Hrmm the really high end bots seem a bit pricey though.. I was looking at this auto cleaner...
https://www.amazon.com/XtremepowerUS-Automatic-Vacuum-generic-Kreepy-Cleaner/dp/B00ESQMA8M/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493417211&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=pool+cleaner+creepy+crawler
I hear they make annoying clicking sounds though? And could I leave something like this plugged in 24/7?
Suction side cleaners only work when the pump is running, and when the pool is flowing enough to make them work.
You "could" leave it in 24/7 but it wont run unless your pump is running and pool is flowing (a plugged filter will degrage a suction cleaners performance)
I say "could" because when the suction cleaner is plugged in your skimming will degrade and the pool surface wont stay as clean as it would otherwise.
Some of them make loud clicks, (Kreepy and all other diaphragm type brands) others a are a little softer, but are still cyclical GSeries, T5, at 200 watts its barely audible, When running solar and cranking the system up to 1000 watts or more for the flow the clicking gets louder.
I like the diaphragm type suction sides best of the group so far.
Cleaners like the poolvergnugen, and MX8 also are suction side powered but are more complex and have more moving parts that must be serviced and therefore parts price and installation time and effort go up.
some people prefer to see a calm surface and therefore like the lack of a cyclical product disturbing the surface - not sure thats a feature, but definitely in line with some peoples preference.
All that said I still prefer a suction side cleaner to a robot as the ability to run independently of the pump is not a benefit to me because I run a 24x7 pump anyway. I can get a G3, or T5 run on 200 watts which is the same as normal skim speed.
I get great performance out of them, and they only have a one or 2 moving simple cheap parts to replace and are half or less what a good robot costs.
I wouldnt leave ANY electronic device I wanted to keep forever "in" the water 24x7x much at all, but you could.
A Robot (or any stay in the pool cleaner w a bag) left in the pool 24x7 for a few days or more will ultimately stop actually cleaning and start putting out the captured debris in the form of decayed matter and your bags /basket will become a green tinged disgusting mess of decaying organics, where a suction side cleaner gets the debris out of the pool and into the filter.
That said I dont "dislike" robots I think they are cool expensive toys that are fun and have their benefits but low cost, and ease of maintenance are their strong points.
Thing is many pools just wont work for whatever reason with one or the other combinations of steps,, angles flows, these problems seem to flummox suction cleaners a bit more often, but robots fall prey to the same issues including cord tangling, and flipping upside down seemingly a little less often.
UD
