Polaris 360: backup valve pulls into stairs

[waterrockets]

Anyone have any idea how I can fix this? Pools two years old, and I've been unable to reliably get around this problem. The cleaner supply is on the same side as the steps, and if the "S" in the hose goes the wrong way, then the cleaner's backup valve cannot pull it away from the stairs. Once stuck, I have to move it, or even throwing the hose to the other side (reversing the "S") gets it happy again.

The backup valve does work, and pulls the unit out to sea just fine. Wheels are turning about 28rpm, and it works great until it gets stuck on the step.

I was considering modifying the backup valve to push itself sideways away from the wall a bit, which would require occasional re-orientation (if I figured out a reasonable way to make it go another direction).

Here's a photo:

 

[ohaya]

Hi,

I don't know if this is the problem (even after almost 20 years, the way the 360 is supposed to work is kind of a mystery to me), but the styrofoam floaters seem like they are in the incorrect places on the hose? I think the 1st one is supposed to go just "behind" (side away from the cleaner) the backup valve, and the next one is 4 ft. back further away from the cleaner, and the last one is 7 feet from the first one. That was from memory, but check the 360 installation manual.

Like I said, some of the design is a mystery, but I have the experience that the placement of the styrofoam floaters is significant.

 

[waterrockets]

Hi,

I don't know if this is the problem (even after almost 20 years, the way the 360 is supposed to work is kind of a mystery to me), but the styrofoam floaters seem like they are in the incorrect places on the hose? I think the 1st one is supposed to go just "behind" (side away from the cleaner) the backup valve, and the next one is 4 ft. back further away from the cleaner, and the last one is 7 feet from the first one. That was from memory, but check the 360 installation manual.

Like I said, some of the design is a mystery, but I have the experience that the placement of the styrofoam floaters is significant.

Thanks for the tip. I moved the floats, and it got better, but it still gets stuck if the "S" in the hose goes the wrong way.

I think the mystery around how these things work is really just a hack engineering job that is kind of reliable. For example, why would a float be specified right behind the backup valve, when they could just build it in to ensure it's in the right place?

Updated image with the floats:

 

[ohaya]

Hi,

At the place where the host enters the top of the cleaner - is that connector able to swivel around freely (it should be free to swivel 360 degrees).

Also, do all the swivels in the host swivel freely?

Also, re. your hoses, I cannot tell but is there a swivel in the host near the wall connection (looks like about 4' from the wall in your pics)? If not what is that?

 

[waterrockets]

Hi,

At the place where the host enters the top of the cleaner - is that connector able to swivel around freely (it should be free to swivel 360 degrees).

Also, do all the swivels in the host swivel freely?

Also, re. your hoses, I cannot tell but is there a swivel in the host near the wall connection (looks like about 4' from the wall in your pics)? If not what is that?

Yep, the swivels and mast are all freely spinning, especially when pressurized.

About 3' from the wall is a swivel, yep.

The core problem is that the backup valve has a good chance of ending up over the stairs, and from there, it just cannot possibly pull the cleaner away from that corner. It just pulls into the stairs.

Thanks!

 

[ohaya]

Hi,

I really don't know then.

On our configuration, we have a full 6 foot section of hose from the wall to the first swivel. I wonder if you switch/swap the shorter section of hose you have going from the wall to the 1st swivel with the longer middle hose if that would work better?

Or maybe if you replace the wall-to-1st swivel hose with a full 6' section (if you have a spare one )? I am thinking then it might backup to an area away from the stairs (maybe you just happen to have the lucky length now ).?

I would really think that even when it gets stuck on the stairs like you have, the backup valve should EVENTUALLY pull the cleaner away from the stairs.

That is the way ours works, i.e., if the cleaner gets stuck on the stairs, the backup valve eventually is able to pull it away from the stairs, even if it doesn't do it on the 1st backup cycle.

 

[waterrockets]

Hi,

I really don't know then.

On our configuration, we have a full 6 foot section of hose from the wall to the first swivel. I wonder if you switch/swap the shorter section of hose you have going from the wall to the 1st swivel with the longer middle hose if that would work better?

Or maybe if you replace the wall-to-1st swivel hose with a full 6' section (if you have a spare one )? I am thinking then it might backup to an area away from the stairs (maybe you just happen to have the lucky length now ).?

I would really think that even when it gets stuck on the stairs like you have, the backup valve should EVENTUALLY pull the cleaner away from the stairs.

That is the way ours works, i.e., if the cleaner gets stuck on the stairs, the backup valve eventually is able to pull it away from the stairs, even if it doesn't do it on the 1st backup cycle.

Thanks for digging in to help find a solution.

I recently cut that length from the wall. It was almost 6' long, cut by the pool installer. I cut it to reduce the likelihood of the bad "S," putting the backup valve over the stairs. I could swap that end hose with the other end hose, but I don't see how that would keep the backup valve away from the stairs.

Once the unit drives into the corner at the bottom of the stairs, it cannot get out using the wheels. If the backup valve ends up over the stairs, it's completely stuck until I move it or flip the hose out to reverse the "S" (I can tell b/c leaves accumulate in the pool).