Hey everyone! I have a Sure Petcare cat flap that's been driving me crazy with its constant need for battery replacements. These rechargeable batteries only last about a week and even show low battery within a day due to their lower voltage. To solve this, I tried hardwiring the flap. I've managed to connect it with 4x 1.5V batteries in series for 6V, but when I tried using a 5V phone charger, the microchip reader gets finicky and often fails to scan, keeping my cats trapped inside. I even tried a 6V power source, and while it doesn't show low battery, the scanner still doesn't work reliably.
I suspect the voltage might be unstable, which is what the manufacturer hints at for these devices. I'm looking for a stable linear power supply that can work effectively with the cat flap. I've bought and returned several options already and would really appreciate any suggestions! Also, I'm comfortable with basic soldering, but my tools aren't the best. Please share your thoughts or solutions! This is my first time posting here, so go easy on me.
1 Answer
You might want to consider running a larger battery to the cat flap, like a 6V sealed lead-acid battery. It could last you around a month before needing a charge. Just make sure you have a spot to swap it out for charging!
I get that, but then I’d have to deal with switching out two batteries for charging. I was also considering a power bank, but that’s another hassle. I might just be overthinking it!