I am looking from suggestions/recomendations on buying a robot cleaner

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basecase

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Mar 17, 2017
20
Villa Park/California
I am interesting getting a robot cleaner but overwhelmed by the options.

The manufactures have many different bots, but do not do a good job differentiating their products from one another in the specifications. It concerns me because it’s almost like they want to make it difficult for the consumer to choose. Some of the ones I find on Amazon are nowhere to be found on the manufactures websites. Some say the warranty is void if you buy it online…what the heck!

Is this all an attempt to steer us to specific distribution channels?

I have an 18000 gallon pool and I am looking from something that will catch small debris/dirt/sand AND pine needles (6”-12” long). Those are the main offenders. My pools is open year round and stays relatively clean so I would probably only need to use it a couple times a week. I prefer the best value, but I could spend around a grand...maybe a little more.

I would also prefer something that is reliable or something I can do basic-intermediate service on myself.

It would be nice to be able to control it with a remove or my phone but that is not required. I also don’t think I need a caddy unless it is a particularly heavy robot.

Any suggestions on robots? ...or places/links to go to for good information? Am I just opening a can of worms here?

The lady at the pool store said I should just go with a suction model and save my money (she doesn’t stock robots though).
 
It is a can of worms and they do rebrand the same cleaners for different sales channels. But, it is 100% worth it to get a robot. I love mine, it is now on my list of mandatory pool equipment.

I got the Doheny's Discovery same as Maytronics S200 same as Dolphin Active20 same as Dolphin Triton. More about my robot in my pool thread, link in sig. Also more here, Doheny's Discovery, S200, Active20, Triton owners club
 
I have spent the last week studying and researching for my first robotic pool cleaner. I had a suction cleaner but wanted robotic because it won't suck the dirt into my filter, thus making it last longer, and so that I can run my variable speed pump at a low speed. Also, suction cleaners are random, get stuck and don't scrub, they only suck dirt up. I narrowed my choices down to the S300, dolphin premier, oasis z5 or the 2017 triton pro with powerstream. I spent over 45 minutes on the phone with maytronics going over all the differences and they recommended the oasis z5. My local shop let me demo the new echo and the s300. I ended up ordering the oasis from epic pool supply. Here's what made me decide on that one:

1- Oasis has a 3 year warranty compared to 2 year for s300 and titon pro.
2- Oasis is top loading compared to Premier bottom loading., also premier is $1050 and doesn't include caddy or remote
3- local shop owner said people have had issues with the s300 filters ripping and they are expensive to replace
4- having a weekly timer isn't important to me because you really should leave them in the water anyway.
5- as far as repairing, maytronics person told me it will always be faster to send them the unit over taking it in. They have all parts in stock and its only a 5-7 day turnaround, 2 days to ship, 2 days to repair, 2 days for shipping back
6- Oasis is currently $1049 plus a $50 rebate and I also found a coupon for another $25 off (poolreview25). That price includes caddy and remote.

FYI
the Oasis z5 is the same exact unit as the 2016 and earlier Dolphin Triton plus as well as the Explorer Pro. Difference is 3 year warranty on Oasis and it only has basic remote instead of Triton having the pro remote.

The 2017 Triton Pro with power stream is same as the S300 (not the "I" version, except it doesn't come with a caddy

The premier is same as the dx6, 2016 & earlier Triton, thunder 20 and pet air prowler 830

the oasis z5, Triton pro and premier are internet models and the warranty is valid when buying online. The s300. S300i are sold in brick and mortar stores and the warranty isn't valid if you buy online.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. This helps a lot in separating the different models from all the different names they use for the same models.

I like the price of the e10, but I think the cord will be too short for my pool so I’ll probably start looking at some of the other robots mentioned.

Do any of you thing the Doheny's Discovery or Oasis z5 would have trouble picking up pine needles around 6"-12" long?
 
I have the Polaris 9550 Sport. One of the reasons I went for it is that it has a pretty large removable capture basket. It comes with a basket which works for most things, and which I use about 90% of the time. Captures pine needles (I have lots of pine trees), sand and various objects (even earrings :p) very well. I also ordered the fine silt/sand filter, which was fantastic after pool was installed as I had lots of red clay in the pool, and again a couple of weeks ago as I had major landscaping done, so more red clay. The fine filter takes out the silt of clay perfectly.

You can program to do floor, or walls or both. I typically run for both with free form shape (can select rectangular too) and extended clean, and it takes 1:48. Very easy to use. The 9550 comes with the caddy, which is great to hold it and roll it around. Comes with a remote so you can direct to specific areas to clean, but I rarely use this.

It shoots a water jet out the rear to help propel it, which also will wash dirt off areas too. It is self correcting if it gets stuck trying to climb somewhere or flips upside down. Will clean up to the water line, which is typical.

When done, you press the "lift" button and it will go to the wall and climb up so you can lean over and lift out. Holding down the "lift" button will make it rotate so you can choose which wall it will climb out.

I like I can go out, put him in, run it, come back in a couple hours and get it out, and have a clean pool.

If it died, I would replace it with another.
 
I replaced my Polaris 9550 sport with the Dolphin M400. The M400 outperforms the Polaris 9550 in just about every way possible (swivel cord to prevent tangling, cleans faster, doesn't miss spots in the pool etc). The rear jet on the 9550 just pushes dirt around and stirs fine dirt/sand into the water and makes it cloudy. The M400 actually picks it up. The optional remote on the M400 is responsive, unlike the laggy remote on the 9550. Based on my use of both cleaners, the only advantage the Polaris 9550 has over the M400 is the canister is easier to clean and the lift assist feature.
 
