iRobot Scooba experience

[Jubooo]

If u're using 3rd party Scooba battery, drop in performance is expected after 3-6 mths.
I've sold 3 of those 4.8A batt before, 1 got returned after 1 mth, the other 2 got complain after ~2 mths.

Met at least 4 other users who bought generic Scooba batt on their own, always same story that performance drops drastically and pretty much gone within 6 mths.

Yes, generic replacement is a problem and I was once a victim myself and 3 months is all I get.

However if you know the source, you can find very good one. I had sold so many of them and the feedback was good. The problem with all this US seller is that they also get from china and in bulk, they will not be able to sell them within a short time frame and the battery had been sittinig on the shelf and discharging on it's own.

This is also the reason why I do not get in bulk for batteries and my supplier only construct it whenever I placed an order. Despite that, I might still get some bad cells in some of them but the percentage is very low.

 

[kimsim]

Thanks for the suggestion. I opened it up last night and found the capacitor looks ok. The transistor near the LED light has obvious burnt mark on the PCB board. It is located near the D12. Anyone knows the transistor model so I can replace it?

It was working fine last night. The LED of the charger is on again and able to fully charge my battery.

Here is the photo:

Actually in modify of charger will be take a risk of 24hrs x 365days because it is switch on everydays.
Do not tried for your own. Better get a professional modify and top up few more bucks.
To be safe your house furniture or getting fire.
If accidentally burning a whole power supply,and your whole unit will be all gone.
Because days time no people around and monitor in 24hrs for you.
If failure modify just turn on power and burn up directly, you wanted to get another brand new, why spend as much and get the risk.

For me I can try up my own modify to 240v, but do not have experience in it modify of manys units of charger, and get a better 47uf 400v and varistor.

That's very simple to be used and safety.

 

[bakasa2002]

Hmm, it seems that generic 3rd party scooba batt reviews are quite bad? Is it applicable to Roomba generic too? So far, I rem my generic for both able to last a year or so.

 

[bakasa2002]

Got a question, I am leaving my charger on even though my 230 has been fully charge, is this a good practice? Shd I off it and eject the batt?

 

[kimsim]

Got a question, I am leaving my charger on even though my 230 has been fully charge, is this a good practice? Shd I off it and eject the batt?

Should be eject unplug the charger don't over charged, will be same as laptop battery never unplug always charged when in used with normal power supply, to compared it will be drain as fast. Even me also the same lazy to took out the battery.

 

[uno_bliss]

Hmm, it seems that generic 3rd party scooba batt reviews are quite bad? Is it applicable to Roomba generic too? So far, I rem my generic for both able to last a year or so.

Most generic Roomba batteries are alright, cos Roomba drains power at only half the rate of Scooba (3XX & 5XXX).

I ever had a retiree lady customer who's son-in-law bought 2 generic Roomba 400 batteries 3300mAh NiMH directly from US. Both lasted ~6 mths, and the retiree lady chucked hers in the bin, I was like "GASP" what a waste, I could have combined the 2 into 1 good battery. In the end they bought 2 original 400 APS battery from me.

Having said that, I believe the above incident is an isolated case. I have sold many 500 series generic batteries and so far no complains, and I'm pretty sure 400 & 500 generic all come from same factory.

As for Scooba, the machine drains high power, and as I've mentioned in many previous posts, only good quality cells in a balanced pack will survive such energy demand. I'm sure generic battery manufacturers won't do cell-matching when building the packs.
iRobot used to engage Uniross for batteries, now it's all China made. Sigh... Let's hope strict QC is observed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws96yg-qEl0

As for Bakasa's generic Scooba batt lasting a yr, it depends on ur usage frequency & charge pattern.
As for Jubooo's trusted generic batt source, I'm sure there are reliable China manufacturers, else iRobot won't outsource to China.

 

[kimsim]

Who has modify the Roomba batteries, using the Sonyo Enaloop battery put into the existing roomba battery casing.

