iRobot Scooba experience

[whypurplishblue]

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.

Does that mean other versions of Scooba will not run without clorox? wonder how they differentiate between water n cleaning solution.

 

[ronnie]

1. Wetness. It leaves the floor wet when finished. Wetness just slightly wetter than when mopping. This will dry out in about 15 to 30 mins.

2. Cleaning Logic. Should be almost the same using random pattern although I noticed it hugged the wall more. 1st run was about 40 mins. Not sure of my living room size. Sorry!

3. Clorox. From my understanding, the first Scooba model 5900 has a conductivity sensor and has been designed to run with Clorox or Vinegar only.

All subsequent models such as 5800(mine), 350 or 380 can use Clorox, Vinegar or water.

Although they do not promote the use of other cleaning solution. Others have used them with no side effect. YMMV though.

The above are my views through only a single use. Will try it again tonight and also the weekend.

Discovered the reason why my Vpost cost is $110 is because the retail box is packed inside a brown box which is packed inside a bigger box.

Good thing is that I discovered that a rubber mat and an extra virtual wall was included!

 

[__snow]

My roombie is dying. I need to get new batteries.

Local Disti charging me $98. Anyone knows any other place got sell these 14.4V NiMH battery packs?
I can DIY.

I saw the batteryspace only charge US$35. But they don't have a local office.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2321

 

[whypurplishblue]

My roombie is dying. I need to get new batteries.

Local Disti charging me $98. Anyone knows any other place got sell these 14.4V NiMH battery packs?
I can DIY.

I saw the batteryspace only charge US$35. But they don't have a local office.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2321

How long have you been using your roomba before your batteries started to fail?

Battery replacement was discussed previously in this thread:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=1626560&page=5&pp=15

There is a link in there on how to change the batteries. You need a triangle screwdriver head to unscrew the screws. Duno where to get that though.

 

[__snow]

I think I can get the screw driver at the normal hardware store.

I used for about 1year 8 months, though recently very lazy to press button.

 

[__snow]

I saw the battery replacement thread, but I have no idea where to get those battery packs.

if you buy those individual batteries, you need to connect them together using a type of metal. I don't know where to get those metal also.

You must also take care of the thermistor signal.

So, if there is a ready made eg 7.2V battery pack, it will be easier to connect them.

 

[dankoo]

My roombie is dying. I need to get new batteries.

Local Disti charging me $98. Anyone knows any other place got sell these 14.4V NiMH battery packs?
I can DIY.

I saw the batteryspace only charge US$35. But they don't have a local office.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2321

YOu bought your Roomba from local disty previously? $98 quite OK price to me....

 

[thewiseone]

$98 is a good price for a brand new APS battery (just make sure its not stored for a long period). If you were to DIY yrself, a typical set of 3000mAh cells would set u back about $90. Factor in the labour, welding (soldering not such a good idea unless u r really good with yr soldering w/o damaging the cells), connectors, etc. and $98 value will be hard to beat. In addition, Vpost currently does not ship batteries (Roomba APS battery included). Bringing in yr own cells or buying an APS battery overseas may not be feasible now (unless u ship via other means).

I saw the battery replacement thread, but I have no idea where to get those battery packs.

if you buy those individual batteries, you need to connect them together using a type of metal. I don't know where to get those metal also.

You must also take care of the thermistor signal.

So, if there is a ready made eg 7.2V battery pack, it will be easier to connect them.

 

[dankoo]

so if you are buying...let me know..so i can piggy on you for the batt...

 

[whypurplishblue]

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!

Hi Ronnie,

Did you get your US scooba charger modified or did you use a converter? if so, what brand did you use?

 

[ronnie]

Not modified. Using Newstar 220 to 110v converter. Model NF-100. Bought for $21 at Sim Lim Tower.

 

[whypurplishblue]

Read in roombareview that not all 220 to 110v converter can be used.. some reported that they have problems charging their roombas.. and they cant run it for very long. Seems yours is ok

 

[p3c_sgd]

I just got my roomba this afternoon, now charging. Looks good man. Also got 2 bottles of clorox...walau...32 oz so small bottle...i think few mths later need to buy again. It smells gd.

I also read somewhere that using the transformer/converter will screw up the batt in long run. Anyway, ronnie is using it, let him test it out for months and tell us his experience

 

[rollertoaster]

anyone knows if there is a outdoor version for cutting grass - robotic grass cutter ?

 

[ktee]

Im interested in the sccoba 5800. I hv some Qns to ask:

Can this 5800 do vacuuming or juz mopping only?

Can someone pls let me know what is the ACTUAL size of the robot? I can only find pkg size in www.

thks

 

[ronnie]

anyone knows if there is a outdoor version for cutting grass - robotic grass cutter ?

http://www.mowbot.co.uk/

http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/

 

[ronnie]

Im interested in the sccoba 5800. I hv some Qns to ask:

Can this 5800 do vacuuming or juz mopping only?

Can someone pls let me know what is the ACTUAL size of the robot? I can only find pkg size in www.

thks

All Scooba do both vacuuming and mopping.

Actual size of robot is 370mm diameter and 85mm height.

 

[DarkTemplar]

hi i'm new to this. does the robot go home to recharge or do i have to manually help it charge?

 

[thewiseone]

For the Scooba, NO. For the Roomba, it depends on whether u purchased a home base for it. If u have the home base, yes it'll go back home automatically to recharge. If u have a scheduler remote, u can even program it to come out and do the cleaning automatically.

hi i'm new to this. does the robot go home to recharge or do i have to manually help it charge?

 

[snowcrash]

My roombie is dying. I need to get new batteries.

Local Disti charging me $98. Anyone knows any other place got sell these 14.4V NiMH battery packs?
I can DIY.

I saw the batteryspace only charge US$35. But they don't have a local office.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2321

Any contacts for the local Dist for the battery? I'm using a roomba red and the Vpost refuse to ship the battery i ordered from amazon