TRIXIE TX8 Smart Futterautomat Instruction Manual

: June 4, 2024
: TRIXIE

Table of Contents

TRIXIE TX8 Smart Futterautomat
Instructions
- Safety:
- Preparation:
References
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TRIXIE TX8 Smart Futterautomat

TRIXIE-TX8-Smart-Futterautomat-PRODUCT-IMAGE

Instructions

Read the operating instructions before use.
The pet feeder is not a toy for children. Do not let children play with the packaging foil. Danger of suffocation!
The feeder is only suitable for dry food (diameter 5 – 15 mm).
Do not use it with puppies and kittens under 7 months.
The base unit must not get wet – not dishwasher safe.
Additional instructions for the use of IOT devices can be found at the end of this manual.

Electric Shock Hazard!

Incorrect use may result in electric shock.
The mains voltage of the socket must match the specification on the automatic feeder.
Ideally, use an easily accessible socket so that you can quickly disconnect the feeder from the mains if necessary.
Do not use the feeder if there is visible damage to the appliance or the mains cable or plug.
Do not open the feeder, but contact our customer service.
Do not use a timer or other remote control system.
Never touch the mains plug with wet hands.

Safety:

The feeder is suitable for indoor use only.
Place the feeder on a level surface. The feeder must be sufficiently ventilated on all sides.
Only use the feeder with the feed container and lid and do not place anything on top of it.
Never pull the mains plug out of the socket by the cable, always grasp the mains plug.
Do not use the power cord as a carrying handle.
Keep the feeder and power plug away from open flames and heat.
Route the power cord so that it does not become a tripping hazard.
Do not kink the power cord or place it over sharp edges.
Do not allow your pet to nibble on the feeder or cord. If necessary, protect it with a cord protector.
Never reach for an electrical appliance if it has fallen into the water. In such a case, unplug the appliance immediately.
Unplug the feeder when not in use or when cleaning it.

Preparation:

Connect the automatic feeder to a power source using the power plug. Switch on the main switch at the bottom.
To control and program the automatic feeder, now download the “Tuya Smart” app to your cell phone or tablet. Scanning the QR code will take you directly to the download:
Optionally, you can insert 3 x D mono batteries into the automatic feeder as an emergency power supply. The programmed feeding times can thus be guaranteed even in the event of a power failure. Please note that the automatic feeder cannot be accessed via the app in emergency mode.

Registrierung:
Open the app and click REGISTER to create an account.

Pairing the device:
The next step is to connect the automatic feeder to the Internet and pair it with your smartphone. Please be sure to follow these instructions to ensure smooth pairing:

The automatic feeder should be placed near your WLAN router for the duration of the pairing process. At the same time, your smartphone should be in the immediate range of the automatic feeder.
Make sure that your smartphone is connected to the WLAN and has a high signal strength.
Two different pairing methods are available to pair the device: EZ mode and AP mode. EZ mode works exclusively in pure 2.4 GHz networks. The AP mode, on the other hand, also works with modern dual-band routers that broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz parallel. We recommend pairing in AP mode.
Please note that the feeder does not work in 5.0 GHz-only networks.
If your WLAN password contains special characters, there
may be problems with the pairing process. Change your Wi-Fi password so that it contains only letters and numbers. The maximum length of the WLAN password is 20 characters.

AP mode (recommended):

Reset the feeder by pressing and holding the SET button on the top of the unit for 5+ seconds. An audible signal will sound to confirm and after approximately half a minute, the green indicator light (LINK) should begin to flash rapidly. (approx. 1 × per second)
Note: Please contact customer service(smartsupport@trixie.de) if you do not hear a beep and the green indicator light does not start flashing after the reset.
Now press the SET button 11 × quickly in succession to activate the hotspot for pairing in AP mode. An acoustic signal confirms the activation and after about half a minute, the green indicator light (LINK) should start flashing slowly. (approx. 1 × every 3 seconds) If the indicator light continues to flash rapidly, the activation of the hotspot has not worked properly. In this case, repeat this step. Please make sure to press the SET key quickly and evenly!
In the app, select ADD DEVICE, and then select SECURITY CAMERA (Wi-Fi) in the VIDEO MONITORING device category.
On the following page, select Wi-Fi MODE from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner. Tap NEXT and select the AP MODE.
Note: The default pairing method “QR code” does not work with TX Smart feeders.
Enter your WLAN access data on the following page. Tap NEXT. Please note that the WLAN password must not contain any special characters.
Tap CONNECT NOW and select the hotspot of the automatic feeder from the list of available WLAN networks: SmartLife_ XXXX.
Please note that in some cases it may take a while for the phone to find the hotspot. If the hotspot does not appear in the list at first, just wait for a few more seconds.
Then tap the BACK arrow until you land back in the Tuya app. The pairing process should now start automatically. If the pairing process does not start automatically, tap “Confirm Hot Spot Next” at the very bottom of the app.
The app will start the pairing process and should connect to the feeder after a short wait.
Tap FINISH to go to the feeder’s user interface.

