iRobot Scooba experience

[Vachel Chan]

Hi, anyone here, long time no see,

Time is passing very fast my Roomba still works great.
If don't have hardwarezone maybe I still using the regular mop at home..

Ha ha thanks to Roomba/Scooba/Neato/mint plus.
This is all my little Amy.

Haha, nice to hear from you too! Little army are just so important and may every household here has one!

 

[bakasa2002]

Yah, I touched until "Lau Bak Sai"...

U sure not croc tears?

Btw, I am missing my scooba real bad ... Any chance be able to have a reunion this wk?

 

[bakasa2002]

Battery retired! Now got maid, so want to retire my roomba also!

I like the maid thingy, definitely a gd reason to retire the roomba ... Upz for your sale, consider posting in the Marketplace to have a active thread for potential buyers.

 

[bakasa2002]

Anyone ever bought replacement Scooba 330 battery in US?
Any good online merchant to recommend?

Btw, was checking amazon.com - why is it that some merchants claim that their batt work for 5900 and 330, while another will state that it will work for 5900 but not for 300 series. I believe the dimensions and contacts are exactly the same, likewise for the voltage.

E.g. This one specifically says not compatible with 300 series:
Amazon.com: Replacement Battery for iRobot Scooba 5900 5800 APS 3500mAH: Home & Garden

I get mine via evilbay for my 340, so fall all working alright. For 5900, it is a slightly diff model if i rem correctly. Need the gurus to give the technical explanation if that is what you are after.

 

[uno_bliss]

U sure not croc tears?

Btw, I am missing my scooba real bad ... Any chance be able to have a reunion this wk?

Once I get ur Scooba fixed & return u, u'll "Lau Bak Sai" too...

 

[uno_bliss]

Anyone ever bought replacement Scooba 330 battery in US?
Any good online merchant to recommend?

Btw, was checking amazon.com - why is it that some merchants claim that their batt work for 5900 and 330, while another will state that it will work for 5900 but not for 300 series. I believe the dimensions and contacts are exactly the same, likewise for the voltage.

E.g. This one specifically says not compatible with 300 series:
Amazon.com: Replacement Battery for iRobot Scooba 5900 5800 APS 3500mAH: Home & Garden

If u need Scooba battery, can check out my ads:
uno bliss compatible battery
uno bliss genuine battery

I definitely suggest iRobot genuine, compatible batteries is see ur luck.
Queries can PM me or email unobliss@yahoo.com

Be warned, Amazon got a lotta jokers who sell compatible batteries without stating so, they "plug & play" the spec of iRobot genuine batteries.

 

[bakasa2002]

Once I get ur Scooba fixed & return u, u'll "Lau Bak Sai" too...

Nvm, you owe me over CNY ... lolx! Huat ah!

 

[thewiseone]

Just curious, anyone owns a iClebo Smart?

 

[ongsiewsiew]

May I know how to differentiate brand new Roomba 560 and remanufactured Roomba 560? Thanks!

 

[Jubooo]

1) The box itself will indicate remanufactured but I've also seen some ebay seller selling it as new with a reprinted labels without the word remanufactured.

2) The serial number can indentify it too. If the 3rd alphabet of the s/n is "R" it dictates a remanufactured. New one is usually "KYN" with the latest batch "JBN"

3) If you're familiar with it, the look on the faceplate immediately tells you it is a remanufactured one. New 560 has a shiny silver faceplate while remanufactured 560 has a dull whitish grey plastic look.

 

[uno_bliss]

May I know how to differentiate brand new Roomba 560 and remanufactured Roomba 560? Thanks!

I wrote about this here: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/h...ooba-experience-1626560-580.html#post61440561

 

[bakasa2002]

Side track a bit, any vacuum fanatic bro here own/use a Rainbow vac? I been trying to read up a bit about raycop but was told Rainbow wins hands down for dust mite. I know, cos' Rainbow's cost also win hands down!

Any advice appreciated. Btw, I still love me roomba! Lolx!

 

[uno_bliss]

Side track a bit, any vacuum fanatic bro here own/use a Rainbow vac? I been trying to read up a bit about raycop but was told Rainbow wins hands down for dust mite. I know, cos' Rainbow's cost also win hands down!

Any advice appreciated. Btw, I still love me roomba! Lolx!

I've been using Rainbow ~2 yrs. Bought demo set when the promoter came, it's 8 yrs warranty for motor failure, still had 4+ yrs when I bought. Demo set ~$1800.

1 wk ago, the "aftersales" support called & say will come do free-servicing. At back of my mind is "Yah, right... So good meh?", but anyway free things cannot resist.
So they came next day, briefly tested my unit & said "see this one spoil, that one gonna spoil anytime, blah blah blah...".
I could have said "Service the d*mn thing & get lost!" but I didn't. I'm "open" to suggestions.

The guy could tell I'm straight talking so he whipped out catalogue & intro me the latest series. I bought (or was sold) a new latest unit, damage will take long time to heal. But I fetched $800 trade-in for the demo unit which I used 2+ yrs with ~2 yr motor warranty left.

I frickin abuse it to vacuum wet grass from drain after I mow the lawn, recently vacuum stagnant mosquito lava infested rain water which accumulated outside my balcony cos the drainage hole was clogged by soil & a plant. All thanks to seed carrying birds.

Of course, the "normal uses" include vacuuming slime from my aircon drainage, extract Horlick shake from my mattresses once every 6 mths (supposed to do more regularly), vacuum my PC CPU cooling fins, vacuum mine & my repair customer's iRobot.

