Polaris 9650IQ - Another error 10

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Alexr54

Alexr54

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2015
163
Florida
It's no more than 4 years old. Based on searches i have done, that seems to be the threshold for this dreaded error 10.
From my searches, most posts are years old. I was just wondering if there was any new info on this error?

The cleaners propellor starts and runs for about 2-3 seconds when any program is selected, then stops with a solid error:10 code every time.

It is on a GFI outlet, no extension cord. I also tried on another outlet, with same results.
I checked the connector at the main unit and its perfectly clean, goes in nice and tightly. I tried cleaning it with some sandpaper and sprayed some contact cleaner/enhancer on it just for good measure.
I did make sure the filter is clean, also tried with the filter out. The wheels move freely, the propellow moves freely. No obstructions.
There are no visible signs of wear on the line at all. But I suppose the next thing to do is to take the motor out and check the connection at the cleaner end?

It really stinks these things seem to error out after ~4 years regularly. It's almost like a faulty product without polaris acknowledging or honoring it.
It's not a cheap robot, i would think it should last ~10 years without any issues like this.

Is there anything else i should check?
 
Sounds like you’ve done all the checks aside from pulling apart the motor.

In general, electrically driven robotic cleaners have terrible lifetimes. Polaris, Dolphin, whatever, it doesn’t matter. They all seem to have about 3-5 year lifetime before a major issue crops up. You either have to accept that as just the nature of the cleaner and pony up the money for a new one (it rarely makes economic sense to rebuild them) OR find a different cleaning method. Pump driven cleaners tend to have much longer lifetimes and are typically cheaper to rebuild. Their down side is people don’t often like the aesthetics of the hoses floating around in the pool or they don’t feel that they clean well enough. But, given the lifecycle costs, you really can’t beat a pump driven cleaner.

Hope you can get it fixed and working again.
 
I solved my last error 10 on my polaris robot (basically same one as yours) as per the loose wire fix shown about two minutes into this video. It only took about ten minutes. I had not even realized this bit of the cord could be taken apart.
 
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On the polaris robotic cleaners the error 10 is a cord problem but can be at either end. At the controller end many times they loosen out of the connection within the plug. On the robot side they break internally at the last point where it goes in or I should say where it comes out. The constant flex at that point is where I've seen it many times. The fix at the plug end is relatively easy but not so much on the robot end which is rather pretty invasive to say the least necessitating to shorten the cord from that end by as much as it is long from the break to its termination. There's very little room within the plug and is very difficult eventhough I've done it several times. A new cord is in order possibly.
 
PCR said:
I solved my last error 10 on my polaris robot (basically same one as yours) as per the loose wire fix shown about two minutes into this video. It only took about ten minutes. I had not even realized this bit of the cord could be taken apart.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this!
I’ll be checking that today. And will update here soon as I can.
 
wireform said:
On the polaris robotic cleaners the error 10 is a cord problem but can be at either end. At the controller end many times they loosen out of the connection within the plug. On the robot side they break internally at the last point where it goes in or I should say where it comes out. The constant flex at that point is where I've seen it many times. The fix at the plug end is relatively easy but not so much on the robot end which is rather pretty invasive to say the least necessitating to shorten the cord from that end by as much as it is long from the break to its termination. There's very little room within the plug and is very difficult eventhough I've done it several times. A new cord is in order possibly.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
I did check continuity and was fine when I checked.
But maybe it’s intermittent because of a loose connection.
If it’s just a wire I have no problem shortening a bit or modifying as needed, as long as the modified part is not in the water.
Otherwise waterproofing a splice may be an issue for me.

I know it’s bad but I typically never take the robot out of the pool. And it runs auto daily cycles.
When it works, it’s fantastic.
 
PCR said:
I solved my last error 10 on my polaris robot (basically same one as yours) as per the loose wire fix shown about two minutes into this video. It only took about ten minutes. I had not even realized this bit of the cord could be taken apart.
Click to expand...
I did this and unfortunately it didn't solve the issue.
A couple fasters were kind of loose in the plug so was hoping that did it by tightening them. Nope :(

I did notice some wear on the line right before that plug, its very little wear, not enough wear to actually make a hole in the protective casing of the line. I'll take it apart again tomorrow (if time permits) and will cut back the line a couple inches then reseat.
I just find it strange that it passes continuity tests.
I didn't actually test power passing through, maybe that's something i should do? Are there any specific voltages i should look for? Or is it just 120v?
 
Eventually I ended up taking off the motor housing. And it was not completely dry inside.
The circuit board had a fried capacitor. Most likely from getting wet.

Makes no sense to me to replace the entire motor assembly just for a circuit board issue.
As much as Polaris would like this. Nope not happening with me. Not with the economy the way it is now :). Can’t waste anything.
Motors are fine, housing is fine.
I’ll use some marine silicone to make the seal better.

I’m going to try and solder in a new capacitor, and also order a used replacement board from whatever I like marketplace I can find that has it in decent shape.
Soldering in a new capacitor is simple. Removing the bad one is a pain.
Not the first time I’ve done something like this and thankfully I already have a great soldering kit for PCBs.
 
Soldering on a new capacitor did not fix it. Looks like possibly more was burnt besides the capacitor. The original circuit board would either require professional repair or goes in the garbage.
A replacement board should be getting delivered in a few days.

All because a top of the line pool cleaning robot that was designed to be submersible leaked.
Its nuts how the manufacturer takes no responsibility in something like this, no matter if its 4 years old or not.
 

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JoyfulNoise said:
Hopefully the “new” board works. Where did you find it?
Click to expand...
Ebay
Definitely not new. New to me. And better then my obviously burnt circuit board.

It seems to have made some progress, now lift works. With one side not running.
And no programs work still, with same error 10.

Either i plugged in the motors wrong, or i also have a faulty motor.
They all spin fine freely. None seem to be damaged visually.
Water got in to destroy the circuit board, same could have happened to one or more of the motors as well.
 
After some more testing, i found one motor went bad as well as the motor circuit board.
This all started from a small leak that sprung apparently from a defective factory seal.
I have a replacement motor on order.

By chance does anyone know the exact size of the seal?

Couple thoughts;
It's really shoddy work on how a product like this can spring a leak and not be covered lifetime for it. It's supposed to be underwater, thats its entire purpose.

It's badly designed in the case that a leak does happen.
Instead of forcing current to a shorted motor/board, as soon as water is detected, using a simple $5 sensor it should cut off power from the head unit, and have a specific error stating a water leak.

I am adding in a aqara water leak sensor myself. And will make my own routine using Home Assistant.
First it will cut off power to the outlet powering the polaris robotic cleaner, immediately after it senses even a drop of water.
Then it will trigger an alert telling me water was detected in the motor assembly.

This may or may not stop major damage, but its 100x better then what Polaris is currently doing with the generic error 10 nonsense, and then expecting customers to dish out half the cost of a new unit for an entire new motor assembly.

I'll update once the new motor is installed, if its fixed or not.
 
Last edited:
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Good afternoon, did the new motor solve your problem? I’m having the exact same problem with my robot. I troubleshot and it is definitely not the control head or the cable as I have perfect continuity through all of it.
 
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