iRobot Scooba experience

[uno_bliss]

DIY and see if works, can apply patent! Pls invent a Aerovac version too.

This filter sweeper mod is not difficult to make, but low priority for me now. Aerovac filter sweeper is probably unnecessary cos the curved larger filter combined with the sloping angle will probably not be affected much by accumulated dust.

For those who like Mods, here's one in my next post.

 

[uno_bliss]

Roomba Normal Bin mod

Bringing up a previously discussed mod: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=48370533&postcount=6982
One of my customer keeps asking me to do it, he's also the DIY kinda guy. With appreciation comes motivation...

The challenge: Aerovac Bin vs Modded Normal Bin
Target outcome: Reduce bristle brush maintenance by having upper deck with vacuum
Rationale: Make good use of existing Normal Bin, rather than to shelf it & buy Aerovac Bin

Dust, hair & other debris collected by Aerovac Bin over 1 week

The slots between upper deck & lower deck

The slots between upper deck & lower deck

The same pile of rubbish collected by Modded Normal Bin

Close look at filter, some hair & small particles have been sucked to lower deck & collected on the filter

 

[bakasa2002]

Uno bro, great effort!

 

[thewiseone]

Its not really the weight... its the size.

Probably better to check in, though u better make sure to pack it in a bigger box with sufficient padding.

Wooh, hand carry Neato will definitely exceed cabin baggage allowance. Need to check in I suppose?

 

[kimsim]

UNO

You make a good job, he he it is the good idea for my future used vacuum bin can be following your instruction to modify for my own.

But have buy drill machine before modify it, ha ha.

Thanks for your sharing.

 

[kimsim]

Modify vacuum bin is good, but for the filter, not so long lasting.
It is keep too many dust or hair.

It is I am considering.

 

[uno_bliss]

UNO

You make a good job, he he it is the good idea for my future used vacuum bin can be following your instruction to modify for my own.

But have buy drill machine before modify it, ha ha.

Thanks for your sharing.

I've tested my Modded bin for 2 cleaning cycles, and later passing the customer who asked me to do it for evaluation. If results are good, I can do for those interested at small fee. Just PM me, or email unobliss@yahoo.com

 

[roykeano16]

looking to purchase an irobot 530 or 560...whats the current price now?

 

[Jubooo]

Hi roykeano, you can visit my site here: Robovac iRobot Store

 

[Jubooo]

An interesting mod on the vacuum bin. I wonder how well the normal filter can prevent the dust from entering the motor as the AeroVac filter has a well sealed sponge edges all round the impeller.

 

[uno_bliss]

looking to purchase an irobot 530 or 560...whats the current price now?

roykeano16, I've sent u a PM, pls check PM inbox.

 

[uno_bliss]

An interesting mod on the vacuum bin. I wonder how well the normal filter can prevent the dust from entering the motor as the AeroVac filter has a well sealed sponge edges all round the impeller.

The probability of dust entering the vacuum impeller for Normal Bin vs My Modded Bin is 100% equal.
The only big diff is when user forgot to install filter, Normal Bin would only suck fine dust into impeller, My Modded Bin would suck hair & small debris into impeller.
A sample of things the impeller would suck in: http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee451/uno_bliss/BinMod6.jpg

iRobot couldn't implement a foam seal around the normal filter since removal involved sliding, whereas Aerovac filter is a press-in design hence allowing for foam seal edge.

This bin mod is 1st trial (everything needs to start somewhere). There are so many variables:
a) slot width, length & shape
b) whether to introduce filter on the slot, using filter paper or fine wire mesh
c) whether to build a raise perimeter 1-2 cm high around the slot, which will prevent sand & heavy debris from clotting the slot (assuming slot is filtered)

Variables (b) & (c) are addressing issue of clotting debris

Variables (a) is the challenge, cos it involved Air Flow Fluid Dynamics type science.
Many high end equipment can be used, eg.
- wind tunnel with colored dye (to detect turbulence at entry point = inefficient air flow)
- decibel meter to pick up wheezing noise (air flow is constricted & motor is overstressed)
- a rig to float a ping pong ball for measuring strength of exhaust air

One thing was reassuring after I modded the bin, suction thru the slots were strong.
I powered the bin independent of Roomba, when I used fingers to cover the slots, the exhaust air became much weaker.

So now the next Qs is whether this upper deck suction is enough to keep bristle brush hair free. The biggest concern is hair wrapped around bristle brush ends cos that leads to brush jam, which was why I strategically opened the slots at the sides and near inner walls of bin.

Bin is now with the customer who MADE ME DO IT. I'll get his evaluation in a few days, let's hope it's positive review.

