iRobot Scooba experience

[whypurplishblue]

Hello guys, interested to get a floor cleaning robot. Would like check need to use the roomba before using the scooba?

I normally use the roomba first before using the scooba. The roomba will clean most of the larger particles then I let scooba finish the job.

 

[appiez]

I'm getting my friend to get me a scooba from US next week, does anyone knows if there is any shops selling in San Francisco? Thanks

 

[bakasa2002]

Hi all,

I previously used comgateway with hsbc but i understand it has chg to a onenow.com. Any idea which offer the better deal for shipping a roomba/scooba now? Borderlinux, Onenow or Vpost?

 

[thewiseone]

Perhaps u should try posting this Qs at Roombareview.com. U'll be able to get better info on which brick and motar outlet in US to purchase a Scooba. Some places perhaps like Linen N Things, Target, Sears, etc... not too sure though.

I'm getting my friend to get me a scooba from US next week, does anyone knows if there is any shops selling in San Francisco? Thanks

 

[mosmos]

Hi all,

I previously used comgateway with hsbc but i understand it has chg to a onenow.com. Any idea which offer the better deal for shipping a roomba/scooba now? Borderlinux, Onenow or Vpost?

not very sure which one will be cheapest.

i heard borderlinx just rise the shipping charges, same price as vpost before discount.

so vpost with discount will become cheaper than borderlinx?

 

[thewiseone]

Now Vpost got something new up their sleeve... online DIY invoice matching... so less delay... quicker shipping.

 

[ziggyy]

Very sian, my roomba can't be powered on anymore. Used it 3 times but now, it can't seem to hold any charge... did the 72hour recharge already but bugger still can't be powered on....

Am suspecting either the battery or the converter (which I've set to 220input). Anyone with any ideas?

 

[lenney]

Thanks for the reply. My floor mainly dust so hopefully Scooba will do the job.

I normally use the roomba first before using the scooba. The roomba will clean most of the larger particles then I let scooba finish the job.

 

[thewiseone]

Are u charging battery inside Roomba or do u use an external charger? Is the Roomba power supply power LED on? Did u get decent run times during the 1st 3 runs? Is this a brand new Roomba or a remanufactured unit?

Very sian, my roomba can't be powered on anymore. Used it 3 times but now, it can't seem to hold any charge... did the 72hour recharge already but bugger still can't be powered on....

Am suspecting either the battery or the converter (which I've set to 220input). Anyone with any ideas?

 

[ziggyy]

Are u charging battery inside Roomba or do u use an external charger? Is the Roomba power supply power LED on? Did u get decent run times during the 1st 3 runs? Is this a brand new Roomba or a remanufactured unit?

Sigh, got pretty decent run time for the first 3 sessions, was pretty happy with its work..... Battery is in the robot, new Roomba 416, ordered from Amazon, can even smell its newness on day 1.

Power supply LED shows green, converter is red and can see the pulsing light on the roomba during the charging period. When the led on the roomba turned green, I tried pressing the power on button, nothing, no sound even… Tried another 16 hour charge, nothing, 72 hour charge also nothing…. Now trying another power point…

Heard a tiny fizzle in the convertor last night when I switch the power point on and off, just to make sure but the fizzle went off after a while.

During the first few charges when the robot ran well, the converter felt a little hot but last night, the convertor felt warm, any chance convertor spoilt?

 

[jc777]

Sigh, got pretty decent run time for the first 3 sessions, was pretty happy with its work..... Battery is in the robot, new Roomba 416, ordered from Amazon, can even smell its newness on day 1.

Power supply LED shows green, converter is red and can see the pulsing light on the roomba during the charging period. When the led on the roomba turned green, I tried pressing the power on button, nothing, no sound even… Tried another 16 hour charge, nothing, 72 hour charge also nothing…. Now trying another power point…

Heard a tiny fizzle in the convertor last night when I switch the power point on and off, just to make sure but the fizzle went off after a while.

During the first few charges when the robot ran well, the converter felt a little hot but last night, the convertor felt warm, any chance convertor spoilt?

possible that convertor had spoilt. heat posed a big problem in electronic devices with the components malfunctioning at high temperature.

either try getting another convertor to try to confirm, or mod the charger to use the main supply directly.

 

[thewiseone]

Its possible that the converter is damaged. Try this:

1) Remove battery.

2) Hold down power button for 20 secs.

3) Re-insert battery. MAKE SURE the battery is INSERTED SECURELY, both ends.

4) Try charging Roomba again.

5) If no go, try using another step down converter. BTW, which brand/model is your converter? Are u in the habit of switching it on and off?

Sigh, got pretty decent run time for the first 3 sessions, was pretty happy with its work..... Battery is in the robot, new Roomba 416, ordered from Amazon, can even smell its newness on day 1.