EZ Mode (2.4 GHz only):

Reset the feeder by pressing and holding the SET button on the top of the unit for 5+ seconds. An audible signal will sound to confirm and after approximately half a minute, the green indicator light (LINK) should begin to flash rapidly. (approx. 1 × per second)
Note: Please contact customer service(smartsupport@trixie.de) if you do not hear a beep and the green indicator light does not start flashing after the reset.
In the app, select ADD DEVICE and then select SECURITY CA-MERA (Wi-Fi) in the VIDEO MONITORING device category.
On the following page, select Wi-Fi MODE from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner. Tap NEXT and select EZ MODE.
Note: The default pairing method “QR code” does not work with TX Smart feeders.
Enter your WLAN access data on the following page. Tap NEXT. Please note that the WLAN password must not contain any special characters.
The app will start the pairing process and should connect to the feeder after a short wait.

Pairing again:
Please proceed as follows if you need to pair the automatic feeder again – e.g. after moving house or assigning a new WLAN password. Open the Tuya App home page and long tap on the Pet Feeder icon to remove the device from the app. Caution -all programmed feeding times will be lost. After that, wait for about one minute until the green indicator light on the top of the device starts blinking again. You can then repeat the pairing process in AP or EZ mode.

Sharing the feeder:
Follow these steps to give another person access to your feeder:

Tap the pencil icon in the upper right corner to enter the feeder menu.
Tap SHARE DEVICE > ADD SHARING, and then tap SHARE WITH TUYA SMART ACCOUNT. Under ACCOUNT, now enter the email address that the other person previously registered with Tuya. Please note that the person you share the device with in this way will have full access to it – including the camera and microphone.

Note: It is also possible to log into the same Tuya account from multiple devices. This is especially useful if you want to control the autoatic feeder yourself from different mobile devices (e.g. smartphone + tablet).

Filling the feeder:
After successful pairing, you can fill the feeder with dry food. The lid is unlocked by pressing the button on the lock. Under the lid is the food bowl as well as the control panel. Insert the bowl including the stainless steel insert into the bottom of the auto-matic feeder. Press the buttons on the side of the bowl to insert and remove it. After filling, trigger a manual feeding by briefly pressing the SET button of the device once. This ensures that the feeding mechanism of the machine is also filled with food.

The dry feed used should be at least 5 mm thick and should not exceed a maximum diameter of 15 mm. A circular shape is pre-ferable. Dry feed that is too flat, too large, unusually shaped or very sticky can lead to a blockage in the conveying mechanism.
Please make sure that the food slides down properly in the bowl. When in doubt, switch to a less sticky type of food if the food accumulates in the top half of the bowl and blocks the outlet.

Programming the Feeding:
Click on SCHEDULED FEEDING and ADD FEEDING TIME to set feeding times. Here you can set different times for feeding and the days on which they should be repeated, if necessary. You can also set the amount of portions dispensed for each feeding time (1 portion= approx. 24 ml).
In the overview of the feeding times you can easily activate or deactivate individual feedings.

Manual feeding:

Press FEEDING and select the number of portions to be dispensed immediately.
Press LOCKCALL to record a 10 second voice memo. This will be played at all feeding times to get your pet’s attention.
You can view all previous feeding times under FEEDING PROGRAM.

Video transmission and voice recordings:

If you want to take a screenshot of the image shown by the camera, click PHOTO.
If you want to communicate with your pet at home click MICROPHONE.
To record a video, tap VIDEO.
Under ALARM, you can activate the camera’s motion detection to receive a notification when your pet approaches the feeder.

Other settings:
There are other setting options in the top right menu. You can change the name of the device, share it or connect Amazon Echo. It is also possible to remove the device here. Motion detection as well as infrared night vision can be turned on and off as desired.

Notifications:

On the Tuya app home page, you can enable or disable and manage notifications under PROFILE and SETTINGS.
If you enable notifications, you will receive a notification every time you feed your pet or when the food container is empty. Also, as soon as your pet approaches the automatic feeder. You can also view these messages in your profile under NOTIFICATIONS.

Acquaintin your pet with the automatic feeder:
Some animals need some time to get used to the new feeder. We therefore recommend the following:

Place the feeder next to your dog’s or cat’s food bowl without turning it on.
Initially, fill the current bowl as well as the bowl of the automatic feeder with food.
When your pet has become used to the automatic feeder, you can take the normal bowl away.
To arouse your pet’s curiosity about the automatic feeder, you should regularly put some treats in the bowl at the beginning.

