New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

[Jimrahbe]

Cel,

I'm betting that you have to have an active wifi at the sight to run a schedule..

But.. I've been wrong about 25 times, just today...

I guess we will see,

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[celbii]

Yes, here’s my schedule and it runs daily.

Perfect thank you, looks like it will do what I need and between that and the betta it will pay for itself canceling the pool cleaners at my current location and probably do a better job LOL.

 

[celbii]

Cel,

I'm betting that you have to have an active wifi at the sight to run a schedule..

But.. I've been wrong about 25 times, just today...

I guess we will see,

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hey Jim,
It had active wifi about a few days ago but its at a house no one is living at so I canceled the cable/internet service a few days ago while we manage the estate there. Its very weird not having wifi somewhere lol!

 

[wayner]

Just adding to this thread ....

I also replaced a Dolphin with an Aqua Products - I bought the 604 which, I think, is the 614 but without the wifi connectivity. The app on the Dolphin was lame AF so I was expecting the same with the Aqua Products. I got the robot last August and used it for a few months until the pool was closed and it was working well. My pool opened on Monday and I have run it numerous times to clean out the beginning of season Crud and it is doing a pretty good job, but I likely will still need to do a manual vac when I have the time.
So far I am happy with it.
One thing to add - the Dolphin cable started to give off debris in your hand. The Aqua Products cable is a different type and looks like it shouldn't do that.
I am using the old caddy from my Dolphin and it works pretty well, but not perfectly. You can hang the controller on the caddy, but it isn't very secure. I might use tie wraps to make it more secure.

 

[gaskippy]

Just ordered Evo 614iQP from Marina Pool Spa & Patio. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to the robot.

 

[Jimrahbe]

@gaskippy

I still love my EVO.. I like it much better than all the Dolphins I have owned over the past 20 years...

Only time will tell how long it lasts, but so far, so good...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TwinsPool]

Just received my EVO 604 today. I'm holding a lot of optimism for it.

For the life of me, I could not get the buttons on the power unit to respond. Neither the Mode nor the Start/Stop were working. It was in the pool but I could not get it to start.

Out of frustration, I starting forcefully hitting the Mode button in rapid succession and it started switching modes.

Then I did the same thing to the Start/Stop button. At some point the robot started moving, so I haven't touched any buttons since. It is about to stop its first 2.5-hour program as I write this. I hope they start working more consistently soon.

Is this common? Do the buttons need to be "broken in"?

I noticed that it stirs up a lot of fine dust as it is trying to vacuum it up. Pool is pretty cloudy now. This is my first robot, so I am assuming this is just normal. Tomorrow I'll do another run to get any missed spots and get whatever was stirred up today and settled.

 

[Jimrahbe]

TP.

Well, I guess the buttons could be bad, or you could just try a little patience...

I am not there of course, but it kind of sounds like I initially had the same issue..

When I push the start button... there is no light that turns on, so it seems like it is not working.. but, if you look closely at the constant power light.. It will quickly blink once or twice. Then it takes another few seconds for the robot to respond.. Pushing the button again will just turn it off..

In any case, if bad, Marina will take care of it.. Let's give it a day or so to make sure it is actually bad.

I have found that if I use the app.. it is worse.. for lack of feedback that what you asked it to do it being done..

Dust wise, it will take several cycles to get it all cleaned up and then the 'dust' problem should go away.. I assume you are using the extra fine basket???

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[sneakykitty]

Thank you all for the reviews! I just ordered and can't wait! This will be my first robot for my small pool.

 

[TwinsPool]

Jim,

This morning both buttons worked just fine. It seems there was some sort of electrical connection issue in the switches that wore off after many presses. I saw the blinking (once or twice) of the power light today that let's me know the robot is ON. However, this afternoon the Start/Stop button had problems again. Rapid pressing again did get it to turn ON, so I'm thinking it will just improve over time.

If others have problems initially with the buttons on the control box, just press them firmly many times in rapid succession. That should get you going.

