What pool cleaner? Opinions Needed

[Sailracer]

My Dolphin S200 is failing. Again. It is 5 years old. I replaced the bearings in the impeller motor a year (or two?) ago myself with great success, but now the drive motor seems to have reached the end of its life and is seizing. Unfortunately, based on Internet searching and the forums here, it is about impossible to find a replacement drive motor (except for a sketchy $200 used part from Israel on e-bay). I am unwilling to pay the $490 Maytronics wants for a full electronics/motor replacement unit when all I need is a motor assembly that should cost no more than $25 to make (and probably much less at their volumes).
What now? The options I am considering:

1. Purchase a $25 motor with as similar specs as I can find (24V, 100RPM, .6Nm torque) and try to hack the existing drive gear and bulkhead onto it in a watertight manner to repair my Dolphin
2. Buy a new booster pump and resurrect my old Polaris 360 pressure side cleaner (It is always needing new parts as well, but at least they are available. I got the Dolphin when my booster pump died)
3. Try out a Kreepy Krauly suction side cleaner
4. Suck it up and spend big bucks on a new robot
5. Get a Pool Blaster or similar hand held pole vac

I am not necessarily opposed to #4, provided I don't get ripped off and am actually getting a product that will either last or has repair parts available at a reasonable price. From what I can tell, however, that doesn't exist. Which makes me think getting a new booster pump and going back to the Polaris 360 might be the better choice. Parts for the Polaris are still overpriced, but don't seem to be as outrageous as the robot parts. I like the price-point of the suction side cleaners, but since I don't have a dedicated suction line for one, it will require more work to use. Has anyone attempted #1? Things to know: my pool is surrounded by trees and my robot needs to run daily. Sometimes twice a day. The cleaner lives in the pool full-time for the 4 months the pool is open in the summer. Thoughts and opinions? Am I missing other options?

Edit: I added item 5- a Pool Blaster or similar. I spent a little time looking at them today and think they might be the right compromise for me between cost and effort. At a little over $100 on Amazon for a non-name brand model, I may get one to use for the rest of this season to see how it goes. At that price point, it's less than the electricity cost to run the Polaris 360 for a season. The only thing I have to lose is the time to use it. Maybe I can convince my kids to take it on as a chore...

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I've seen many similar discussions. What it boils down to is robots will last 5 years. If you're willing to pay the price for that 5 years of service, then the value is there. I could never do it myself, but there are many people that are willing to buy a new robot every 5 years.

 

[markayash]

I threw my Pentair SE away and refused to pay $500..Mine only lasted 3 years but stayed in the pool all the time.
My Polaris 360 works off the existing pump and is fed with a 2" line. My old one was worn out so I bought used one online and love it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You could also consider converting the pressure side cleaner plumbing into suction. Is the plumbing line 1-1/2” from the pad to the pool wall or did the plumber just run 3/4” all the way?

PS - Glad to see you decided to take the red pill and see the truth of these robot cleaners …

 

[Sailracer]

You could also consider converting the pressure side cleaner plumbing into suction. Is the plumbing line 1-1/2” from the pad to the pool wall or did the plumber just run 3/4” all the way?

PS - Glad to see you decided to take the red pill and see the truth of these robot cleaners …

I just found the ~30 page thread on your Dolphin experiences and read through the last few pages. Lots of good info there, including the downside of the electricity usage of the pressure side booster pumps which I had forgotten about! I think we have a similar mindset. I am pretty sure my booster pump plumbing is 3/4" from the pump to the pool, but need to check when I get home. I don't really have a good place to add in a connection on the input side of my main pump- I'd have to redo all the valves and stuff to make room for another connection, and there isn't a lot of room there.

For accuracy, I wouldn't say I am anti-robot. I'm pretty happy with the performance of the S200. Parts failing is understandable, and the robot seems to be designed for easy parts replacement. I am absolutely anti-Maytronics, however, for not making parts available or available for a reasonable price. If I do get another robot it will definitely not be from the Maytronics family as I will not give them any more of my money out of principle.

I might even consider the battery powered, dust-buster like manual pool cleaners, though they are probably more work than dealing with a skimmer attached Kreepy Krauly.

 

[markayash]

I just found the ~30 page thread on your Dolphin experiences and read through the last few pages. Lots of good info there, including the downside of the electricity usage of the pressure side booster pumps which I had forgotten about! I think we have a similar mindset. I am pretty sure my booster pump plumbing is 3/4" from the pump to the pool, but need to check when I get home. I don't really have a good place to add in a connection on the input side of my main pump- I'd have to redo all the valves and stuff to make room for another connection, and there isn't a lot of room there.

For accuracy, I wouldn't say I am anti-robot. I'm pretty happy with the performance of the S200. Parts failing is understandable, and the robot seems to be designed for easy parts replacement. I am absolutely anti-Maytronics, however, for not making parts available or available for a reasonable price. If I do get another robot it will definitely not be from the Maytronics family as I will not give them any more of my money out of principle.

I might even consider the battery powered, dust-buster like manual pool cleaners, though they are probably more work than dealing with a skimmer attached Kreepy Krauly.

I agree with you 100%, if they said we will sell you that $25 propeller motor for $75 I would have ordered it in a flash.

I have been looking at the cordless vacuums and seem to get good reviews but so did the dolphins until they started falling after 3 years.

 

[markayash]

I am
Happy with my 360

 

[mknauss]

Read New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

 

[markayash]

Read New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

That a great review, I think they will get better over time.
I have never seen for benefit of a $250 home robot vacuum . I know a lot of folks have them. my wife saw one on prime day for $85 and decided to try it and I love it. Even bought a second One for upstairs.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I just found the ~30 page thread on your Dolphin experiences and read through the last few pages. Lots of good info there, including the downside of the electricity usage of the pressure side booster pumps which I had forgotten about! I think we have a similar mindset. I am pretty sure my booster pump plumbing is 3/4" from the pump to the pool, but need to check when I get home. I don't really have a good place to add in a connection on the input side of my main pump- I'd have to redo all the valves and stuff to make room for another connection, and there isn't a lot of room there.

