iRobot Scooba experience

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mosmos

mosmos

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thewiseone said:
Have u checked the contents thoroughly? I seemed to recall that all my Scoobas came with a small pump, though i'm not sure about the 385 packaging.
Click to expand...

No, I think from last year or 2 years ago they don't include this pump~ :s22:

I got 1 set last year do not include any pumps and only give 4 small pkt of scooba solutions~ :s22:
 
Jubooo

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Just get a baby nasal pump or a syringe and that'll do the trick. Worst is if that is not the problem and yuo had a faulty pump or valve.
 
Jubooo

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thewiseone said:
Vorwerk Kobold VR100 (improved version of Neato XV11)...


Translated text


Vorwerk-Kobold-VR-100-300x225.jpg



Some key features:

1) Lithium Ion battery
2) Side brush
3) 4-wheel drive ???
4) HEPA filter
Click to expand...

I might be selling the HEPA filter soon :)
 
uno_bliss

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liangtam said:
Errm, anyone knows if the 385 is supposed to come with a pump? Mine dosn't and the scooba is showing me the check tank light with uh-oh sound when start
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Aiyoh, I'm out for few hrs & no time to reply, and I see so much speculation.

The pump accessory aka priming pump is really actually called "Scooba Suction Bulb": http://store.irobot.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3353302
This is not to be confused with Scooba pump mechanism, which is inside the machine & responsible for dispensing clean water on the floor.
For this exercise, I shall call the "Priming pump" as "Primer".

Queries:
1) Ur Scooba 385 is not missing the Primer, it's not suppose to have, even though the styrofoam has the slot for Primer, measuring cup & a large curvy hole for Clorox bottle to go.
That's right "Change soup don't change medicine", the mold for styrofoam box is recycled even though much of the packaging contents have changed.

2) So why some have Primer & some don't?
The Primer uses air to loosen the pump bladder, which tends to stick upon prolong non-usage. Think of a balloon, the inside is coated with powder, without powder, they stick.
Around 2007, iRobot improved pump design with self-loosening algorithm incorporated into the firmware, a corresponding modification to pump design is also required for self-loosening to work. Hence, Primer is no longer required.

3) Then why is ur 385 having "Check Tank" error?
(a) small problem & (b) big problem
I can guide u thru (a) over email or PM, my email is unobliss@yahoo.com
If (a) doesn't work, u'll have to pass me to resolve (b). I have encountered (b) before for brand new Scooba 380 (ie. DOA).
THANK YOU China assembly workers! What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.
 
liangtam

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Thx for the reply


I tried priming with a slow aquarium pump and it is working now.
Although I had some slight screeching sound which I am not sure if its was the suction of water or what.
 
uno_bliss

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liangtam said:
Thx for the reply


I tried priming with a slow aquarium pump and it is working now.
Although I had some slight screeching sound which I am not sure if its was the suction of water or what.
Click to expand...
Ur aquarium pump method kinda solved the problem by chance, although priming is not the reason why ur "Check Tank" error went away.
I ever had similar "Check Tank" error for brand new Scooba 380 while I was doing demo upon delivering to customer, I resolve without using any priming pump. The solution is actually much simpler.
Good thing u did not encounter "big problem" which is a QC problem during assembly in China.

As for screeching from Scooba, it's just the silicone squeegee making very good contact with the floor.
 
thewiseone

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Received my Scooba 385.... the colour is IMO the nicest of all the models. A very nice midnight blue! :)
 
A

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anyone tired using scooba for the sweeping and cleaning(2 in 1) and never buy roomba?

care to share the results if that is acceptable?
 
Vachel Chan

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andyq said:
anyone tired using scooba for the sweeping and cleaning(2 in 1) and never buy roomba?

care to share the results if that is acceptable?
Click to expand...

The scooba 380 may be used as a stand alone, I have seen customers purchase the scooba without the roomba and it is able to pick up dust and hair too and achieve a fairly good result at the same time, removing stains and debris.

However do note that the scooba filters have a limited capacity, about 1inch by 1 inch only, and most of the hair or fur and dirt would be trapped there and in the vacuum port too.

If you have pets which drop lots of fur on the floor, then i would say the scooba as a stand alone would not work as the filters would be full before the scooba even finishes 1 cycle of cleaning (~1hr). The fur may get trapped in the tank and even in the scooba vacuum. So it may cause the scooba to get wore out faster. And I have noticed that the scooba does not pick up hair and fur very well as once the hair or fur is wet. it tends to stick on the floor or gets tangled in the cleaning head brush.
But do be sure to mantain the scooba well after use, rinsing the filters, flushing the tank and the brushes.

I do recommend that you run the roomba about 5 days a week and twice a week for the scooba for a very clean home. But if you do really hate mopping and don't mind using a manual vacuum cleaner before scooba use, then the scooba may work very well for you.
 
Vachel Chan

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uno_bliss said:
Ur aquarium pump method kinda solved the problem by chance, although priming is not the reason why ur "Check Tank" error went away.
I ever had similar "Check Tank" error for brand new Scooba 380 while I was doing demo upon delivering to customer, I resolve without using any priming pump. The solution is actually much simpler.
Good thing u did not encounter "big problem" which is a QC problem during assembly in China.

As for screeching from Scooba, it's just the silicone squeegee making very good contact with the floor.
Click to expand...

I have also encountered this "check tank" problem for brand new scooba, and I learnt an interesting lesson that maybe i can share, not sure if it is only me though. This happened when sending Brand new scooba to an office building and I tried using "mineral water" from the dispenser to test the scooba and the check tank error surfaced for all 3sets, which is pretty ridiculous. I subsequently realised that "mineral water" may be the cause as it is actually "hard water" and may not be suitable for scooba use. Vinegar or soap acts as water softeners, when use with normal tap water it worked perfectly and solved the problem!! May want to take note of this.
 
liangtam

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uno_bliss said:
Ur aquarium pump method kinda solved the problem by chance, although priming is not the reason why ur "Check Tank" error went away.
I ever had similar "Check Tank" error for brand new Scooba 380 while I was doing demo upon delivering to customer, I resolve without using any priming pump. The solution is actually much simpler.
Good thing u did not encounter "big problem" which is a QC problem during assembly in China.

As for screeching from Scooba, it's just the silicone squeegee making very good contact with the floor.
Click to expand...

Errm, care tell what was the solution you used?

The screeching sound does not seems to happen in the drying mode?
 
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