I am interested to try out. He he

 

[uno_bliss]

Who has modify the Roomba batteries, using the Sonyo Enaloop battery put into the existing roomba battery casing.

I am interested to try out. He he

I build battery from scratch, and also do battery conversion from 400 series to 500 series & vice versa.

I don't have a spot welder which is a heavy duty machine that joins 2 metal together upon contact.
So I use conventional soldering, but skill is required, else cells will be destroyed due to long exposure to high heat >300 deg C.

Even then, I won't use Sanyo Eneloop 2000mAh NiMH, or cheaper AA rechargeable.
AA battery is not suitable for high drain usage like Roomba, the battery will deteriorate very fast.
If u see AA battery packaging, and they say can use on remote control car, camera, CD player, etc. All of these drain much less power than Roomba, and usually for short burst only.

 

[kimsim]

I build battery from scratch, and also do battery conversion from 400 series to 500 series & vice versa.

I don't have a spot welder which is a heavy duty machine that joins 2 metal together upon contact.
So I use conventional soldering, but skill is required, else cells will be destroyed due to long exposure to high heat >300 deg C.

Even then, I won't use Sanyo Eneloop 2000mAh NiMH, or cheaper AA rechargeable.
AA battery is not suitable for high drain usage like Roomba, the battery will deteriorate very fast.
If u see AA battery packaging, and they say can use on remote control car, camera, CD player, etc. All of these drain much less power than Roomba, and usually for short burst only.

Thanks for your advice. Like that I do not thinking so much solution even by next time.

 

[tekster]

Most generic Roomba batteries are alright, cos Roomba drains power at only half the rate of Scooba (3XX & 5XXX).

I ever had a retiree lady customer who's son-in-law bought 2 generic Roomba 400 batteries 3300mAh NiMH directly from US. Both lasted ~6 mths, and the retiree lady chucked hers in the bin, I was like "GASP" what a waste, I could have combined the 2 into 1 good battery. In the end they bought 2 original 400 APS battery from me.

Having said that, I believe the above incident is an isolated case. I have sold many 500 series generic batteries and so far no complains, and I'm pretty sure 400 & 500 generic all come from same factory.

As for Scooba, the machine drains high power, and as I've mentioned in many previous posts, only good quality cells in a balanced pack will survive such energy demand. I'm sure generic battery manufacturers won't do cell-matching when building the packs.
iRobot used to engage Uniross for batteries, now it's all China made. Sigh... Let's hope strict QC is observed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws96yg-qEl0

As for Bakasa's generic Scooba batt lasting a yr, it depends on ur usage frequency & charge pattern.
As for Jubooo's trusted generic batt source, I'm sure there are reliable China manufacturers, else iRobot won't outsource to China.

yup, thanks for saving my battery. still working well. heh....

 

[Jubooo]

Who has modify the Roomba batteries, using the Sonyo Enaloop battery put into the existing roomba battery casing.

I am interested to try out. He he

Trust me, if you buy 12 sub c cells battery & rebuild it'll cost a lot too. The generic battery is good enough like what Uno had mentioned that he sells many without issue too.

 

[uno_bliss]

Trust me, if you buy 12 sub c cells battery & rebuild it'll cost a lot too. The generic battery is good enough like what Uno had mentioned that he sells many without issue too.

Build battery from scratch requires soldering skill, time & sweat, and hardly any cost savings vs generic batteries.
Unless buy a lot of say 60 cells, use computerised charger to measure 1-by-1, then do cell matching, and eventually build 5 very well-balanced packs. Then at least got some self-satisfaction.

Repairing battery by weeding bad cell(s) & replacing with close-matching cell(s) is also quite tedious & time consuming, but it's a rewarding feeling when battery performs like champ once more. Anyway, I don't like to waste things & pollute environment.

yup, thanks for saving my battery. still working well. heh....

Tekster, u thank me before liao... thank me again & I'll have to give u a free Scooba (...brochure).

