TRIXIE TX9 Smart Automatic Feed Dispenser Instruction Manual

: June 3, 2024
: TRIXIE

Table of Contents

TRIXIE TX9 Smart Automatic Feed Dispenser
Safety
Preparation
- Pairing the device
AP mode (recommended)
EZ Mode (2.4 GHz only)
- Pairing again
Sharing the feeder:
Cleaning
Error messages and troubleshooting
- Other connection problems
Tips for Using IoT Devices
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

TRIXIE TX9 Smart Automatic Feed Dispenser

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 dis-connect 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 feeder, download the „Tuya Smart“ app to your cell phone or tablet. Scanning the QR code will take you directly to the download:
It is possible to connect a power bank to the TX9 Smart 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 feeder is not accessible via the app in emergency mode.

Registration
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 smart-phone 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 in parallel. We recommend pairing in AP mode.
Please note that the feeder will 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 WLAN 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 bottom of the unit for 5+ seconds. An audible signal will sound to confirm and after about half a minute the green indicator light above the camera should begin to flash rapidly. (Approx. 1 time 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 times in quick 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 should start to flash slowly. (Approximately 1 time every 3 seconds) If the indicator light continues to flash rapidly, the hotspot activation did not work properly. In this case, repeat this step. Please make sure to press the SET button 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.

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.
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 bottom of the unit for 5+ seconds. An audible signal will sound to confirm and after about half a minute, the green indicator light above the camera should begin to flash rapidly. (Approx. 1 time 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 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 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 give a 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 front of the device starts blinking again. You can then repeat the pairing process in AP or EZ mode.

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 machine with in this way will have full access to the machine – 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 automatic feeder yourself from different mobile devices (e.g. smart-phone + tablet).

Filling the feeder

After successful pairing, you can fill the feeder with dry food. Place the lid on the food bowl and turn it to close it securely. Open the bowl by pressing against it and then pulling it out. Then trigger a manual feeding by briefly pressing the SET button of the device once. This will ensure that the feeding mechanism of the machine is also filled with food.
The dry feed used should not exceed a maximum diameter of 15 mm. A circular shape is preferable. Dry feed that is too flat, too large, unu-sually shaped or very sticky can promote 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 accu-mulates in the top half of the bowl and blocks the outlet.

Programming the Feeding

Click on SCHEDULED FEEDING and ADD FEEDING TIME to set fee-ding times. Here you can set different times for feedings and the days on which they should be repeated, if necessary. You can also set the amount of portions dispensed for feeding (1 portion= approx. 12 ml). In the overview of the feeding times you can easily activate or deactivate individual feeding times.

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 feeding times to date 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 is empty. Also, as soon as your pet approaches the automatic feeder. You can also view these mes-sages in your profile under NOTIFICATIONS.

Acquainting 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, without turning it on, next to your dog‘s or cat‘s food bowl.
Initially, fill the current bowl as well as the bowl of the automatic feeder with food.
When your pet has become accustomed to the automatic feeder, you can put 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 auto-matic feeder and disconnect it from the power supply. Remove the feed tray (lift slightly and pull out), lid and feed container (simply pull out upwards) from the station for cleaning (not dishwasher safe). The station should not be cleaned in water, only wiped down with a damp cloth. Before filling in new food, the food container and lid should be completely dry.
With some types of feed, it may be necessary to also occasionally wipe the light barrier at the outlet of the dispenser with a dry cloth, as 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 taken out.

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 very crumbly, the feed mechanism may block and the feed may not be dispensed properly. Also in this case, the red alarm LED will start flashing. To remove a blockage in the feed mechanism, all feed must be removed from the machine: 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 problems described occurs.

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 connection 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 com-municating 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 comfort 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.