REVIEW: Dolphin Oasis Z5 from Epic Pool supply

mrcarcrazy

0
TFP Guide
Jan 21, 2014
1,069
Tx coast
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Let me start by saying I have nothing to compare the Z5 to other than the "free" manual vacuum that my pool builder provided me. I haven't used any other current gen pool cleaner. This is an unsolicited/unpaid/honest review. Also...I squeak when I walk...if you get my drift.

My review of the Z5 starts with the purchase, I chatted with a support person on Epic's website, they gave me a coupon code "Dolphin100" which brought the price down to 1299. This was about 400.00(before Mail in Rebate - 300.00 after) less than the M5 would cost me (no local dealers and shipping/tax was horrendous). The purchase was simple, as easy as buying anything on the internet should be. I ordered on a Sat, it was shipped on the following Monday, and I received it that Thursday.

Packaging - Packaging was appropriately sized and well thought out (came from Maytronics like this it appears). I had to open it before the pic :D
C571A1F8-5BF9-4AD2-A7CF-9E8797C07698_zpse5xf0ejo.jpg


Assembly You have to assemble the cart/dolly. It takes a few minutes with a screwdriver. It's simple, and there's even instructions. On the Robot itself there is no assembly, unless you're like me, and you wanted to change from the screen filters to the ultra fine dirt picker upper filters. There was some plastic around the foam sections of the brushes (they feel like magic erasers once wet). Once you have that done it'll look something like this
0083060C-8FA2-4F22-87E9-0C6727206705_zpskl7id3sl.jpg


Cleaning - The important part. How does this thing clean? Well I can only compare it to my manual vacuum. But compared to that, it rocks. My Vacuum had tons of suction (2hp pump moves some water). The head was poorly designed and it left a lot to be desired. I don't have a leave/stick problem in my pool. It's dirt dirt and more dirt. (I live in the Desert). Here's an image from the first cleaning. You can kinda see the reverse snail trail. It had made two lines there. Look between the robot and the main drains. there's a line I swear lol
DAD2D490-5AEC-4D61-BF4B-3DD332B4F9AF_zpstdvpna3v.jpg


It is able to climb all the way up to the tile line and it even works my bench/baja deck over.
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This was all on automatic, I didn't force it to climb up there...

It climbs up my bottom two steps but won't go on the top step
1BBB4C72-87EE-4363-A191-90424478232C_zpseq8b9fyg.jpg


It picks up all sorts of crud
0E1D2749-20BF-4F6D-A3D3-027D7B1426D8_zpsoxilfsn5.jpg


Cleaning the robot - This Couldn't be more simple (or maybe it could, but I doubt it). You spray out the filters and you're done. It's a simple procedure that is rather effective.

Conclusion - I highly recommend this robot to anyone who doesn't want to mess with manual vacuuming, especially if you have a "dirt problem". Any questions, feel free to ask. I'm pleased with this thing. If it lasts, I'll remain a happy camper.
 
I have a dolphin too. Love the thing! Its going around the pool right now as a matter of fact!
I was skeptical about the longevity of the thing also, which is why I went with the 600 dollar one and I squeak when I walk too!

If I can get a couple or 3 years out of this one, I will consider it good enough. Hopefull when its time for another, the achilles heel will be fixed.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention. There was one or two guys who had issues with this particular Dolphin model getting stuck on their main drains. I wanted to report that this is not an issue in my pool/ with my drains

There are numerous posts with pics of my drains, but here's another...for good measure.
9999A319-6CA8-4645-98BC-75AE709301C1_zpsgd3cowsp.jpg

spa and pool drains are same in my pool.
 
So did you get the 3yr warranty ??

Looks good BTW , I really want a Dolphin cleaner. I don't have much in the way of leaves etc coming off trees or plants.
Mostly just dirt & dust (a lot coming of the silly rock waterfall my family wanted) that accumulates in the deep end.
 
So did you get the 3yr warranty ??

Looks good BTW , I really want a Dolphin cleaner. I don't have much in the way of leaves etc coming off trees or plants.
Mostly just dirt & dust (a lot coming of the silly rock waterfall my family wanted) that accumulates in the deep end.

Yeah Epic's standard warranty is 3yrs.

That's all I have too..dirt and more dirt. Works great for that!
 
I figure if it does great for you with all that west Texas dirt it will make easy work of my pool dirt here on Houston


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- - - Updated - - -

Is it extra quiet since there's no pump running & just the DC electric motor humming ?
 

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I swam with it to see if I could hear it. With my head above water, I cannot hear it at all (except every so often when it's scrubbing the tile line - splashing/sucking sounds). It actually snuck up on me a cpl times and tried to eat my foot. I'm thinking they should rename it "shark". :p When you are underwater you can hear a very quiet electric motor humming along. If/when it gets onto my steps and/or baja deck thing you hear the water splashing (it's vac. exhaust is on top of the unit).
 
Great review. Glad you like it! I have a question for you. Does your Z5 climb up the walls every time? Mine seems to selectively climb all the way to the tile line.

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It climbs the wall every 4-6th time it reaches a wall. The manual says something about this. Apparently this is another difference in the M5 and Z5. The M5's remote has an option for the robot to focus more heavily on the waterline. I'm going to try to convince Brushpup to bring his remote to my house so we can see if the options are there, just not activated by the simpler remote. I will update on the results of this experiment.
 
It climbs the wall every 4-6th time it reaches a wall. The manual says something about this. Apparently this is another difference in the M5 and Z5. The M5's remote has an option for the robot to focus more heavily on the waterline. I'm going to try to convince Brushpup to bring his remote to my house so we can see if the options are there, just not activated by the simpler remote. I will update on the results of this experiment.

Thanks. That sounds right based on my observations. I see nothing in the manual mentioning that though. Odd!

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