Power supply LED shows green, converter is red and can see the pulsing light on the roomba during the charging period. When the led on the roomba turned green, I tried pressing the power on button, nothing, no sound even… Tried another 16 hour charge, nothing, 72 hour charge also nothing…. Now trying another power point…

Heard a tiny fizzle in the convertor last night when I switch the power point on and off, just to make sure but the fizzle went off after a while.

During the first few charges when the robot ran well, the converter felt a little hot but last night, the convertor felt warm, any chance convertor spoilt?

 

[ziggyy]

Using the Newstar 100W convertor. Don't really switch on and off the mains, just did it twice to switch the charging location. Also suspect its the convertor...

Anyone living around sembawang area and won't mind lending a convertor for a day?? Otherwise its another $30 just for troubleshooting...

 

[recca3650]

thx. dun my batt spoilt already. charge less den 15 min batt turn green. when i press on, it only last a min then the red light appear

I have the same problem as u. My roomba used for ard 1+ yr as well. So does getting a new battery solve ur problem? Btw, where do u pp usually get ur new batteries from? Diy? Is there a local servicing shop? Thought there was 1 in peninsular plaza.
PS: I used my volt meter to test the charging point of the roomba when it is connected and found that it is fluctuating ard 5 volts only. The charging unit is at 21.5 volts. So can anyone verify the expected voltage from the unit itself? Thanks.

 

[Casper]

Originally Posted by tobiko
thx. dun my batt spoilt already. charge less den 15 min batt turn green. when i press on, it only last a min then the red light appear


Hi Guys,

Just to share with you... my roomba was exactly like wat posted tobiko. Search high and low for answers, tried the 72hrs thingy.. but to no avail. Fed up...

Finally, I bought a new battery and it works like a charm. Hope this helps those in distress like I was...

 

[thewiseone]

Its not really accurate to test the battery w/o a load. The battery may exhibit normal voltage behaviour but once u stress it with a load, the voltage will plunge. IMO, if your battery is already 1+ years old and u are getting very short run times no matter how long u charge (u'll probably also notice that the power led turns green pretty quick during charging), its time for a new battery. Dont bother with rebuilding batteries like this one, its really more costly (been there, done that!). U can get a new one from online retailers like Amazon, iRobot, Ebay, etc. Just make sure to use a forwarder that ships batteries (no Vpost!).

I have the same problem as u. My roomba used for ard 1+ yr as well. So does getting a new battery solve ur problem? Btw, where do u pp usually get ur new batteries from? Diy? Is there a local servicing shop? Thought there was 1 in peninsular plaza.
PS: I used my volt meter to test the charging point of the roomba when it is connected and found that it is fluctuating ard 5 volts only. The charging unit is at 21.5 volts. So can anyone verify the expected voltage from the unit itself? Thanks.

 

[recca3650]

thanks for your advices.
But anyone here has a voltage tester to test if the charging point in the roomba if it is supplying @ the voltage which I have indicated (5v +). I just want to confirm that it is not a problem with the charging unit within the roomba before I spend the additional cash on the batteries.
btw, anyone here purchase from irobot.com.sg? they seems to be the legit local distributor here. How much they charge for the batteries?

 

[ziggyy]

Hi all,

Spoke to a nice lady at Homefix and was told that the Newstar convertor cannot work with the irobot charger. My charger states input 120VAC, 33W, 0.6A & output 22VDC 1.25A and the newstar convertor is only 220v to 110v. Electrical applications was my worse subject during poly so i'll believe her.

Is there anywhere i can buy a convertor for 240v to 120v? Or what will i need to charge the robot (assuming the earlier charges using the newstar convertor hasn't spoil anything yet)

Thanks.

Edit: Found this online: http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/cables/step-down-voltage-convertor-240v-120v-100w-max.html
Anywhere in Singapore have something like this, the homefix branch i went didn't have it then. Can someone who is better at electrical stuff confirm that 110v & 120v does make a difference, used to think it'll just take more time for the charging... Thanks.

 

[jc777]

Hi all,

Spoke to a nice lady at Homefix and was told that the Newstar convertor cannot work with the irobot charger. My charger states input 120VAC, 33W, 0.6A & output 22VDC 1.25A and the newstar convertor is only 220v to 110v. Electrical applications was my worse subject during poly so i'll believe her.

Is there anywhere i can buy a convertor for 240v to 120v? Or what will i need to charge the robot (assuming the earlier charges using the newstar convertor hasn't spoil anything yet)

Thanks.

Edit: Found this online: http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/cables/step-down-voltage-convertor-240v-120v-100w-max.html
Anywhere in Singapore have something like this, the homefix branch i went didn't have it then. Can someone who is better at electrical stuff confirm that 110v & 120v does make a difference, used to think it'll just take more time for the charging... Thanks.

modding to plug direct would be recommended over using transformer. fried my transformer and PSU once, decided to mod the PSU, since then never look back...

 

[bakasa2002]

modding to plug direct would be recommended over using transformer. fried my transformer and PSU once, decided to mod the PSU, since then never look back...

Hi, can I check where did u mod e PSU? I am interested.