CSF-3 Super Feeder, Stand and Bowl (No Timer), Automatic Pet Feeder, for Use with Own Timer or Home Automation --4 3/4 Cups Capacity Optionally Expandable

For the last 8 years, my cat has woken me at 5:30 am demanding to be feed. It was not only unpleasant, but I could never get back to sleep! I've always been hesitant about purchasing an automatic feeder, because many of the ones out there don't consistently dispense the same amount of food. Plus, cats break into them easily.We connected this unit to a Belkin Wemo (home automation device), and set up 4 scheduled feedings on my husband's iPhone. I'm assuming it will work with any smart phone. You could also use a regular electrical timer. We prefer this because we could feed him remotely if necessary.The cat was initially apprehensive, because it's a little loud. but now, he equates it to a dinner bell and dashes over every time.My only issue is that it takes a bit of time to adjust the quantity to be dispensed. There is a tiny screw that allows you to adjust the amount. Without a timer, the unit will just remain on when you turn it on, so feeding becomes a little tricky. You use the timer to schedule an "on" time and an "off" time. The shortest amount of time between the two is one minute. We had to figure out how much food was dispensed during one minute and adjust accordingly. I took my cat's daily allowance and divided it by four, since I scheduled four feedings. That's how much I had the machine dispense in one minute.Other than the initial setup, this thing is a dream!!! Totally worth the price!

Well I can see why this feeder is so highly rated. The company builds a really great product. Their website however is needing a lot of work. However I gleened enough information to figure things out. I had the most difficulty with the timer which I purchased at a local hardware store. After about an hour of trial and error, I figured it out and wrote these instructions down for my girlfriend. Since she works late, I bought it for her no-good doggie, a mentally challenged Maltese----the dog is crazy. It will straight up bark at a wall for no reason. Hope this helps:FEEDER BUTTONSOn one side of the machine you'll see a rubber plug. When pulled off, there's a teeny tiny blue dial with a slit. to the right of that is a yellow button. The blue dial determines how much time the feeder will run when triggered.FEEDER STATUS LIGHTSBlue light: status light to let you know that the feeder was recently triggered.Green light: status light to let you know that the feeder is running. Food should be spitting out if this light is on.CHANGING AMOUNT OF FOOD - TINY BLUE DIALIf you turn the dial to the right, it will release more food per triggered feeding event. Turn to the left will decrease the amount of food delivered. You are not supposed to turn that dial more than 1/4 increments. I've already got it perfectly dialed in as you saw. Don't touch it unless you want a little more or less food delivered. Use that tiny black screw driver that I put next to the machine, don't misplace it!CHANGING TIME of DELIVERED FOODThis is kind of a long way, but it works. These are the steps you must do to the feeder itself:Feeder Instructions1) Unplug the timer from the wall socket. Now unplug the feeder's plug from the timer. This is 100% critical you do this in this order, says the manual2) Plug the feeder's plug back into the wall socket3) Open the rubber plug cover on the feeder. There's the blue dial and the yellow reset button. Press the yellow button (reset). This will trigger the machine to spit out food4) Remove top cover, put the food back in, chase Bun-bun away. That no good doggy!!!5) Re-plug the feeder's plug back into the Timer. But don't plug the timer back into the wall socket just yet.Timer InstructionsThere's a button called "Prog". If you press it, it will cycle like this:Prog 1 OnProg 1 OffProg 2 OnProg 2 Off... all the way toProg 20 OnProg 20 OffRight now it is set to this:Prog 1 On at 7:00 AM for 7 days a weekProg 1 Off at 7:03 AM for 7 days a weekProg 2 On at 7:00PM for 7 days a weekProg 2 Off at 7:03PM for 7 days a weekNote: the manual says it must run for 2-3 minutes. I set it to 3 minutes to cover all bases.For example to change the On/Off time in the morning to 7:30 AM to 7:33 AM for 7 days a week:1) Press "Prog" one time. It should display "Prog 1 On". Press the Minutes button to reach 30. Also make sure it says AM.2) Look really carefully to make sure that it says "Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun". If it doesn't, click the "Day" button until it does. When you press the "Day" button, you will see you can cycle for it to go off on any 1 day, every other day, just the weekends, etc. So make sure it shows all days (unless you just want it to go off M-F for example)3) Press "Prog" again until it says "Prog 1 Off". This will allow you to program the timer to turn off. Following the same logic and things to check as shown in steps 1 and 2 above, make sure it says 7:33 AM for 7 days a week.Final Configuration: Finishing up1) Plug the timer back into the wall outletNow you need to make sure that the feeder's blue button is off. This is done by cycling the On/Off/Auto setting on the timer. This is triggered by the "On/Off" button on the timer2) For each of the time settings you set, you need to cycle the On/Off/Auto. So press the "Prog" button once. This will allow you to set the "Prog 1 On" time setting.3) Press "On/Off" and cycle from Auto to On to Off then back to Auto. Look on the feeder. The blue light should be completely off. If yes, press the "Prog" button again which get you to the "Prog 1 Off" time setting. Repeat step 2 above to configure the Prog 1 Off setting to turn off, then On, then back to Auto. Make sure again to make sure that the blue light is off.Repeat for every time setting making sure that the blue light is off and the timer is set to Auto.

Honestly, this is the worst purchase I have made in the last year! NOT EXAGGERATING! Food amounts do not stay consistent over time. I have had to recalibrate the machine once a week since it was purchased. The clear plastic storage container cracked within the first month of owning it. This machine has one job, go off 8 times a day to feed my cat. For the cost of this item, I shouldn't have to attend to it every week to make sure my cat is being fed correctly. I have regretted my purchase sine day one and will never recommend or have nice things to say about this product.

I too purchased a less expensive feeder only to dump it due to it's cheap quality and poor performance. Read the above reviews; "bit the bullet"; and spent my money for the Super Feeder! Not a bit sorry at this time. The hardest part of assembly (watch the video first) was the small size of the screws to attach the hoppers. You need a steady hand & nimble fingers ! If you don't have these, just find someone who does (young ?) and you'll be ok. Workmanship is very good but most important IT WORKS as advertised. Maybe because it's made in the USA!! Setting the food amount is easy, just take your time & run enough cycles till you get it where you want. I used a digital timer bought locally & it works just fine. Confident now that my cat won't starve if I leave for a few days. Hope it lasts a long time & that any problems will be handled quickly & satisfactorily as I would expect from a small "Home Town " USA Company.

This feeder is great! It works just as described. I have two cats, so I bought two. It costs a little more than I really wanted to pay. But after reading so many bad reviews on other feeders, I decided on this one, and haven't regretted my purchase at all! It did take a little time to adjust the portion output, but once I got it right- it's very accurate and consistent. My cats love the sound of the feeder coming on! The feeders also worked great when I travelled for a week over Thanksgiving. I wasn't worried about my cats missing a meal. If you're considering other feeders, I wouldn't waste your money. This one might be expensive, but I really think it's worth it. You get what you pay for!