iRobot Scooba experience

[thewiseone]

You can go to battery shops / RC shops to purchase the cells but the higher capacity cells can be expensive. Seems like prices have gone up.... a GP 3700mAh Sub C can set u back $12.50 a piece!! Of course, u'll be getting a higher capacity battery with possibly a longer life span.

I use it daily and I presumed that it will die off coming to a year usage too. Checked the link on DIY batt...erm..though I was a electronic student yrs back...I have given back all as I was not in the industry...so it is too "Chim" for me...I wonder are we able to get the cells locally too....

 

[thewiseone]

For yr first use, u should charge it continuously for > 16hrs. Dont worry about the power consumption, its relatively low. During fast charge (usually for the 1st 2-3hrs, its using 1.2A of charge current = 17.28W) and around 120+mA for trickle charging during the rest of the time (< 2W) not taking into account transformer losses. Even leaving the charger connected all the time, it should at most be a few dollars a month of utility.

I just ordered a sage from gk. Collect this Friday. One question. Do you guys let the battery charge 24hrs without interruption? GK said must leave it on 24 hrs so that the battery will remain in good condition. I wonder how much electricity will be used for 24 hrs charging...anybody knows? I meant how much in terms of dollars to be used for charging...

 

[whypurplishblue]

Another thing...anybody ordered the skins before? Looks cute...I like the smiley..but it is ~20US$ before shipping

http://www.irobotskins.com/

Thats pretty cool, like gad wrap for a vacuum hehe.. but dun think will use it for a vacuum.. duno how long it will last. I saw something similar but its more like a cover for the roomba
http://www.myroombud.com/

 

[p3c_sgd]

For yr first use, u should charge it continuously for > 16hrs. Dont worry about the power consumption, its relatively low. During fast charge (usually for the 1st 2-3hrs, its using 1.2A of charge current = 17.28W) and around 120+mA for trickle charging during the rest of the time (< 2W) not taking into account transformer losses. Even leaving the charger connected all the time, it should at most be a few dollars a month of utility.

I don't know the electrical jargon...but I guess what you meant is the consumption is low...They will provide a local 230v charger. So the power consumption will be lower i guess..if based on your explanation. Few dollars a month is quite ok...thanks.

 

[whypurplishblue]

For yr first use, u should charge it continuously for > 16hrs. Dont worry about the power consumption, its relatively low. During fast charge (usually for the 1st 2-3hrs, its using 1.2A of charge current = 17.28W) and around 120+mA for trickle charging during the rest of the time (< 2W) not taking into account transformer losses. Even leaving the charger connected all the time, it should at most be a few dollars a month of utility.

Just for fun lets calculate
Considering electricity here is charged at 20.52c/kWh..

Each time you do a fast charge will be:
17.28W for 3 hours = 5.76W/h = 0.00576kW/h

So cost per hour for fast charge will be 0.00576 * 20.52c = 0.12cents per hour of charge

Typical charge takes 3hrs.. so cost per charge is 0.12 * 3 = 0.36cents.

If we do a fast charge everyday, it will cost 0.36 * 30 days = 10.8cents/month??

 

[p3c_sgd]

huh? $10per month? since I introduce the scooba into my house, I don't seem to notice there is an increase in bill leh....

 

[whypurplishblue]

Not $10/month.. but 10.8 cents per month.. or $0.11/month.. I believe the calculation is right

 

[p3c_sgd]

wa! 10 cents a mth? no ****....hahaha

 

[dankoo]

Just for fun lets calculate
Considering electricity here is charged at 20.52c/kWh..

Each time you do a fast charge will be:
17.28W for 3 hours = 5.76W/h = 0.00576kW/h

So cost per hour for fast charge will be 0.00576 * 20.52c = 0.12cents per hour of charge

Typical charge takes 3hrs.. so cost per charge is 0.12 * 3 = 0.36cents.

If we do a fast charge everyday, it will cost 0.36 * 30 days = 10.8cents/month??

Thanks for doing the maths for us ...so we can use it without worries...

