iRobot Scooba experience

[Opps-gal]

yea, i'm not into household chores, but my wife is appreciative that at least i keep the floor clean from dust and grime although by some non-conventional method. so she's happy and i'm happy cause i can let these robots do the work. it's like these robots are cheaper than hiring a maid, but the functionality also limited la. heh...

i think the plus point is, you can let it do the cleaning when you are out. and i think this should be the way, to be out of the robot's way. heh....

Don't think I can let my neato out of my sight when it is doing cleaning, if not might get stuck under the cabinets... or vacuum up the wire of my air purifier. But so far, the robot does a good job, can go under sofa to clean too, which my hand held vacuum cleaner cannot do so.

 

[thewiseone]

After a few runs, u'll know exactly where it trips and u can remove / relocate the obstacles. Thereafter, it'll be safe to let it run on its own... which is what i'm doing with mine.

Don't think I can let my neato out of my sight when it is doing cleaning, if not might get stuck under the cabinets... or vacuum up the wire of my air purifier. But so far, the robot does a good job, can go under sofa to clean too, which my hand held vacuum cleaner cannot do so.

 

[uno_bliss]

No problem. One thing to note, if you stay in a humble HDB and has the recessed water draining square like mine, it's very like the scooba 230 will get stuck. Just had a 2nd run, and it got stuck ...

Glad to hear you like the Neato so much, I hope the next version, they can work on the looks department a bit and slim it down. hehehehe ...

The solution to 230 getting stuck on medium height cliff is a physical barrier.

I use the above in toilets where my big Scooba gets wedged between toilet bowl & wall. As Scooba gets trapped there, it goes deeper & deeper since the bumper sensor isn't triggered.
By the time it realises it's stuck (by virtue of its step-counting front wheel), it does the "turbo boost thing" to free itself, but due to slippery floor, it fails with "I'm Stuck".

So I put this $2 Curtain Rod between toilet bowl & wall. It's better than virtual wall, cos virtual wall beam & halo shape is hard to control in tight spaces.

Scooba 230 doesn't have a 3rd passive wheel to detect skidding on the spot, although I believe iRobot would have considered such a common occurrence, eg. detergent is too concentrated & slippery.
iRobot could have introduced an optic eye (eg. optical mouse), or even a gyroscope (eg. iPhone & self-balancing humanoid robots).

bakasa, is ur 230 getting stuck over the cliff bcos the front row brush hooked onto cliff edge? If so, I suspect floor skid is the reason, cos 230 can't brake in time and overshoot a little.

 

[bakasa2002]

After a few runs, u'll know exactly where it trips and u can remove / relocate the obstacles. Thereafter, it'll be safe to let it run on its own... which is what i'm doing with mine.

Bro wiseone, is the neato using gps technology? how far can cover on one charge?

 

[bakasa2002]

The solution to 230 getting stuck on medium height cliff is a physical barrier.

I use the above in toilets where my big Scooba gets wedged between toilet bowl & wall. As Scooba gets trapped there, it goes deeper & deeper since the bumper sensor isn't triggered.
By the time it realises it's stuck (by virtue of its step-counting front wheel), it does the "turbo boost thing" to free itself, but due to slippery floor, it fails with "I'm Stuck".

So I put this $2 Curtain Rod between toilet bowl & wall. It's better than virtual wall, cos virtual wall beam & halo shape is hard to control in tight spaces.

Scooba 230 doesn't have a 3rd passive wheel to detect skidding on the spot, although I believe iRobot would have considered such a common occurrence, eg. detergent is too concentrated & slippery.
iRobot could have introduced an optic eye (eg. optical mouse), or even a gyroscope (eg. iPhone & self-balancing humanoid robots).

bakasa, is ur 230 getting stuck over the cliff bcos the front row brush hooked onto cliff edge? If so, I suspect floor skid is the reason, cos 230 can't brake in time and overshoot a little.

Wah uno bro, you really hardcore DIY. Are these rods same one that is used for Ikea curtains? I will check it out at Daiso, since it is most likely cheaper there.

 

[bakasa2002]

My 2nd day using the 230 is quite pleasant and the floor is really reasonably fresh, cos' I am still using the blue scooba solution, so I really like that smell. I am beginning to fall in love with this new addition.

