Dolphin Active 20 - Cable Issue?

[spmurph]

I've been having issues with my cleaner not finishing the cleaning cycle and it's now progressed to where it won't get past the self-test. I took it apart, cleaned the impeller (not much there) but still the same issue. I tried reengaging the motor (removing it and placing it back in) - still nothing.

Next I ran voltage tests. Everything checked out find until I got to the blue swivel cable. I could not get a reading at the end that plugs into the motor. I did a continuity test, but I'm not sure if what the results mean because I've never done one before. I was only able to get a continuity beep from one of the two prongs. Does that mean that the cable is bad? I'd like to be sure it's bad before I replace it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Those swivel connectors are known to have leaks and the inner contacts get corroded. You’ll need to take it apart and clean it up.

 

[spmurph]

Those swivel connectors are known to have leaks and the inner contacts get corroded. You’ll need to take it apart and clean it up.

Take it apart at the white plastic housing?

 

[look30]

Take it apart at the white plastic housing?

yeah, the top will screw open , I used a plier to open it, and you can get access to the inside, really easy. Put some grease on the gasket after you clean the push pins and the contact surface also grease the cable before you re-insert it in place. Use Aladdin or similar grease.
Look at this thread for excellent pictures : Time for Maintenance of "Robotina" Maytronics S200

 

[look30]

Sounds the same as my issue with S200 which I understand is the same unit as yours. I went ahead and opened the motor enclosure and there was water inside that actually corroded the motor so mine is toast.

 

[spmurph]

Sounds the same as my issue with S200 which I understand is the same unit as yours. I went ahead and opened the motor enclosure and there was water inside that actually corroded the motor so mine is toast.

I suspected it might be the cable because I let it get too kinked up and it tended to cut the cycle short when the cord stretched tight. If I moved the unit to give it slack it would continue the cycle and then stop again once the cable stretched tight.

The fact that the cable failed the continuity test has me pretty sure it’s the cable. I ordered a new one on Amazon which I can return if my current cable works after cleaning the contacts. Hopefully it’s not actually the motor. Sucks there is no way to test it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I suspected it might be the cable because I let it get too kinked up and it tended to cut the cycle short when the cord stretched tight. If I moved the unit to give it slack it would continue the cycle and then stop again once the cable stretched tight.

The fact that the cable failed the continuity test has me pretty sure it’s the cable. I ordered a new one on Amazon which I can return if my current cable works after cleaning the contacts. Hopefully it’s not actually the motor. Sucks there is no way to test it.

You can check the motor easily if you have a way of hooking up the power supply reliable to the motor. When the motor goes through initial startup the impeller should spin up to 3 different speeds (low, regular and fast) as indicated by the pitch of the noise the motor makes. The directional thrust actuator should move from center position to each side. While that is happening, the drive motor should turn CW and then CCW (drives the treads forward and backwards). Once it goes through that self-check sequence, it should be shut off.

If one or more of those tests are not happening, there’s a motor problem. In my case, before rebuilding the impeller motor, it would fail to spin up to different speeds and the drive motor would not turn. Taking apart revealed water in the motor assembly case and lots of carbon brush crud built up onto everything.

 

[spmurph]

Just want to update the thread. I cleaned the contacts inside of the swivel and was able to get a voltage reading at the motor end of the cable. It still didn’t pass the continuity test though. I reconnected it and dropped it in the pool. The clean cycle started but failed after about 5 mins and I couldn’t get it to run again.

I was worried that it was the motor, but my new cable came in the mail today so I checked that first. It ran the self-check test fine, so I threw it in the pool. Happy to report that my cleaner is back to working!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Those swivel cables can be hit and miss. Once they fail, it's hard to get them back to functioning. Honestly, if the swivel isn't really smoothly turning (it should require only minimal force for it to rotate), then it probably needs to be opened and cleaned up.

Good news is, if you ever wanted to go back to a non-swivel version, they are a lot cheaper and probably a lot less hassle.