 

[tom_kkh]

Sin$708 for
* 1 iRobot Roomba 560
* 2 Auto Virtual Walls (Each requires 2 C batteries, not included)
* 1 Compact Self-charging Home Base
* 1 Power Supply (3 hour charge time professionally modified for local 240V)
* 1 Brush Cleaning Tool
* 1 Rechargeable Battery
* 1 Extra Filter + 3 Extra Filter
* 1 Bumper Guard (FOC)
* 1 Adaptor (FOC)
* 1 Cleaning Brush (FOC)

it is expensive?? no need convert the plug. brand new.

 

[congyuan]

Sin$708 for
* 1 iRobot Roomba 560
* 2 Auto Virtual Walls (Each requires 2 C batteries, not included)
* 1 Compact Self-charging Home Base
* 1 Power Supply (3 hour charge time professionally modified for local 240V)
* 1 Brush Cleaning Tool
* 1 Rechargeable Battery
* 1 Extra Filter + 3 Extra Filter
* 1 Bumper Guard (FOC)
* 1 Adaptor (FOC)
* 1 Cleaning Brush (FOC)

it is expensive?? no need convert the plug. brand new.

i think it is always cheaper to buy from US like Amazon. Currently Amazon price is US349 = SGD450. Plus Borderlinx shipping maybe SGD100. You can get it around SGD550.

If you not in to DIY buying, then buy from local and pay a bit more.

Voltage conversion is easy if you know how to solder. Just change 3 components. I believe all are using the same methods for modification.
Change C1 to 47uF 400V
Change D11 to 1N4007
Remove RV1

 

[tom_kkh]

i think it is always cheaper to buy from US like Amazon. Currently Amazon price is US349 = SGD450. Plus Borderlinx shipping maybe SGD100. You can get it around SGD550.

If you not in to DIY buying, then buy from local and pay a bit more.

Voltage conversion is easy if you know how to solder. Just change 3 components. I believe all are using the same methods for modification.
Change C1 to 47uF 400V
Change D11 to 1N4007
Remove RV1

only $150 cheaper, but replacement headache lei if buy on line.

this Sin$700 plus was quoted to me by a Malaysia distributor, so i think to avoid complication, i prefer to pay more.

thanks for the info.

 

[Jubooo]

If you're from malaysia then go for it. I thought I am the only person so thoughtful as to supply a cleaning brush for convenience Malaysia Boleh!!

 

[acchien]

Good to hear there are more users of Neatos in sg now! I have mine for four months and it does a much more thorough and faster job than my old roomba, but be warned its a rather noisy bot.

Sounds like a good deal.... whos going for Neato? Dont really need to buy 5 units... u dont save much by getting so many sets!!! Its the 20% off discount that makes the deal!

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[thewiseone]

Having used the Neato for a short period, i think the noise is just a small price to pay for a cleaner house and less maintenance work. It is worth the extra $$$ IMO.


This bot can be pretty cute. Usually, i will empty the bin while it has auto turned off and charging. Today, i was in a hurry and emptied the bin immediate right after it has docked. The LCD display shows 'Thank you for emptying my bin'. Shortly after, i get an audible beep and the LCD display shows 'Please return my bin'. If u choose to ignore its request, it will automatically turn itself off. After a while, it automatically turns itself on and prompt u to return the bin AGAIN. It will keep nagging at u until u return its bin!!!

Good to hear there are more users of Neatos in sg now! I have mine for four months and it does a much more thorough and faster job than my old roomba, but be warned its a rather noisy bot.

 

[Jubooo]

Pretty interesting bot. I just received an enquiry about RPS error on Neato again today. Think the earlier R11/12 (Whatever you call) laser got problem with this issue.

 

[tom_kkh]

Pretty interesting bot. I just received an enquiry about RPS error on Neato again today. Think the earlier R11/12 (Whatever you call) laser got problem with this issue.

can share where can i see this Neato's specs and price?