If any of bro is contemplating getting one, please have this in mind, so that your expectations will be better managed :

- You gonna do a roomba/vacuum before running the 230, else other debris will be pushed around and it ain't pretty.
- This small baby is only good for really small areas, (ie. HDB sized bathroom ,kitchen and room) and one at a time.
- Each charge will be good for a 40 min run but charging take about 3 hours.
- Use very little water compared to Scooba 3xx, floor is dry less than 3 min of cleaning. This might not apply to all but my 340 left my kitchen floor wet for a good 10 mins before I can step in, so it's a big diff to me.
- Small and compact robot that can access dead corners that were previously not accessible by it's bigger siblings.

 

[thewiseone]

Its not GPS technology... GPS technology is useless indoors. Its an RPS laser mapping system (the thing that protrudes on top of it). U can read more about it here: http://www.neatorobotics.com/. If u browse through the Neato forum here: http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewforum.php?f=20, i believe there was a link to a detailed lecture on the workings of an RPS system and how Neato managed to overcome the difficulty of adapting such an expensive system for a consumer robotic vacuum cleaner.



Speaking of the Neato... its really interesting watching it. At times, it may pause at doorways or in the middle of the room in the midst of cleaning, deep in its thoughts! It may even start to look left and right before deciding on how to clean the area. Very smart fellow!!!



On one full charge, i estimate it should be able to cover a cleaning area of 1200+ sqft. If the area is too big to be covered in 1 charge, it'll return to dock and charge. Once its fully charged, it will resume where it left off and continues cleaning until completion.

Bro wiseone, is the neato using gps technology? how far can cover on one charge?

 

[uno_bliss]

Wah uno bro, you really hardcore DIY. Are these rods same one that is used for Ikea curtains? I will check it out at Daiso, since it is most likely cheaper there

I believe Ikea shower curtain rods are full size. Adjustable length ~1.5 m - 2.5m, Dia ~20 cts coin.

Daiso curtain rods are for mini curtains, eg. curtain for book shelf, small shower area.
The one I'm using has adjustable length ~60cm - 110cm, Dia ~10 cts coin. There are even 30cm versions. All priced at $2.
Before u go Daiso to buy, u should measure the width of the areas u wanna block for reference.

.... ...
- Each charge will be good for a 40 min run but charging take about 3 hours.
- Use very little water compared to Scooba 3xx, floor is dry less than 3 min of cleaning. This might not apply to all but my 340 left my kitchen floor wet for a good 10 mins before I can step in, so it's a big diff to me.

U sure charging takes 3 hrs? What does manual say? Cos the US reviews say ~10 hrs.
And at a rate of 0.2 A, battery should be at best 45% charged.
Unless... our 240V socket speeds up charging process compared to 110V socket.
Anyhow, 3 hrs is much more palatable than 10 hrs.

Ur Scooba 340 is currently "below optimum state", so wetness comparison isn't accurate, and also, kitchen tiles are usually rougher than other tiles, so roughness contributes to wetness.
My kitchen tiles are significantly more wet than my marble & parquet.
For very smooth floor, u can hear squeaking sound when Scooba cleans cos the vacuum squeegy is making perfect contact with the floor, much like the sound made when u squeegy window.

If u need me to look into ur Scooba 340 wetness problem, just email me unobliss@yahoo.com

 

[tekster]

Wah uno bro, you really hardcore DIY. Are these rods same one that is used for Ikea curtains? I will check it out at Daiso, since it is most likely cheaper there.

I don't think so. I also bought such items from daiso.

If u want longer poles, u might have to try yr local home product store where they have extendable aluminium poles. The one uno_bliss shows can go till max 1m if i not wrong. Aluminium poles can go 3-5m

 

[Yaroopig]

Donno is it something wrong with my Scooba... it's still working but yesterday, when I press on "Clean", the normal music starts and while expecting it to start its cleaning process, it stops (the power is still on - yellow light).

Either that, it cleans half way, and stops by itself, without any music and the "check my tank" light is not on either, the yellow power light is still on. I did check on both clean & dirty tanks though, but clean is still almost full and dirty only a bit of water...

Then... when charging half way, the music starts and repeats 2 times... any advise?

 

[uno_bliss]

Donno is it something wrong with my Scooba... it's still working but yesterday, when I press on "Clean", the normal music starts and while expecting it to start its cleaning process, it stops (the power is still on - yellow light).

Either that, it cleans half way, and stops by itself, without any music and the "check my tank" light is not on either, the yellow power light is still on. I did check on both clean & dirty tanks though, but clean is still almost full and dirty only a bit of water...

Then... when charging half way, the music starts and repeats 2 times... any advise?

From ur description, high chance control panel problem. I can verify & fix, I've fixed such problems ~4 times before. And no I won't be asking u to buy a new control panel, cos that's the easy way out (aka costly repair).

