 is one of the best automatic toilet boxes you can find because of its smart features, innovative design, and durability.
Still, like any electronic device, you’ll need to troubleshoot your unit from time to time. And here’s where it can get confusing with all those blinking lights and sequences.
So, what do your Litter-Robot 3 lights mean? Well, it depends on the color of the light (blue, red, or yellow) and whether it’s blinking or not.
To help you figure out what’s going on with your machine, we’ll talk about what each of these lights means.
1. Blue Light
The most common light signal you have to deal with when you have a Litter-Robot 3 is the blue light. It’s also the easiest to troubleshoot.
A solid blue light indicates that your unit is ready to use and everything is working as expected. On the other hand, a blinking blue signifies that the waste drawer is full.
You need to empty the drawer, put a new waste liner in, and press the reset button on the control panel or the Whiskers app.
Afterward, the flashing blue light should return to a solid blue light, indicating that the unit is ready.
Also, you can deactivate Litter-Robot’s 3 blue light by pressing and holding the power button for five seconds. If you wish to turn it on, repeat the same action.
2. Yellow Light
A solid yellow light means that your unit is cycling or paused. As such, you don’t have to do anything unless you want to unpause, abort, or pause the cycle.
- To unpause the unit, press the cycle button
- To abort the clean cycle, press reset or empty
- Press any button to put the unit on pause
On the other hand, a blinking yellow light signals a problem. The flashing sequence determines how to resolve the issue.
A slow yellow flashing light (one flash per second) indicates that something has interrupted the clean cycle, for example, your cat entering the box or a disconnected globe.
Typically, the unit will start cycling 15 seconds after your feline friend leaves the box and 5 seconds after attaching the bonnet.
A rapidly flashing yellow light (four flashes per second) indicates a pinch condition—an obstruction in the waste port.
You need to turn off the Litter-Robot 3 and check the waste port to remove any possible obstruction. If there is no physical cause, it may be that the connectors need to be cleaned or the corrosion sanded off.
Check out this video on how to troubleshoot the yellow flashing light.
3. Red Light
A solid red light shows that the built-in cat sensor has detected your cat inside the unit and is counting down to the start of the clean cycle. So, you don’t have to do anything.
On the other hand, flashing red lights means a cat sensor fault, and it has two possible causes:
- Your cat hasn’t left the unit
- Excess litter weight
Check if your cat is still inside the globe and ensure you’ve filled the sand to the proper litter level. Then reset the unit and try again.
4. Yellow and Blue
Solid yellow and blue lights indicate that your device is in an 8-hour sleep mode.
As such, the Litter-Robot 3 won’t turn on the clean cycle during these hours.
You can turn off the sleep mode by pressing and holding the cycle button, or through the Whiskers app.
What Do Flashing Sequences Mean?
Besides single solid or blinking lights, you may notice that your device is flashing several different light colors in a row.
1. Yellow to Red
Whenever your unit flashes from yellow to red light, it indicates a motor obstruction.
You have to turn off the device, disassemble it, and remove the jam.
2. Blue to Yellow to Red
This sequence means that your Litter-Robot can’t find the dump position.
You should contact customer service for assistance in resolving the matter.
3. Red to Yellow to Blue
This sequence means that the unit can’t find the home position. You may have to replace the hall-effect sensor, so you should contact the manufacturer for details.
Check out this video on how to fix the red flashing light.
4. Blue, Yellow, and Red
If you see blue, yellow, and red blinking simultaneously, the unit has a problem with the cleaning cycle.
According to support, the problem might be related to the base’s wiring or the hall-effect sensor.
The problem can also be related to excess weight, power cord/adapter issues, or a misaligned internal shield.
What to Do When Your Litter-Robot 3 Lights Are Blinking?
So, let’s talk a bit about what you should do when you’re dealing with blinking Litter-Robot 3 lights.
1. Reset the Unit
Pressing the Reset button may solve a number of issues you might encounter with your Litter-Robot 3.
So, before you panic and start reading through forums, you should turn your unit off or on.
2. Contact Support
Litter-Robot 3 has friendly customer support, so you can give them a call whenever you’re having an issue with blinking lights.
And you can always ask a question in the forum and have customer service resolve it for you, or read the troubleshooter.
3. Change Litter
Sometimes you fill the unit up to the proper litter level, and you still get an error. That’s because some types of clay-clumping litter are heavier than others.
As such, changing the brand can resolve the cat sensor error.
4. Check the Power Supply
Ensure your adapter meets the unit’s specifications and that the power cord is intact. Change the outlet and try again.
5. Check the Bonnet or Globe
If the bonnet and the globe aren’t in the proper position, the unit won’t start or finish cycling.
Check out this video to see how to remove and replace the globe.
Conclusion
Litter-Robot 3 is a great choice for cat parents who don’t have much time to scoop the litter box and maintain it clean for multiple cats.
And as you can see, it’s pretty easy to learn what the Litter-Robot 3 lights mean so that you can resolve issues as soon as possible.
The litter robot price is well worth it if you can use it, so don’t forget that you also have a trial period, so you can always return the unit in 90 days if it’s too hard to get used to its buttons.
What do you think about our Litter-Robot 3 troubleshooting? Have you ever had any issues with the Litter-Robot 3 lights? Share your user experiences in the comment section.
Olfa knows how to get things done and has a keen business sense that others admire. She’s always on the go, coming up with new ideas! Her ability to anticipate the needs of her readers and deliver information that they want is what makes CatVills such a success. She loves cuddling her cat Picaciu. He is her inspiration.