Cleaning:
To ensure proper operation, the feeder, especially the bowl and food container, must be cleaned regularly. Crumbs and grease deposits can impair the function and lead to a blockage. Switch off the automatic feeder and disconnect it from the power supply. Take out the feed tray. To do this, press the buttons on the right and left which release the bowl. You can easily pull out the feed tray upwards with the lid open. You can clean the parts with water (not dishwasher safe) or wipe them with a cloth. The station should not be cleaned with water, only wiped with a damp cloth. Before filling in new food, the food container and bowl should be completely dry.

With some types of feed, it may be necessary to occasionally wipe the light barrier at the outlet of the dispenser with a dry cloth as well, otherwise false error messages may be generated due to dirty sensors. The sensors are located on the side of the outlet, approx. 2-3 cm from the opening. You can best reach the sensors from the front of the automatic feeder when the bowl is removed.

Error messages and troubleshooting:

If there is not enough feed left in the feed container, the alarm LED starts flashing red. Refill feed and then initiate a manual feeding by briefly pressing the SET key of the machine once. This ensures that the feeding mechanism of the machine is also filled with feed.
If you use feed that is too large (>15 mm), very flat, unusually shaped or crumbly, the feed mechanism may block and the feed may not be dispensed properly. In this case, the red alarm LED also starts to flash. To remove a blockage in the feed mechanism, all feed must be removed from the device: Lift the feed container out of the automatic feeder and dump out all food. Turn the feed screw at the bottom of the container to remove feed residues from the mechanism. Check the impeller for visible damage and remove any coarse dirt. You can then reinsert the feed container and refill it.
If you have activated the notifications in the app, you will be automatically informed if one of the described problems occurs.

Other connection problems:
In rare cases, diffuse connection problems may occur despite successful pairing of the automatic feeder, e.g. in the form of frequent failure of the camera image. Various causes can be responsible for this. In most cases, such problems are caused by certain settings or peculiarities of the WIFI router (e.g. firewall). We recommend the following steps to find the cause of the problem:

First try to place the feeder in another corner of the room or in another room. Sometimes there may be a problem caused by interference with other electronic equipment or certain room conditions. In these cases, repositioning the feeder may be sufficient to solve the problem.
If the problem persists, we recommend testing the feeder on a different WIFI network to determine if the problem is caused by the WIFI network or the feeder itself.
If the feeder works properly in another WIFI network, the problem must be caused by the home WIFI network. (Continue with step 3)
However, if the same problem also occurs in another WIFI network, the problem could possibly be due to a technical defect in the automatic feeder. In this case, please contact support(smartsupport@trixie.de) to discuss how to proceed.
Note: Instead of testing the feeder e.g. in the WIFI network of a family member or friend, you can also set up a mobile hotspot on a second (!) smartphone and connect the feeder to this hotspot for testing purposes.
If the feeder works perfectly in another WIFI network, the problems are most likely due to settings / peculiarities of your WIFI router.
First, try changing the DNS server of your router to Google DNS server 8.8.8.8. This action is safe and easy to perform:

  * Log in to your WIFI router as admin.
  * Locate the router’s network or DNS server settings.
  * Add one or both of Google’s public DNS servers to the router’s configuration:
  * Google Primary DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
  * Google Secondary DNS server: 8.8.4.4
  * Save the changes and restart the router.

If required, further information on changing the DNS server can be found in the manual for your WiFi router.

2. If the WiFi router has an integrated firewall, it may be necessary in rare cases to assign a static IP address for the feeder to prevent the video stream from being blocked by the firewall. Consult the operating instructions or customer service of your WiFi router for this.

Tips for Using IoT Devices:

Update the software on your device when security updates become available.
Change the default passwords and use a password manager or if desired a two-factor identification.
Activate the firewall on your router.
Create a separate WLAN network for IoT devices. In this case, the IoT devices run on a separate network that has no connec-tion to your sensitive data or devices such as your computer.
Activate encryption of the communication on your IoT devices
Only connect your IoT Devices to the internet when remote access is absolutely necessary.
Use VPN for a secure connection to your home network when you are away from home.
If the setting UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is activated on your router, you should deactivate it to stop your IoT devices from communicating unchecked on the internet.
Make sure that external access to your devices is impossible or extremely difficult and no changes to your hardware can be made from outside.
USB or LAN ports should not be freely accessible as they can serve as a gateway into your network and to your data for an attacker.
Consider any passing on of personal data carefully and protect your privacy.
Consider carefully when security is more important than com-fort and functionality.
If you have any questions about your smart device, please contact support: smartsupport@trixie.de.

The device is operated with the App “Tuya Smart” from Tuya Inc. The app is available in App Stores for free. Please observe the terms of use and data protection information given in the app.