Robot Selection, Control, & Outlet Configuration

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spd500 said:
I would try to find out if the length of the cable will be an issue. If you have the cable twice as long as recommended you may have a voltage drop and cause your robot to fail prematurely.
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Ya, I thought through that. An 18 gauge wire (not sure if this is accurate, but I figured it was a safe guess), at 60ft long, will drop 0.76vdc per amp of current. I read somewhere the robot pulls between 1-2 amps, and the tech told me the robot operates between 24-30 vdc.

So at 1.5A, and a 30vdc signal, it'll be 28.85vdc with the OEM setup. If I add another 60ft, it'll drop it another 1.15vdc, resulting in 27.7vdc final. Still well within that 24-30vdc spec he gave me.

I could cut the wire and solder it back together at the 40ft I need, and the drop over that would result in 28.09vdc.

Either way, I don't think the extra length will cause a significant enough voltage drop unless the wires are really small (like 24awg ... this would drop 3.07vdc per amp), but I can't imagine them using this small of wires (for comparison, 24awg wire is about the size you would use for breadboard jumpers).
 
Stoopalini said:
Wednesday, the excavator arrives to begin our IG pool install. The builder originally spec'ed a pressure cleaner, but I had them remove it and plan to purchase a robot instead.
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We are planning to get the robot instead as well, but I was thinking I would have the plumbing still installed for the pressure side vacuum because it is part of the package and if we ever change our mind we will have the option. Is this not a good idea?
 
spd500 said:
I would try to find out if the length of the cable will be an issue. If you have the cable twice as long as recommended you may have a voltage drop and cause your robot to fail prematurely.
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I was thinking the same thing regarding voltage drop. It almost would be better to run a high quality electrical cable from the pad to your point closest to pool and install a GFCI outlet. Make a waterproof (or protected case) to house the cleaner controller. Therefore you have a full 120V at that point closest to the pool. Plug the controller in and then you have your 60ft of low voltage line to operate the cleaner. You will need to determine how to camouflage your box that holds the controller. You can then unplug the low voltage cable and wrap it to store with cleaner and only visible part may be the box containing the controller. Or just make an outdoor GFCI outlet standing up at your garden edge (if that is outside of 10ft from pool edge) and just plug in your controller each time you use the cleaner, thus no need for a waterproof box to house the controller. Just a couple of ideas to give you options.
 
spd500 said:
We are planning to get the robot instead as well, but I was thinking I would have the plumbing still installed for the pressure side vacuum because it is part of the package and if we ever change our mind we will have the option. Is this not a good idea?
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That's exactly what I did. The pressure port can be used for other things as well (like an aeration fixture, etc ..)


HermanTX said:
I was thinking the same thing regarding voltage drop. It almost would be better to run a high quality electrical cable from the pad to your point closest to pool and install a GFCI outlet. Make a waterproof (or protected case) to house the cleaner controller. Therefore you have a full 120V at that point closest to the pool. Plug the controller in and then you have your 60ft of low voltage line to operate the cleaner. You will need to determine how to camouflage your box that holds the controller. You can then unplug the low voltage cable and wrap it to store with cleaner and only visible part may be the box containing the controller. Or just make an outdoor GFCI outlet standing up at your garden edge (if that is outside of 10ft from pool edge) and just plug in your controller each time you use the cleaner, thus no need for a waterproof box to house the controller. Just a couple of ideas to give you options.
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Right, the issue I have is the 10ft limit puts the outlet either in my yard, or in my neighbors property LOL ... because I have a 10ft public utility easement right behind the boulder coping. I could opt for an outdoor GFCI outlet clear on the other side of the pool, within the trees I have there ... but we've plans to make a flagstone patio under those trees, and I'm trying to keep the robot cord out of the way; which is why I'd like to have it behind the boulder coping.

guinness said:
There is also something called Poolside Connect for a Maytronics robot. There is very little information about it and no mention of cost.
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This would be really nice, and I actually called Maytronics 2 weeks back about the beta program, to see if I could be considered for it ... but unfortunately, the beta is only going on in Israel right now, and they don't expect this product to be in the US for another 3 years :( .
 
Why are they telling you 10ft? I have outlets that will be just a few feet from our pool with the current design, and an outdoor kitchen island/bar that has electrical outlets that will be within 5ft. I think if it were me I would run the conduit under the deck before they pour it and when they are done run it over to where you want it.
 
This is our pool design. The patio cover is already built and the open side that doesn't have the firepit has my outdoor kitchen island in it, and the center column has 4 outlets in it.
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spd500 said:
This is our pool design. The patio cover is already built and the open side that doesn't have the firepit has my outdoor kitchen island in it, and the center column has 4 outlets in it.
View attachment 153917
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Looks great! Having an outlet that close will be very convenient for you. You can hide the robot's power supply within the column/kitchen area, and even build a small enclosure to store the robot when not in use. Nice layout.

I thought about building more landscaping and privacy type structures, etc ... but that'll be a ways down the road. We are far out in the countryside, so it's not really a big priority.

Here's our current state. The equipment pad is going around the corner of the house, and that fencing on the left is my property line .. the backside of the pool is exactly 10ft from it, which is why I can't put a 120v outlet back there.

1595277641119.png

Here's a pic from the other side, and what I meant by the trees. We will have concrete decking with Sundek from the house to the pool, and wrapped around just a bit ... but not under the trees. We plan to do a walkway from the deep end bench, and a flagstone patio, under those trees.

1595277755552.png
 
Looking good, we don't even have a hole in the ground yet, but they did come out an flag utilities this afternoon. I am hoping that I can mount the power supply inside of the outdoor kitchen behind the refrigerator because I have about 18" of dead space behind there anyway and an electrical outlet. If I can do that I want to find a way to move the plug for the robot's cord to an outlet on the side of the outdoor kitchen instead of plugging direct to the power supply.
 

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I have a Maytronics Dolphin M500 that I love. It is very heavy getting it out of the water though. I chose it because I would not have to turn it upside down to remove the filters. Get both the regular mesh filters for larger objects like leaves and the ultra fine filters for sand or algae, etc. I believe they have the M600 out, but I don't know the differences. I previously had a Polaris 360 pressure cleaner. It was horrible to clean the bag. The M500 cleans the pool so well that I do not have to brush the pool manually.

Best Performance | Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner | Maytronics

Designed for 21st-century pool owners, meet our smartest, most advanced robotic pool cleaners, here to deliver a whole new level of pool cleaning experience.
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Only downsides:
The weight after it is full of water and you are trying to remove it from the pool. 25-30 lbs when dry.
Mice and rats like to chew on the tracks. They also eat our wiring in our cars.

I am a 64 year old female, and I can lift it out of the pool if I let it drain a few seconds before trying to lift it to the concrete. We live lakefront so we had rats or mice chew on the rubber tracks when we left it outside. A cart/caddy is extra, but it was worth it. I am currently looking for a trash can large and tall enough to fit over the cleaner and caddy so we can leave it outside.
 
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