 

[uno_bliss]

Scooba 230 vs Original Scooba

Scooba 230 vs Original Scooba (5900, 5800, 330, 335, 340, 350, 380)

Upon announcement of Scooba 230 early this yr, we can only predict, and avid Scooba fans will want to compare:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=51807911&postcount=7459
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=51818988&postcount=7471
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showpost.php?p=51858300&postcount=7477

Scooba 230 started selling in US 1 wk ago, so far there's been very few user reviews.
http://www.chipchick.com/2011/03/irobot-scooba-230-review.html
http://www.robotreviews.com/reviews/irobot-scooba-230-review

I initially thought it can do many 150 sq ft cycles due to limitation of water capacity. Turns out charging is required after 150 sq ft cleaning (1 room).
User can select 20 mins cycle for say 2 toilets, or 45 mins cycle for 1 room.
We then ask how come Original Scooba (the fast & light models) can do 425 sq ft in 50 mins. That's 2.55 times faster than Scooba 230.
My answer is: iRobot gauge cleanliness by "removes up to 98% of common household bacteria", so without spinning scrubbing brush & having a much smaller cleaning width, Scooba 230 will have to clean longer to achieve the benchmark result.

User reported noise level is lower compared to Original Scooba, but floor is more wet.
This is most likely due to absence of spinning brush, and a weaker vacuum motor. I believe weaker vacuum motor is due to size constrain & battery capacity/quality.
Only high quality battery can support high power motor, and have state-of-art battery fabrication to squeeze more juice into same package (eg. Panasonic Evolta, RC competition grade cells).

Original Scooba 1st stage is light vacuum to remove hair & bread crumbs, 2nd stage will then spray water.
230 omitted 1st stage, so straight away spray water onto hair & bread crumbs. iRobot states that user must sweep before using Scooba 230.
User reported clumps of "icky stuff" on the stationary brush.

Original Scooba 3rd stage is high speed spinning brush. It's this high speed scrubbing that shines marble floor & scrubs the gap between tiles (grout).
230 only has stationary brush, so scrubbing speed = robot speed.
User reported grout not as clean for 230 compared to Original Scooba.

User also believes that 230 base brush plate is an expendable item, that will wear down & requires regular purchase of new ones. Package already came with a few.

Good things about 230 are:
1) Small & light, so old folks can handle
2) The stationary brush plate can be detached to rinse, so cleaning up after use is simplified
3) The battery is expected to have longer lifespan cos the power required for operation is much less

My conclusion is... 230 was designed to tackle many non-cleanliness related issues. Whereas, the Original Scooba had super cleanliness as priority.

 

[Jubooo]

Well, we can expect to see few more reviews locally by bro bakasa & kimsim soon

 

[kimsim]

Well, we can expect to see few more reviews locally by bro bakasa & kimsim soon

ha ha

 

[tekster]

ha ha

so what's the shipping cost like?

 

[kimsim]

so what's the shipping cost like?

i still unknow yet, for details have to check with Jubooo.

 

[bakasa2002]

It has arrived!

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This message is sent from HWZ forums iPhone app

 

[uno_bliss]

so what's the shipping cost like?

Scooba 230 box is much smaller, volumetric weight is ~4 kg, which is half of Scooba 380.
That's assuming iRobot don't put into another huge box. There's no reason to do that, unless u buy with other accessories.

Good thing is the charger is worldwide voltage. Charger output 11V at 0.2A, that's the typical rate for handheld vacuum cleaner charger (aka dumb charger).
Such charger have no intelligent circuitry to stop charging when battery is full, any excess charging will just be dissipated as heat (aka slow cook).
Battery is 7.2V 1300mAh, and will take ~10 hrs to charge.

iRobot might come up with 7.2V 4100mAh battery, but with the current slow charger, it'll take >24 hrs to charge.
iRobot might also come up with Fast Charger, if they don't wanna bother with intelligent circuitry, just ask user to off charger after X hrs.
Thoeretically NiMH can charge at 1C, so a 1 hr Fast Charger is possible, but dangerous if temperature & charge time is exceeded.

I can't evaluate 230 cleaning ability, since I don't have it.
Even if I have it, I'll have to do some strictly controlled lab test if I wanna compare with Original Scooba, eg. spread marmite on toilet floor.

But we can't run away from the math:
- Original Scooba: 850 sq ft in 100 mins
- Scooba 230: 150 sq ft in 45 mins, so 850 sq ft = 850/150 x (45 mins + 10 hrs) = 3655 mins = 2.5 days

bakasa2002, do share with us ur review, we're all curious about new technology.

 

[Jubooo]

The charging logic should be build into scooba's MCU as iRobot still reccommend the 230 to be plug in.

The comparison is a little unfair. 850sqft in 100mins so you should take 850/300 instead. Still a little far off but bear in mind this little thing is not to replace it's bigger brother. However, it should be a great tool for the kitchen and do the rooms every other day.

I don't think much people scooba their floor daily like me