Still thinking about the skin thingy...

 

[whypurplishblue]

Thanks for doing the maths for us ...so we can use it without worries...

Still thinking about the skin thingy...

Hehe.. Let's hope its right

If you get the skin.. you must take a foto to post here hehe.. Maybe you'll be the first in Singapore haha.. I saw on the website you can customize the skin with you fotos. Cool!

 

[thewiseone]

Something is missing here, assuming u have a home base and u use the cleaner on a daily basis, yr charge computation should be based on:

1) Fast charge for 3hrs/day
2) Trickle charge for the remaining 21hrs/day
3) Compute 1) and 2) total x 30 days

The consumption is only on the DC input to the bot. There's transformer loss, so actual consumption should be slightly higher. In any case, as i've said, only a few dollars a month tops!

Just for fun lets calculate
Considering electricity here is charged at 20.52c/kWh..

Each time you do a fast charge will be:
17.28W for 3 hours = 5.76W/h = 0.00576kW/h

So cost per hour for fast charge will be 0.00576 * 20.52c = 0.12cents per hour of charge

Typical charge takes 3hrs.. so cost per charge is 0.12 * 3 = 0.36cents.

If we do a fast charge everyday, it will cost 0.36 * 30 days = 10.8cents/month??

 

[ronnie]

Just wanted to update you guys. My Scooba 5800 came and after charging it, ran it for the first time. Had to prime the pump before I could get it to work. But after that, it worked just fine.

 

[mosmos]

Just wanted to update you guys. My Scooba 5800 came and after charging it, ran it for the first time. Had to prime the pump before I could get it to work. But after that, it worked just fine.

what do you mean by prime the pump~?

how to do it?

 

[whypurplishblue]

Just wanted to update you guys. My Scooba 5800 came and after charging it, ran it for the first time. Had to prime the pump before I could get it to work. But after that, it worked just fine.

That's good to hear, this brings more confidence for some of us that have second thoughts who want to buy from ebay overseas.

 

[p3c_sgd]

Just wanted to update you guys. My Scooba 5800 came and after charging it, ran it for the first time. Had to prime the pump before I could get it to work. But after that, it worked just fine.

hoo hoo...it works!...how is scooba? u like it? it moves v slowly and eventually get all the place cleaned.

did you buy the clorox?

 

[ronnie]

what do you mean by prime the pump~?

how to do it?

Ever since the first Scooba appear, there has always been the case where the pump is unable to work first time out of the box. Innovative people have been using straws or pumps to blow air through the pump to activate it.

Because the problem is very extensive, nowadays iRobot includes a pump as part of package with instructions on how to prime the pump. So if you get a new Scooba and it does not work out of the box with the "Check Tank" message, then try priming the pump. You should only have to do it once when new.

 

[ronnie]

That's good to hear, this brings more confidence for some of us that have second thoughts who want to buy from ebay overseas.

But this all heng suay. I am sure that most will work, but if you are the one that got a non working one then really bang table. Real hassle of contacting the other side, arranging for it to be sent back and hope that after replacement/repair will arrive back fine. Shudder .... just to think of it. Lucky mine alright!

 

[ronnie]

hoo hoo...it works!...how is scooba? u like it? it moves v slowly and eventually get all the place cleaned.

did you buy the clorox?

Yeah it moves very slowly, slower than the Roomba. No, I did not buy the Clorox. Mine's a 5800 which can use water. So I am using Kiwi Kleen solution instead.

 

[whypurplishblue]

Maybe can consider to get some of the accesories from the US since chance of breaking down would be less hehe.. But getting the entire unit still got many points of failure

 

[dankoo]

Yeah it moves very slowly, slower than the Roomba. No, I did not buy the Clorox. Mine's a 5800 which can use water. So I am using Kiwi Kleen solution instead.

Good to hear you enjoying your new toy

2qns:

1. How;s the wetness? does it leave a trail of wetness or it is quite alright?

2. Cleaning logic: same as Roomba thru Random patterns? How long it takes to clean your living area (what is the size)?