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Quick answer: PetSafe identifies PFD00-16828 as Smart Feed 2nd Generation. It is an app-connected feeder powered by an AC adapter, with four D-cell alkaline batteries available as backup. PetSafe lists up to 12 meals per day, portions from 1/8 to 4 cups, a 24-cup hopper and a 15-minute Slow Feed option for qualifying meals. It is a different product from the locally programmed Healthy Pet Simply Feed PFD00-14574. (PetSafe PFD00-16828, download index)
Independent context is older and should be read narrowly: Tom’s Guide published a Smart Feed 2.0 review in 2019, described its subject as 2nd Generation and reported a food-specific issue with Purina Pro Plan Savor. That review does not state PFD00-16828, so its test result is not evidence that the exact current SKU behaves the same way. (Tom’s Guide review)
Contents
- Confirm the generation
- Settings and app control
- Power and backup
- What an independent review can tell you
- Compare with Simply Feed
- Before ordering
Confirm the generation
The official PetSafe product page gives model PFD00-16828 and calls it Smart Feed 2nd Generation. PetSafe’s downloads page separately names the older Smart Feed PFD00-15788. Check the model number rather than relying on a retailer title that simply says “Smart Feed.” (PetSafe product page, PetSafe downloads)
The manufacturer lists a footprint of 20.3 × 9.4 × 12.6 inches, so check counter or floor space and access for filling and cleaning. The AC adapter is the regular power source; batteries are described as backup, not ordinary cordless operation.
Settings and app control
PetSafe describes Wi-Fi connection through the My PetSafe app, with up to 12 scheduled meals daily, meal portions from 1/8 to 4 cups, and a 24-cup hopper. The Slow Feed option distributes qualifying meals over 15 minutes. These are maximum settings and feature descriptions, not recommendations for an individual pet’s feeding schedule or proof of portion accuracy. (PetSafe PFD00-16828 product page)
Think about the control style before buying: the Smart Feed’s value is app-managed scheduling and connected functions. Confirm your home network meets PetSafe’s stated requirements and that you are willing to set up the app. A Wi-Fi/app workflow is different from entering the entire meal schedule directly on a local button panel.
A hopper capacity of 24 cups is not a guaranteed number of days between refills. Actual use depends on the planned portions and the food. Check the feeder with the exact dry food you intend to use before relying on a new schedule.
Power and backup
PetSafe says PFD00-16828 uses an AC adapter and can take four D-cell alkaline batteries as a backup option; those batteries are not included. That makes it a plugged-in feeder with a backup pathway, not a routine battery-only model. Check the current box contents and keep the backup cells fresh if outage operation matters. (PetSafe product page)
A network interruption and a power interruption are different. This guide does not promise app access or alerts while Wi-Fi is unavailable, and the manufacturer’s product page alone is not enough to claim detailed offline behavior. If uninterrupted scheduling is essential, consult the exact model’s current manual and test your own power/network arrangement before depending on it.
What an independent review can tell you
Tom’s Guide’s December 2019 Smart Feed 2.0 review calls its product the 2nd Generation and describes a dispensing problem with the reviewer’s Purina Pro Plan Savor food, followed by PetSafe’s explanation that variable nugget sizes were difficult for the machine to handle. This is one dated, food-specific observation under that review’s conditions. The page does not identify the exact PFD00-16828 model number, so it should not be presented as a test result for today’s exact SKU or generalized to all foods. (Tom’s Guide review)
The practical takeaway is modest: check food fit rather than treating a portion setting as a guarantee for every kibble. If your food has irregular pieces, watch an actual dispense with your chosen food before leaving the feeder unattended. This is a sensible purchase check, not a claim that we tested the product.
Compare with Simply Feed
Healthy Pet Simply Feed PFD00-14574 is a separate PetSafe product with on-unit display/button programming and battery operation; its optional adapter is sold separately. Smart Feed PFD00-16828 is the connected app model and uses the AC adapter as its primary power source. Choose based on the control and power routine you need, not on the shared brand name. (Simply Feed product page)
For a wider category overview, see our cat feeders guide. That page is a general starting point; always match the product model to the manual and offer you are considering.
Search Amazon for PetSafe Smart Feed PFD00-16828 — this opens a search page; it does not verify a particular listing, seller, included batteries, price or stock. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Before ordering
- Confirm the package label says PFD00-16828 / Smart Feed 2nd Generation, not PFD00-15788.
- Make sure you want app-based scheduling and can use the required home network.
- Plan for an outlet and check whether the adapter is included in the current offer.
- Buy four D-cell alkaline batteries separately if you want backup.
- Test the exact food with the feeder under supervision; do not infer performance from portion settings alone.
- Treat the 2019 independent review as dated context, not a verdict on every PFD00-16828 unit or food.