For accuracy, I wouldn't say I am anti-robot. I'm pretty happy with the performance of the S200. Parts failing is understandable, and the robot seems to be designed for easy parts replacement. I am absolutely anti-Maytronics, however, for not making parts available or available for a reasonable price. If I do get another robot it will definitely not be from the Maytronics family as I will not give them any more of my money out of principle.

I might even consider the battery powered, dust-buster like manual pool cleaners, though they are probably more work than dealing with a skimmer attached Kreepy Krauly.

The only way to use a suction cleaner without having a dedicated suction port is to use a skimmer plate or a skimmer diverter valve but that would mean effectively losing the use of the skimmer. It would also be a much bigger PITA fiddling with hoses and having potential pop-offs happen causing the cleaner to stop working. If you can't create a dedicated suction line, then your only option is to go back to a pressure cleaner .... or stick with robots.

As you say, I'm not necessarily anti-robot either. I'm just utterly disappointed in the way they are built AND the their revenue model which forces the consumer to buy a new one every 3-5 years. Sadly, the en tire pool equipment industry is going this way - manufacture sub-standard products that are intentionally too expensive to repair outside of the limited warranty that is applied to them and then force customers to buy new on a predictable life-cycle (3-5 years, 10 years, etc, etc). It's probably a business model that appeals to 98% of the pool owners out there and completely tics off the other 2% ...

 

[Sailracer]

Read New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

I did read that review with interest, but without any longevity and repair data yet, I have no reason to believe it will last any longer than the Dolphin. It will be great if it does, but I'm skeptical.

 

[Sailracer]

It's probably a business model that appeals to 98% of the pool owners out there and completely tics off the other 2% ...

I can't wrap my head around this. What is wrong with the 98% of people willing to get fleeced?! We need them to take part in a boycott protest. The profit margins these companies are making must be crazy high. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some type of price collusion or monopolistic behavior going on preventing new companies from offering a superior product for less.

 

[markayash]

I can't wrap my head around this. What is wrong with the 98% of people willing to get fleeced?! We need them to take part in a boycott protest. The profit margins these companies are making must be crazy high. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some type of price collusion or monopolistic behavior going on preventing new companies from offering a superior product for less.

I can't understand why making a " underwater robot" is really that hard or expensive to make it waterproof either..Thinks like dishwashers come to mind and they use HOT water and detergents

 

[reggiehammond]

I can't wrap my head around this. What is wrong with the 98% of people willing to get fleeced?!

I think this is one way to look at it. But here's a counter point.

I paid $699 for my Pentair Warrior SE. I have several acres of trees and grasses around it, so I have debris year-round and thus use the robot year-round on a daily schedule. Previously I had a PB4-60 driving a Polaris sport that used considerable amounts of electricity and did a fairly poor job cleaning.

If I get 36 months out of the robot, I paid $20 a month for a very clean pool. If it dies tomorrow, 27 months in, $25 a month.

Robot + a SWCG is a heck of a lot cheaper than a pool service.

 

[Sailracer]

I think this is one way to look at it. But here's a counter point.

I paid $699 for my Pentair Warrior SE. I have several acres of trees and grasses around it, so I have debris year-round and thus use the robot year-round on a daily schedule. Previously I had a PB4-60 driving a Polaris sport that used considerable amounts of electricity and did a fairly poor job cleaning.

If I get 36 months out of the robot, I paid $20 a month for a very clean pool. If it dies tomorrow, 27 months in, $25 a month.

Robot + a SWCG is a heck of a lot cheaper than a pool service.

Have you checked the price for a Warrior SE today? I paid $600 for my S200 5 years ago. That works out to about $30 a month for the 4 months a year I use it (which includes the extra year or two I got out of it by replacing the impeller bearings myself). Today that or equivalent models are more than $1K which would translate to more than $50 per month if it also lasts 5 years. That rate of inflation is way above the market in general. It's not like a lot of new engineering has gone into the product, so the increase must directly translate into more money in the pockets of the company. I wish I could just accept that, but it's not in my nature, especially when just being able to replace what should be an inexpensive motor would get me back working again. It's the unnecessary waste of money that bothers me most, rather than the absolute cost.

As for a pool service, I've never priced one out, but I'm 100% certain I won't like the quote that comes back

 

[markayash]

I agree, I paid $699 and mine lasted about 3 years also.

But now they are more expensive so I went back to a Polaris 360. Pool was already setups for it and I found a good deal.

My SWG did also die after 3 1/2 years and that was a no brainer. Ordered another one immediately!!

 

[CVAL44]

Can you 3d print the part you need?

 

[markayash]

Can you 3d print the part you need?

Mine needed the propeller motor. Was wet and full of dust. Should be a $25 part IMHO

 

[Sailracer]

My SWG did also die after 3 1/2 years and that was a no brainer. Ordered another one immediately!!

My SWG died after ~6 years, but it wasn't the cell that died- the power unit croaked, so they both needed replacing and I couldn't get the same form factor anymore, so I would've had to plumb in a new generator. I opted to go back to liquid chlorine and tablets. Their cost was less (this was before chlorine doubled in price) and the effort of hauling around 40lb bags of salt was worse than hauling around 32lb boxes of chlorine.

 

[Sailracer]

Can you 3d print the part you need?

That probably wouldn't help, but if I could find an equivalent motor, maybe 3D printing something to reconnect it to the old drive gear and bulkhead would work. More likely just some epoxy would work.