Kickstarter robot FYI

[heckofagator]

don't know anything about this but have seen this a few times on Facebook.

New campaign for a wireless cleaner robot. $399 is their lowest price, I think to the first 400 or something like that.

SMOROBOT - 100% Cordless AI Pool Cleaning Robot

Intelligent Path Planning | 3.5-Hour Runtime Covers 4100ft² | 188W Suction Power | Walls+Waterline+Floor | Free US Shipping in May 2022

www.kickstarter.com

 

[Newdude]

but have seen this a few times on Facebook.

Anytime I view a circupool thread their ads come up for a week on every news site I visit.

With all of your recent searching, they'd be coming up on your Facebook whether or not you went looking for it there.

I like what I see from the Kickstarter. Not enough to join, mind you, but still.

 

[Mdragger88]

Very cool
@JoyfulNoise have u seen this? Looks like a contender
Looks very maytronicsy…

 

[heckofagator]

Yeah, you're def right about the ads. I hate to say but we even had a label printer my son had just purchased - I swear we were just talking about it, never had searched on it, and it showed up on my Facebook later that evening. Alexa......?

Anyway, yeah, I don't have enough guts to jump on the Kickstarter either. I think I'm going to try the S300 when they come in stock for the first round. That way you get the cart and all that (although I know you can purchase it separately). And then when it breaks after 4-5 years like I'm reading, probably just purchase the S200 from there on out. Although maybe the cordless will be "the thing" by then.

I just hope whatever boat all those Maytronics cleaners are on comes sooner rather than later.

 

[Newdude]

Looks very maytronicsy…

Preach !!!! I couldn't get past the first image of it, but did like the development pics later on.

I just hope whatever boat all those cleaners are on comes sooner rather than later.

Let's Kickstart a battery pack that the cord plugs into and they can drive THEMSELVES here. We'd be rich !!!! Each one could carry a few SWGs and we'd be stinking rich.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I’m going to stay away from robots for now. I’ve decided to go back to a suction side cleaner for a few years until the pool equipment market calms down again and finds some equilibrium. The current prices and supply chain issues are off the wall. Robots are horribly over-priced in my opinion as well as suffering from defective manufacturing processes. They’re just too risky at the moment. And, battery powered tech is only going to get worse as supplies of rate-earth minerals becomes harder to get. China has now entered into agreements in Afghanistan for the exploitation and mining rights of that countries vast reserves of minerals. Batteries and high-tech materials are only going to get more expensive as China monopolizes the global supply.

 

[convan23]

How do you get it out of the pool when the battery dies?

 

[heckofagator]

How do you get it out of the pool when the battery dies?

You're getting in the pool anyways, aren't you?

They claim it goes to the wall or water line when it detects low battery so you can pull it out.

 

[heckofagator]

I’m going to stay away from robots for now. I’ve decided to go back to a suction side cleaner for a few years until the pool equipment market calms down again and finds some equilibrium. The current prices and supply chain issues are off the wall. Robots are horribly over-priced in my opinion as well as suffering from defective manufacturing processes.

I find the prices on some of the suction side cleaners very hard to comprehend also. The house we jus purchased had a "The PoolCleaner" model and when I looked them up, I couldn't believe they are almost $500. that seems crazy to me for how they are built. I think many other similar kreepy crawly versions are at a similar price point. they look like maybe $100 worth of plastic to me.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I find the prices on some of the suction side cleaners very hard to comprehend also. The house we jus purchased had a "The PoolCleaner" model and when I looked them up, I couldn't believe they are almost $500. that seems crazy to me for how they are built. I think many other similar kreepy crawly versions are at a similar price point. they look like maybe $100 worth of plastic to me.

True. But they are also way cheaper to maintain and fix. Robots don’t last more than 5 years before major problems creep up. And if it’s a motor that goes, you’re looking at $450. That’s basically the cost of a brand new cleaner.

 

[Jerz]

Seems there's more scams on Facebook than legitimate ads and I don't have the patience for a kickstarter.... hard pass for me.

 

[Mdragger88]

How do you get it out of the pool when the battery dies?

Its got a floating string thing you grab

 

[Mdragger88]

There’s also the choice for a hook for the end of your pole.

 

[rmm221]

True. But they are also way cheaper to maintain and fix. Robots don’t last more than 5 years before major problems creep up. And if it’s a motor that goes, you’re looking at $450. That’s basically the cost of a brand new cleaner.

I’ve had The Poolverguegen for 5 years now and it’s just not the same anymore. I changed the tires… replaced some gears ect but it’s just hard to diagnose. It goes in circles and the wheels just don’t rotate too well. And those plastic gears and things are like $30-50 bucks a piece and knowing which are worn is tough to figure out. I’m switching to a robot … trying the Aiper 1500. No more dealing with hoses and I have far too many leaves for the poolvernugen to handle without constant unclogging. Amazon has a 30 day return policy so if I don’t like the aiper after a test I’ll just return it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I’ve had The Poolverguegen for 5 years now and it’s just not the same anymore. I changed the tires… replaced some gears ect but it’s just hard to diagnose. It goes in circles and the wheels just don’t rotate too well. And those plastic gears and things are like $30-50 bucks a piece and knowing which are worn is tough to figure out. I’m switching to a robot … trying the Aiper 1500. No more dealing with hoses and I have far too many leaves for the poolvernugen to handle without constant unclogging. Amazon has a 30 day return policy so if I don’t like the aiper after a test I’ll just return it.

All cleaners seem to last about 5 years or so. My main problem with the robotic cleaners is that they are designed to be not serviceable in their major components (power supply, cord, or motor assembly). And so when one of those breaks, and it’s usually outside the warranty period, you’re stuck with a hunk of plastic that is going to costs you a lot of money to get running again. I’m not convinced Aiper will be any better in terms of longevity. The suction and pressure cleaners tend to be cheaper to repair but still have a finite lifetime. I suppose if one doesn’t mind buying a new robot every 5 years, then the choice is easy.

By the way, the rubber treads on there robots only last about a season or two in a gunite pool. Dolphin charges about $100 for new treads. The plastic wheels and bushings wear out too, about $50 to replace. The brushes will last several seasons but they cost anywhere from $60-$80 to replace. Filter panels, one way flaps, rubber trim pieces, etc, all need to replaced within 2-3 years of use. So, at then end of the day, you’re still going to be seeing repair/maintenance bills for these cleaners …