mike

First of all, this is NOT an adverti*****t. I'm just relating to all my fellow
lazy humans that hate to handle the LB everyday about a "discovery" I just
found.

I've owned several littermaids over the past 7 years, b/c the damn things keep
breaking, but even though its cost prohibitive, I keep buying a new one b/c I'm
lazy and Hank likes a clean place to do his business.

The most annoying thing about the littermaid (to me at least) is the damn thing
going off at 2am and getting stuck on a tough clump -- and then the rake goes
back and forth until I get out of bed and correct it. I was browsing on ebay
and stumbled across this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tegory=29 853

It's basically a more powerful transformer that does indeed have A LOT more
power then the standard transformer. The seller claims it has worked for 1.5
years with no problems, and I'm willing to accept that claim, but I don't know
about their claim of having triple the power is accurate (see my calculations
below).

The thing costs $40 shipped, which is a bit pricey, so since I bit the bullet
and bought one, I'm going to share the technical specs so if you want to find
your own elsewhere (for a lot less $$$ I bet) feel free to do so.

Booster (24V 600ma) vs. Littermaid (12V 500ma)

-----
Power calculation follows:

the booster generates 24V *.6A = 14.4 Watts
littermand std generates 12V *.5A = 6 Watts

14.4/6 = 2.4, so the booster is 2.4 times more powerful than the one that comes
with the littermaid.

I don't know why LM uses such a "weaker" adapter, but production costs and
safety might come into play. Please don't blame me if your kitty gets hurt in
the thing if it goes off while he is in it.

cheryl

In news:78174232.0000f78c.026@drn.newsguy.com,
Mike <dontspamthecat@boo.ya> composed with style:

Please don't blame me if


If you have to post this disclaimer, it is all the more reason not to
mess with it. Two minutes or less per day or even twice a day is not
worth the chance that a cat will get hurt. Do it the old fashioned
way.

cary

In article <bof3av$4rg$1@bob.news.rcn.net> "Cheryl" <jlhshadow@hotmail.com> writes:
<In news:78174232.0000f78c.026@drn.newsguy.com,
<Mike <dontspamthecat@boo.ya> composed with style:
<
<Please don't blame me if
<> your kitty gets hurt in the thing if it goes off while he is in it.
<
<If you have to post this disclaimer, it is all the more reason not to
<mess with it. Two minutes or less per day or even twice a day is not
<worth the chance that a cat will get hurt. Do it the old fashioned
<way.
<
<

Sliced cat is NOT the next best thing after sliced bread.


-- cary

jon c

It'll power through the kitty, too.

You do realize that a simple trip to Radio Shack will yield the same product
for about $10 instead of $35?

mike

Life itself comes with no disclaimers. I personally don't think this is any
MORE dangerous then the regular littermaid for your standard kitty, but then
again, I'm no engineer.

In article <bof3av$4rg$1@bob.news.rcn.net>, Cheryl says...

mike

Well since the seller wouldn't post the ratings of the transformer, I had no
idea what it was until I got the thing in the mail. I posted the specs here so
YOU can get for for $10 instead of $40. I guess no good deed goes unpunished.

joe canuck

And there is the biggest problem with the automated devices that are
more beneficial to humans than they are to felines.

--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck

booyah

Come again? I love my littermaid, and my cat does too. It saves me time and he
has a clean box EVERY time he has to go.

joe canuck

Until the one time he gets trapped or injured by it... that is the risk.

For some it is an acceptable risk.

--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck

booyah

It's a minimal risk compared to letting your kitty outside the house!