 

[Jubooo]

Was it an assending tone followed by desending tone? No other lights shown up during charging?

Anyway control panel is not costly to replace, I can do it for $25. You can try pulling off the membrane and clean with electronic parts cleaner but careful not to lost the tiny metallic button inside. This method helps most of the time.

It could be more than the ctrl panel and that's the mainboard itself.

 

[tekster]

Don't think I can let my neato out of my sight when it is doing cleaning, if not might get stuck under the cabinets... or vacuum up the wire of my air purifier. But so far, the robot does a good job, can go under sofa to clean too, which my hand held vacuum cleaner cannot do so.

i'm doing as what thewiseone does, nothing where the bumps may be and then put them elsewhere when i let the vacuum run. everything stacked on my table. haha...

 

[kimsim]

Hi all
It is my recent roomba looks
Roomba 561 with lighthouse system.

Thank for viewing.

 

[uno_bliss]

Hi all
It is my recent roomba looks
Roomba 561 with lighthouse system.

Thank for viewing.

Caught u! Haha... The control panel is not for 561 cos it's got the "Hold for Demo" words. But off course, that makes more sense since the Lighthouse 560 does have demo feature.

Ur avatar shows Roomba with black shiny faceplate, ur own spray paint job?

 

[kimsim]

Caught u! Haha... The control panel is not for 561 cos it's got the "Hold for Demo" words. But off course, that makes more sense since the Lighthouse 560 does have demo feature.

Ur avatar shows Roomba with black shiny faceplate, ur own spray paint job?

Nope I only by the weekend i feel free and take a spray into pearl white paint.
The avatar is previous, bring to car spray workshop for spray it, after few day ago got one big scratches at side of faceplate.

Since I can spray just spray by own.

Yap for that control panel I can't used the original 561, because it has not schedule and clock with led light and not fit at all, btw all I converted into 560 lighthouse motherboard with head sensor.

Ha ha.

 

[Jubooo]

I don't understand what you mean by cannot use without the clock & schedule led. The 561 & older 560 with LH has the same control panel and they are interchangeable in all 500 series. Unless you use it on a 510/530 mainboard that does not have the buttons for schedule & clock.

Your 230 should be firing up today, let us know your feedback

 

[kimsim]

I don't understand what you mean by cannot use without the clock & schedule led. The 561 & older 560 with LH has the same control panel and they are interchangeable in all 500 series. Unless you use it on a 510/530 mainboard that does not have the buttons for schedule & clock.

Your 230 should be firing up today, let us know your feedback

Oh I mean the control schedule and clock is separate small motherboard and clip and device not same as latest model roomba 561, it has make more simple and connection into main board.
So I has to modify a bit and paste it up to the new 561 casing.
I can said for previous model motherboard design will be add more thing and device etc.
For now on very simpler. Without Demo in the board. Etc and press the schedule with red light also. All to be cut cost. Ha ha

 

[uno_bliss]

Yap for that control panel I can't used the original 561, because it has not schedule and clock with led light and not fit at all, btw all I converted into 560 lighthouse motherboard with head sensor.

Ha ha.

As Jubooo said, LH 560 & 561 control panel are interchangeable, except 561 control panel don't have "Hold for demo" words.

I believe u say cannot "fit at all" is referring to the upper body chasis, 561 body is made up of 2 layers, while 560 is made up of 3 layers. We can see how iRobot simplify design to reduce no. of parts, aka cut-cost.

Even original iRobot battery is now made in China, used to be by Uniross, UK company. I believe Quality Control is still there, but from a country that makes milk to-die-for & re-processed spoilt meat, anything is possible.

 

[kimsim]

As Jubooo said, LH 560 & 561 control panel are interchangeable, except 561 control panel don't have "Hold for demo" words.

I believe u say cannot "fit at all" is referring to the upper body chasis, 561 body is made up of 2 layers, while 560 is made up of 3 layers. We can see how iRobot simplify design to reduce no. of parts, aka cut-cost.

Even original iRobot battery is now made in China, used to be by Uniross, UK company. I believe Quality Control is still there, but from a country that makes milk to-die-for & re-processed spoilt meat, anything is possible.

Yap, sure it is true.

Sorry I was the small piece of time schedule & clock controller motherboard and screw is difference location. For the latest 561 when you press the schedule button is without showing the red dot light.
For the previous model has red dot light to indicated you has press the button on.
When I exchange it and saw both design is difference screw in location and parts.

Thanks