For the dust, I don't really mind that it takes a few runs to get it up. It is such great help to me versus manual vacuuming that I don't mind it at all. I do need to help it out a little in areas like corner platforms, steps and sharpish pool corners, but I just brush those to the bottom and the bot gets them there. Yes, I use the optional Fine Filter Canister (it is truly EXTRA fine!) and recommend that to others if you have fine stuff to vacuum up.

And the filter is so fast & easy to clean! Just spray it briefly with water and everything just slides right out.

Until I make or buy a caddy, just a couple of 7-inch scrap 2x4 pieces side-by-side works well to elevate the treads and brushes off the floor for storing out of the pool (and in the shade).


Thanks Jim, for your robot (and other) expertise helping everyone here.

 

[Chief2505]

I ordered mine today based on this thread! I went with the 614iq, I sometimes leave my pool unattended for a week at a time and I need to be able to program the robot to run every so often. I should have it next week, just in time to hopefully open my pool after the PB comes and fixes the leak around my light. Water level dropped over the winter to just below the top of the light. I knew I had a leak but could not find it, I think I have found it now! Hopefully my new liner is not full of wrinkles from the lower water level.

 

[FrancisK7]

Would you guys say the 604/614iq performance at sucking up finer debris like pollen and dust is considerably better than the Nautilus CC?

I got a certified like-new Nautilus CC for $449, but after multiple cleanings I find it's not that good at getting fine dust or pollen that has settled. I'm considering upgrading to this instead.

The 614iq with a fine mesh filter costs twice as much but I know I'm getting a lot more as well (water line, swivel cable, wi-fi, etc.) and since I am surrounded by giant mature trees from reading the thread it looks like the 614iq will do a good job at handling all the pollen/shedding?

 

[Jimrahbe]

K7,

Go back and look at my post #296..

It shows the difference in what the standard basket picks up vs. the fine filter basket..

The fine basket is an additional $50, but well worth it, as it picks up stuff that you can't even see...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[PoorPoolOwner]

K7,

Go back and look at my post #296..

It shows the difference in what the standard basket picks up vs. the fine filter basket..

The fine basket is an additional $50, but well worth it, as it picks up stuff that you can't even see...

Thanks,

Jim R.

I agree with Jim, I used standard when I opened pool, but when I started noticing that I was getting less in the basket, I changed out to the fine filter and it gets basically everything out.

 

[sneakykitty]

I have had my 614IQ for 1 week now, and WOW! I was coming from Pentair Racer pressure side cleaner that came with the pool. The racer has been broken for the past 1-2 months so I was excited to get the Evo in the pool. Immediately as it ran across the floor of the pool we could see a clean, clear path that was left in its wake. We are in Oklahoma and had a bunch of windy, dustbowl days. I've run 'Kreature' 4 times now; 3 times with the regular filter and 1 time with the fine filter basket. I'm more than impressed and kicking myself for limping along with the Racer for the past 3 years. Thank you for this thread and to Marina Pools.

 

[DFWpoolboy]

Discovered this thread and read it in a single day last weekend, bought a 614IQ and fine filter immediately from Marina. I didn’t place an order over the phone as it’s on sale for 800 on their site and cheaper than anywhere else already, so figure they wouldn’t discount even further. Also it’s lower now than what they used to sell it for when advertising the regular price.

Here is my before vs after it’s very first run with the fine filter, and our weekly pool service came two days before this for reference.

This is replacing a 4-year-old Dolphin CC Supreme (read: fancy version) which is what we bought when buying a new home, and my first pool ownership experience. It has two thin filters and after our first season, realized it wasn’t an ideal setup for our heavy leaves and trees around. It worked for 4 years after living in the pool 24/7 but knew we needed a basket-type version as a replacement. It was fixed locally under warranty one time without issue. The cord after this long was disintegrating in my hands and pool which was gross, and dirt would re-enter the pool when removing it from the water. On top of filters and overall design not being great for leaves.

