iRobot Scooba experience

[foosdoll]

Less than 3hrs, but I set the timer to 3.5hr auto-cutoff power supply~

u use a transformer and den add a timer before you plug in the scooba/roomba ah? how much rating should i get for the transformer?

 

[foosdoll]

It gets the job done and my floor is squeaky clean. I just wished it has a longer lifespan.

roomba got lifespan issues? if i'm after a hassle free unit, which model is a safer buy?

 

[mosmos]

u use a transformer and den add a timer before you plug in the scooba/roomba ah? how much rating should i get for the transformer?

No~

power socket <- timer plug <- transformer <- scooba/roomba plug

get at least 100w one, saw previous post 80w one also not enough~

 

[tekster]

roomba got lifespan issues? if i'm after a hassle free unit, which model is a safer buy?

there's no electronic gadget without lifespan one. eventually it will die.

the battery is the main culprit. mechanism failures have, but probably can last 2-3 years if i'm not wrong.

 

[audiovideo]

can advise what is the best price to get this baby?
in singapore or overseas

if buy overseas via vpost can give the breakdown?

thanks

very sick of sweeping and mopping my 5-rm every week
hope this can help to cut down my chores to once a month

 

[thewiseone]

None hassle free at the moment. Maybe in time with refinement, the Neato has the potential. As for now, u can expect Roomba to have a typical lifespan of 3-4 years and 1-2 years for a Scooba.

roomba got lifespan issues? if i'm after a hassle free unit, which model is a safer buy?

 

[uno_bliss]

very sick of sweeping and mopping my 5-rm every week. hope this can help to cut down my chores to once a month

No one likes to repeatedly go thru same silly motion of cleaning the floor, yet no one can stand dusty or sticky floor. Sad fact about S'pore dusty air & high humidity, is that we cannot "siam" such chores.

With the 2 babies, u don't need to do once a mth, u just need to sit down one corner and care for ur babies every 2 wks or so. Sit down one corner is 10x less "siong" then bending back & moving around the house.

 

[bakasa2002]

New Roomba Home base light blinking, any idea what's wrong?

 

[uno_bliss]

New Roomba Home base light blinking, any idea what's wrong?

Compact Homebase will periodically blink without a docked Roomba. Once Roomba docked, Homebase LED becomes steady on.

If it blinks despite Roomba docked, then something not right.
If blinking is irregular, then chances are ur Roomba bottom contacts are very dusty. Just use finger wipe, and wipe the contacts on Homebase too.

 

[tekster]

can advise what is the best price to get this baby?
in singapore or overseas

if buy overseas via vpost can give the breakdown?

thanks

very sick of sweeping and mopping my 5-rm every week
hope this can help to cut down my chores to once a month

forget about vpost, you will get a shock that they won't post. best to go with dhl or borderlinx.

buy overseas cheaper. local can buy 2 of overseas one.

but once you get it, remember to get yr charger modified to fit local voltage.

 

[x0x0x0]

Hi guys,

Got a qn here... Should I let my scooba 330 continue to charge at the power socket until the next time I use, or should I cut off the power once it is fully charged? I think mine is the 2009 model.

Thanks!

 

[uno_bliss]

Hi guys,
Got a qn here... Should I let my scooba 330 continue to charge at the power socket until the next time I use, or should I cut off the power once it is fully charged? I think mine is the 2009 model.

Thanks!

I wrote about this here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=49296817&postcount=7205
Maxxum followed up here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=49302475&postcount=7206

I did not comment on Maxxum's reply, but now it's brought up again, I'll clarify.
When I say "charge a bit just before use to top-up", it's to top up loss stored energy thru self-discharge, it's got nothing to do with using up the 500-1000 cycles that rechargeable batteries have.

The word "cycle" means full drain & full charge.
If battery can last 100 mins, but u use only 20 mins, u didn't use up 1 cycle. U only used 1/5 cycle.
What "eats up" battery lifespan is accumulation of chemical residue & wearing down of battery microscopic infrastructure, namely the nylon membrane separator between anode & cathode.