Do I push my Rainbow around to vacuum the floor? U siao ah?!
Once u go Auto, u'll never go Manual.
Even stairs I use Black & Decker Flex 12V handheld. Using Rainbow to vacuum stairs is impossible unless I'm Arnold who can lift the machine with one hand, then huff & puff "3 more, 2 more, grow baby...".

Other uses of Rainbow includes rapid purifying of room air. U'll be amazed how much dust is airborne, but I seriously don't think I'm so paranoid about the air I breathe. It's a scientific fact that aircon air has more fungal spores than outside air. So aircon servicing is more important, I use CONCAIRE for that, available at HOME FIX.

 

[mozilla]

Hi robot seniors,
I just read alibaba posts of sale irobot roombas at <200sgd per piece. anyone knows if these sale are authentic sets ? What's the catch ?

 

[Jubooo]

The ad is definitely for authentic sets but the catch is you're likely not to get the item after payment is made.

 

[hikari99]

Hi bros and scooba experts,

Need help. I just got a scooba 230 from my friend from US. It runs fine, but whenever it hits the walls on its' side (left or right side), it just automatically turned off. But when it hit the wall from front, then it is fine. I tried letting hit run, and then softly hit it side, it will also turn off. But I tried using virtual wall and let it runs without hitting its' side, then it run fine.

Any experts know the problem with my scooba? Is it faulty? Repairable?

Thanks in advance for any kind advice.

 

[uno_bliss]

Hi bros and scooba experts,

Need help. I just got a scooba 230 from my friend from US. It runs fine, but whenever it hits the walls on its' side (left or right side), it just automatically turned off. But when it hit the wall from front, then it is fine. I tried letting hit run, and then softly hit it side, it will also turn off. But I tried using virtual wall and let it runs without hitting its' side, then it run fine.

Any experts know the problem with my scooba? Is it faulty? Repairable?

Thanks in advance for any kind advice.

I may not be able to help, but I guess I'm most qualified to help.

Far as I know, there's not more than 5 Scooba 230 owners here.
Bakasa & Kimsim both owned 230 briefly.
I gotten a 230 less than 1 mth ago (fanboy needs to complete collection, despite I've never really liked 230 when compared to the big Scooba).

So I'm also a 230 newbie, and can only keep fingers crossed it don't break down. I wouldn't dismantle my 230 for no reason to study the design. I'm very experienced with repairing the big Scooba, so I may be able to transpose some of that knowledge for the little guy.

For ur case, u need to weigh the pros & cons.
1) Passing me to repair, may or may not void the US warranty
2) I may or may not eventually succeed. But I won't charge fee if I don't succeed
3) I currently still got huge backlog of repairs which spill over before CNY (yah yah Bakasa misses his best buddy)
So I may take a while to repair, unless the problem is obvious to me (I shift to Turbo gear when I get those Eureka moments)
4) Ur only other option is to send back US if still under warranty, then ship back from US warranty replacement
That's guaranteed to cost u >S$100

If wanna arrange, can PM me, or email unobliss@yahoo.com

 

[bakasa2002]

Hmm uno, thanks for the review, so how much did you have to pay for your new 'Rainbow'? It sounds really hardy, I realized over the CNY period quite a few of my friend uses it and been recommending it. A friend even used it for 20yrs! Good ROI ...

 

[bakasa2002]

Bakasa & Kimsim both owned 230 briefly.

3) I currently still got huge backlog of repairs which spill over before CNY (yah yah Bakasa misses his best buddy)

If wanna arrange, can PM me, or email unobliss@yahoo.com

Correction, I still own a 230, just that it has been sitting in the box somewhere in the storeoom.

Yes, any chance to get the 340 back from you soon. Txt me an update when you are free. Happy New Year to fellow robot fans in this thread.

 

[uno_bliss]

Hmm uno, thanks for the review, so how much did you have to pay for your new 'Rainbow'? It sounds really hardy, I realized over the CNY period quite a few of my friend uses it and been recommending it. A friend even used it for 20yrs! Good ROI ...

Why must u put salt on wound, I already said damage will take long time to heal.
U want the truth, u can't HANDLE the truth!

A new full set is ~$3300 before GST.
My 1st demo set was $1800 nett. They allowed $800 trade-in.

I opted for semi-trade-in whereby I retained the previous version Power Nozzle which has a motorized beater brush to whack the day lights out of bed mites before gathering them at the big splash.

So I paid $2500 nett this time for latest model new unit, excluding new version Power Nozzle.

This time I received a few accessories which my previous demo set didn't have:
a) Rain Jet = a trigger water spray with a high quality sponge & squeegy on reverse side, so u spray water, rub floor with sponge, flip over & scrape/vacuum the water.
It's very clean, but tedious cos u need to scrape towards urself, so it feels like farmer plowing the soil
b) A wide hard bristle scrubber & squeegy on reverse side = u scrub tough surfaces, eg. Car porch, then flip & squeegy the wetness

The new model also boasts 1) True HEPA??? (previous was just HEPA), 2) 30% more suction without increasing power consumption, attributed by brushless motor. Imagine a Maglev train being able to travel faster by virtue of reduced friction, 3) Lighter weight - should be marginally so cos it's still frickin heavy

Yah, Rainbow is a hardy machine, main body is ABS = body armor, car bumper material. Vacuum hose is very tough yet flexible. Motor is probably very high quality patented design (can read more from Rainbow website).

Rainbow ~$3500 vs Dyson ~$800
- Rainbow uses water, u can discard in toilet bowl, suction will NEVER drop since there's no filter to clog
- Dyson is cyclonic, so dirt is tossed into a container by centrifugal force, claims that suction will never drop
- Both have HEPA final stage
- Rainbow has plenty of accessories for different applications, in particular all those related to sucking water
- Dyson is for dry use only