In researching our next Dolphin (design and price creep) and market, figured there ‘must be a better way’! Came across this thread and game over. Thankful to all the knowledge sharing here, and looks like this is a worthwhile bot without overkill for a sure-to-die-at-some-point technology.

Plan to stick with fine filter generally and swap out for the regular when there are leaves and heavy debris to collect. Weekly schedule great when away from home for weeks at a time.

 

[run53]

I've had a Polaris 280 for the past 17 years. I like it but the pump is the weak link. Over the 17 years, I've had to replace the pump 3 times and it just died again. So rather than buying a new pump for a 17 year old cleaner, I am thinking about replacing with the EVO 614i based on what I've read here. I have a few questions before I pull the plug.....

1) How is this cleaner for vinyl lined pools? The brushes look aggressive and afraid it might damage the liner....anyone using it on a liner?

2) I have a free form shape pool with stairs and bench. The shallow end is 25' wide and tapers down to a 16' diameter circle in deep end. Looking for feedback on how well it would handle the free form. Not concerned about step and bench coverage.

3) I have an outlet about 12 feet from the pool. I am confused on how it would connect up to this outlet and still reach the pool (never had a robot before so please excuse my ignorance on this). Is this what the caddy would help with? When I'm not using it, I would store it in my pool shed so I wouldn't need the caddy for storage. Wondering if I even need the caddy.

4) I have a lot of dust/dirt....do I need both the extra fine and the standard filter?

5) Not sure if I need the WIFI model but it might come in handy while I'm on vacations and want to run the robot remotely. Is this the purpose of the WiFi?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.....

 

[Jimrahbe]

@DFWpoolboy,

Thanks for the feedback..

I would suggest that you only put the amount of cord that you actually need into the pool.. Let the rest stay on the deck.

Glad the EVO is working for you..

I talked with Marina, and they said you still have to call to get the best pricing on the Dolphins, but they are authorized to sell the EVO's on line.. Sure makes it easier.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[PoorPoolOwner]

I've had a Polaris 280 for the past 17 years. I like it but the pump is the weak link. Over the 17 years, I've had to replace the pump 3 times and it just died again. So rather than buying a new pump for a 17 year old cleaner, I am thinking about replacing with the EVO 614i based on what I've read here. I have a few questions before I pull the plug.....

1) How is this cleaner for vinyl lined pools? The brushes look aggressive and afraid it might damage the liner....anyone using it on a liner?

2) I have a free form shape pool with stairs and bench. The shallow end is 25' wide and tapers down to a 16' diameter circle in deep end. Looking for feedback on how well it would handle the free form. Not concerned about step and bench coverage.

3) I have an outlet about 12 feet from the pool. I am confused on how it would connect up to this outlet and still reach the pool (never had a robot before so please excuse my ignorance on this). Is this what the caddy would help with? When I'm not using it, I would store it in my pool shed so I wouldn't need the caddy for storage. Wondering if I even need the caddy.

4) I have a lot of dust/dirt....do I need both the extra fine and the standard filter?

5) Not sure if I need the WIFI model but it might come in handy while I'm on vacations and want to run the robot remotely. Is this the purpose of the WiFi?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.....

1. Yes, I have a vinyl pool. (20x40 Lazy L) no issues at all.
3. It comes with a 60’ cord
4. I highly recommend the fine filter, it is worth the $50.
5. You can set up in the app a daily schedule to run. I have ours to come on daily at 8am. You’ll get a notification 2.5ish hours later when it’s done.

 

[DFWpoolboy]

@DFWpoolboy,

Thanks for the feedback..

I would suggest that you only put the amount of cord that you actually need into the pool.. Let the rest stay on the deck.

Glad the EVO is working for you..

I talked with Marina, and they said you still have to call to get the best pricing on the Dolphins, but they are authorized to sell the EVO's on line.. Sure makes it easier.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim for the legendary thread and the tip. I do need to drop it in the far end and mark the cord with some tape. At least the pool fence should help keep the excess on deck.