Battle of the Solar Skimmers: Ariel vs Betta 2 Bake off!!!

The extensions are not complicated parts and someone with a little CAD experience should have no problem creating a model. I have the experience but since retirement I don't have access to a descent program. They would have no way of knowing you added extensions if you kept the original ones in case you needed to return under warranty.

SteveK52 said:

The extensions are not complicated parts and someone with a little CAD experience should have no problem creating a model. I have the experience but since retirement I don't have access to a descent program. They would have no way of knowing you added extensions if you kept the original ones in case you needed to return under warranty.

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Do you think you could do it with the free version of sketchup?

I had no idea. Looks like the UPS store does 3D printing now. Don’t know if you have to have a business account or not though. Looks like you can get the piece scanned and modified though a 3rd party they use.

Katodude said:

So I understand the we dont have longer legs answer
I understand not giving me CAD files, that is part of their IP
I do not understand how they cannot have any legs as part of a spare parts inventory. It would be very easy to modify one, but I dont want to cut one up for when I do have a warranty issue.
I do not understand just trying to blow me off when there is what is clearly a design issue. @SteveK52 has the same issue, which means more people have it too. Customer service that forgets about customers is a pet peeve of mine

There is actually a lot of room for improvement on the original legs. The part that extends out now is pretty thick and probably cause aerodynamic issues (or whatever the water version of aerodynamic is). A piece that sits in the housing with a thinner circular protrusion would probably work better.

I dont have a 3D printer either, but I might try to build something out of a piece of plastic or wood.

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I don’t know who you chatted with. If you ever have an issue with the Beta, call (don’t email) and ask for Vivian. She has always been super helpful and I would have returned the thing for a refund after the second original one died if she wasn’t so helpful.

Looks like the UPS store might be the best option. I don't have the robot here as I have returned it for a refund. Maybe there is a better way to solve the problem, possibly adding more material elsewhere to extend the lower profile. I would look for light weight material so as no to interfere with the level of the basket. I see the extensions as a weak point and further extending them making them even weaker. Just my 2 cents.

Katodude said:

I sent the company a chat describing the problem and asking if they had longer legs or even a CAD diagram of the legs to get a set printed.

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1.
Do you need all four legs longer? Or just the front two? If just two, take the back legs, flip them up-side-down and bolt and/or glue them to the front legs. Done.

If you just bolt them, you can restore them to their original use, just with a hole in the foot. If you glue them, you can cut them to whatever length you need if they are too long.
OR

2.
If you need all four, commandeer four Lego blocks of the correct length and shape from your kid's closet, and bolt and/or glue those onto the four existing feet.
OR

3.
Fish around in the specialty hardware drawers at your local big box store for nylon nuts and bolts. Drill holes in the bottom of the existing feet to accept the bolts, and fasten them with the nuts. If you get if working like you want, put a drop of glue on the nut to lock it in place. The nylon nuts tend to work themselves loose if left on their own.

You can use the nylon nuts and bolts for the first two ideas, too. That avoids any corrosion issues. Or if you can't find them long enough for idea #3, then you might have to go with stainless steel.

Lots of ways to skin that cat without the trouble of fabricating something. By attaching something to the existing feet, they'll still be easily removable.

OR...

When support doesn't give you the answer you want, call them back to get someone else on the phone (instead of "asking for the manager"). You might get someone else more helpful/knowledgable/sympathetic. 'dude is right, most service departments encourage call volume (saves staff/money), which means doing what they can to get you off the phone, instead of turning you over to someone else. You'd be surprised how often a second (or third) call works.

But it's possible the call center can't supply parts. They sell what they get from their asian manufacturer, and they may not have access to parts.

Keep in mind that by extending the legs you are creating a longer lever, which will apply more lateral force to the legs and their sockets. Consider what might happen if the unit gets slammed into a step or the skimmer opening, either by an untimely gust of wind or a playful kid. Can they take that extra stress?

Katodude said:

So there are just a few more tests that I would like to run, but I am nearing the end of the review. I will post a set of conclusions.

What is everyone’s opinion on sharing this first with the manufacturers of each and letting them respond to the findings? They may have some quick fixes to some of the weaknesses mentioned. Its actually surprising that more manufactures of pool products dont spend more time here. I am sure by helping our frustrated users they could correct some misconceptions and generate some good will.

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It never hurts sharing your, opinions with a manufacturer. When doing a review on anything though it’s most important to consider the circumstances of the review and with a comparison like this to point out how they are different and which one would work better for people with a particular set of circumstances. Due to your stairs, it’s kind of obvious the Ariel is your best choice. If I were to review the Ariel though I have a feeling that it wouldn’t work at all for me and I would be trying to fashion some larger basket to it. I would probably have to babysit it all day to empty it’s basket every 15 minutes. I run my dolphin every night and take the beta out at night. So for me, I don’t care that the Ariel can’t run all night and I don’t really care that the beta can. In my opinion, It’s best really to know how they are different and what to expect from each one, and then secondarily how each could be potentially improved upon.

Can't you just raise the water level of the pool an inch or two? My 1st step is 4.5", Betta2 has no problems. Water at center of skimmer.

Katodude said:

Actually the Ariel gets beached on my stairs as well. That is why I had such high hopes for the stair avoidance feet of the Betta.

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Oh!!!!! Dang! Well how are the barbecue skewers working? Probably a slight upgrade to that would be to cut down some stainless steel straws. Probably the cheapest stainless option..

Just finished reading this thread, lots of good stuff guys. Even though I am not in the market for a solar skimmer (have to skimmers) I did find it interesting as heck. Thanks. You never know down the road. Maybe the price will come down.

Katodude said:

They are working for now, but not a great long term solution. They tend to move around a lot. Its hard to fasten something round to a rectangular piece. I am looking for a piece of plastic or wood that I can just grind down to attach to it. I will get there, just been busy.

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I might play around with it as well… just to try to be helpful. It seems like it should be simple.

Katodude said:

I like all of these ideas, however, I do not want to modify the original feet currently while the unit is under warranty. Dont want to get in trouble for some sort of very benign modification. That is why I asked for an addition set of feet from the manufacturer.

For now, I will probably just look for a piece of plastic or wood or nylon bolt that I can grind down and make fit.

I will probably end up calling Vivian and make an appeal to her as well.

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You can clamp something onto the feet with a mini-c-clamp. That shouldn't void a warranty. It's possible the clamp itself could serve as the extension, if you can find the right size. They come is all sorts of sizes and shapes. Here's an example, 304 SS:

well decided to get the betta 2 to try out. put it in the pool and the right propeller fell off and sank to bottom. evidently the fastening screw was either missing or loose enough to fall out with initial use. bummer. i was anxious to see its performance during our next wind event this weekend. they are sending replacement screw, but in the mean time I can scrounge around the garage and find something small enough to work.