 

[Maxxum]

I wrote about this here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=49296817&postcount=7205
Maxxum followed up here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=49302475&postcount=7206

I did not comment on Maxxum's reply, but now it's brought up again, I'll clarify.
When I say "charge a bit just before use to top-up", it's to top up loss stored energy thru self-discharge, it's got nothing to do with using up the 500-1000 cycles that rechargeable batteries have.

The word "cycle" means full drain & full charge.
If battery can last 100 mins, but u use only 20 mins, u didn't use up 1 cycle. U only used 1/5 cycle.
What "eats up" battery lifespan is accumulation of chemical residue & wearing down of battery microscopic infrastructure, namely the nylon membrane separator between anode & cathode.

Hi,
It seem a little different from what was known on the battery cycle, the charging cycle paper theory isn't what is reality. In reality, many environment factor, temperature, charging pattern and even voltage determine the cycle and lifespan.

A US scenario does not equate to a Singapore scenario as a battery performance vary greatly in different climate.

Thanks for sharing! I maybe wrong and only share my 2cents. Cheers!

 

[uno_bliss]

Hi,
It seem a little different from what was known on the battery cycle, the charging cycle paper theory isn't what is reality. In reality, many environment factor, temperature, charging pattern and even voltage determine the cycle and lifespan.

A US scenario does not equate to a Singapore scenario as a battery performance vary greatly in different climate.

Thanks for sharing! I maybe wrong and only share my 2cents. Cheers!

Don't worry Maxxum, we're all here to share what we know, not to challenge anyone. Our interpretation & expression of various terminologies can deviate +- 5%, then as discussion goes on, each deviation is added in series, until the final outcome deviates 25% or more.

Anyway, regarding self-discharge, it's accelerated thru battery aging. Mainly due to thinning/rupturing of anode-cathode separator.
Worse case, battery cell is shorted, so self-discharge is instantaneous despite one can "appear" to be charging it, eg. using a computerised RC charger.

 

[bakasa2002]

Shipping batt to SGP using BL, VPost and CGW already kanna ban right? If ship a roomba/scooba that has a batt, no prob, right? Haven't been shipping stuff lately, so tot might want to check with you guys. TIA.

 

[Maxxum]

Shipping batt to SGP using BL, VPost and CGW already kanna ban right? If ship a roomba/scooba that has a batt, no prob, right? Haven't been shipping stuff lately, so tot might want to check with you guys. TIA.

Just shipped a Single Roomba battery over via borderlinx (I might be lucky, not sure)...

No problem to ship roomba/scooba via BL or CGW, never try Vpost (and I think like what they mentioned is banned).

 

[audiovideo]

iRobot Roomba 560 **240V Ready** Brand New 2010 Model

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/iRobot-Roomba-560-240V-Ready-Brand-New-2010-Model-/150492744774



safe to buy boh??:

 

[Jubooo]

I will definitely says it's safe I am the seller hehe.

 

[uno_bliss]

iRobot Roomba 560 **240V Ready** Brand New 2010 Model

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/iRobot-Roomba-560-240V-Ready-Brand-New-2010-Model-/150492744774

safe to buy boh??:

U can check out similar stuff here: http://shop.ebay.com.sg/uno_bliss/m.html?_nkw=560

 

[Maxxum]

Things to come from iRobot?

iRobot patents 'Celestial Navigation System' for the Roomba
While Roomba's automated approach to floor cleaning might've been novel for its day, its random bumbling is starting to look dated, particularly in comparison to laser-guided, ultra smart vacuums like the Neato XV-11. Well, iRobot is naturally not going to take this lying down, and the company has received a patent for a new "Celestial Navigation System" based on IR beacons bounced off walls and ceilings that the Roomba can track and calculate its position from. It doesn't sound as fancy as Neato's completely self-contained system, and it'll require the setup of multiple beacons throughout the house to make the bot self-sufficient, but we're guessing it requires less processing and gadgetry on board to pull off -- which hopefully means Roomba can stuff this into bots cheaper than Neato's $400 XV-11. Mint, which was supposed to ship this summer from Evolution Robotics, uses a similar system to the one iRobot is proposing and has a rumored price of under $250.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/irobot-patents-celestial-navigation-system-for-the-roomba/