I would go with the Dolphin brand. I just bought the Active 20, which is the same as Dohenys Discovery but @$60 less. There a long thread for Active 20/Discover/s200 owners. Lot of good info.

Dolphin has a good warranty, extended if you use a credit card. I like how they market the repairs as diy, meaning most or all parts are simple to change out. Maytronics, maker of Dolphins, seems to be on the leading edge of pool robots.
 

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smiticans said:
I replaced my Polaris 9550 sport with the Dolphin M400. The M400 outperforms the Polaris 9550 in just about every way possible (swivel cord to prevent tangling, cleans faster, doesn't miss spots in the pool etc). The rear jet on the 9550 just pushes dirt around and stirs fine dirt/sand into the water and makes it cloudy. The M400 actually picks it up. The optional remote on the M400 is responsive, unlike the laggy remote on the 9550. Based on my use of both cleaners, the only advantage the Polaris 9550 has over the M400 is the canister is easier to clean and the lift assist feature.
Click to expand...

I can't comment on the M400, but can address these with my personal experience with 9550.

Tangle - Maybe once or twice a season (and I use on average 3 times/week) do I need to untangle, and those are usually caused by me cancelling the clean before its complete.

Speed - fast enough for me

Missed spots - If my pool is really dirty - i.e. have run for a while - I may run twice. But rare it actually misses anything.

Picking up dirt/jet - This is never been my experience in over a year of ownership. The great thing about the 9550 is the different basket options. The default one that comes with it is good for most things, including larger sand. But it is not fine enough mesh for silt. There is a sand/silt basket, which I bought which is amazing - we have red clay and this gets it out perfectly. The jet is great to clear out areas which may otherwise not reach - i.e. I have a 4" ledge around my pool at the 3 1/2' depth. The cleaners brushes can't really do much with that, so I either brush before I clean, if needed, or the jet will push off. The entire time its running, its pulling in water, so that dirt disrupted by jet can be pulled in, as it is as well with my sand filter - which is running as well. The clay silt is not captured by sand filter well, so w/o my 9550 it would look like ****.

Remote - rarely use. can't really comment upon it.
 
kevreh said:
I just bought the Active 20, which is the same as Dohenys Discovery but @$60 less.
Click to expand...

Where did you find that price?
I've been considering the Dolphin Triton Plus (S300i) for $900, but I think you paid less than $700 for a Active 20 (S200)? That sounds like a great deal.

I like the idea of being able to use two filters (fine grids with a mesh basket insert) which I know you can do on the S300i/Triton Plus. You can do that with the A20/Discovery/S200 right? I assume it would require buying some extra parts.

***I see the info in the link you provided. Thanks!
 
GaryT58 said:
I can't comment on the M400, but can address these with my personal experience with 9550.

Tangle - Maybe once or twice a season (and I use on average 3 times/week) do I need to untangle, and those are usually caused by me cancelling the clean before its complete.

Speed - fast enough for me

Missed spots - If my pool is really dirty - i.e. have run for a while - I may run twice. But rare it actually misses anything.

Picking up dirt/jet - This is never been my experience in over a year of ownership. The great thing about the 9550 is the different basket options. The default one that comes with it is good for most things, including larger sand. But it is not fine enough mesh for silt. There is a sand/silt basket, which I bought which is amazing - we have red clay and this gets it out perfectly. The jet is great to clear out areas which may otherwise not reach - i.e. I have a 4" ledge around my pool at the 3 1/2' depth. The cleaners brushes can't really do much with that, so I either brush before I clean, if needed, or the jet will push off. The entire time its running, its pulling in water, so that dirt disrupted by jet can be pulled in, as it is as well with my sand filter - which is running as well. The clay silt is not captured by sand filter well, so w/o my 9550 it would look like ****.

Remote - rarely use. can't really comment upon it.
Click to expand...

My pool is surrounded by trees so I had to run it almost everyday. The cord wouldn't get tangled every time but it happened enough to get annoying. I used both the general purpose canister and the ultra fine canister and I found the ultra fine canister would get clogged too fast with fine dirt (I cleaned the canisters after every use). Don't get me wrong, the 9550 is a good cleaner, however, the M400 is far superior.
 
basecase said:
Where did you find that price?
I've been considering the Dolphin Triton Plus (S300i) for $900, but I think you paid less than $700 for a Active 20 (S200)? That sounds like a great deal.

I like the idea of being able to use two filters (fine grids with a mesh basket insert) which I know you can do on the S300i/Triton Plus. You can do that with the A20/Discovery/S200 right? I assume it would require buying some extra parts.

***I see the info in the link you provided. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Having the Active 20 I may get the mesh basket. This line comes with the mesh filters, you just can't use them at the same time as the pleated grids. Guess thats Maytronics way of differentiating product lines. Annoying since it would cost the same to just include the ones that drop in as a basket.

Home | Marina Pool Spa & Patio
Prices from 5/31....
A20 $659
A30 $799
A30i $899

S200 $759
S300 $899
S300i $999
 
Those prices are so ridiculous. The pool stores by me only carry the echo for $600. They will special order the s300 for $1050 and the s300i for $1350. I wish I would have found marina pool before I ordered my Oasis z5. Unfortunately I heard about the prices 2 hours after my z5 shipped and they want to charge a 10% restocking fee if I send it back, even unopened. At least I only paid $975. Good news for me is the z5 is the same as the m400 and has a 3 year warranty.

marina pool is also selling the m400 for $999 and the m500 for $1099.
 

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