Update (Good Outcome): Dolphin active20 is not good or I have bad luck?

[Lclark589]

I purchased a new dolphin active20 in may 2022. I have used it 1-2x per week for the past 3 summers. Each time I use it I remove it from the pool, hose it off and store it in my garage in an effort to make it last as long as possible. Starting last week it will go halfway up the wall on its first run and then go into this reverse mode where it will only go backwards in short increments and then back into a wall on the other side of the pool where it gets stuck since it cannot climb a wall backwards. I disassembled the whole robot and reassembled hoping it would somehow resolve the issue but no luck. Is this thing shot or what do you suggest? I’m very disappointed in the product since I took extra care to ensure it was properly maintained.

 

[mknauss]

Seems to be a bit of a luck of the draw. My Active20 is going on 8 years old. It lives in the pool. It runs a couple times per week, year around.

I replaced the cord and tracks with newer used ones a year or so ago.

 

[Lclark589]

I wanted to update on my situation and note that I am impressed with the customer service I received from Maytronics on my situation. Last week I went on their website and submitted a request for a repair on my robot, I was surprised to see that my active20 was noted as still under warranty even though I am approximately 4 months outside what I believe to be a 24 month warranty window. I paid $20 via pirateship.com to have my robot sent via UPS to the repair location on Friday 9/20. Today (9/24) my Robot was delivered back to me via Fedex, the workorder paper indicates they replaced the motor assembly and power supply both at no cost under my warranty. My Robot is now in the pool happily doing laps.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

While your outcome is a happy one, your story shows what a gamble it is with these robots. A 2+ year old robot should NOT need a brand new motor assembly or a new power supply. Maytronics was good to you in that they extended their typical 24 month warranty to cover your robot, but that is not the case for everyone. At this point, given how unpredictable their component lifetimes are, their warranties should be longer and/or prorated. Sadly, a lot of people get ⒮crewed out of hard earned money by these robots failing in year 3 or 4 …

 

[Newdude]

Sadly, a lot of people get ⒮crewed out of hard earned money by these robots failing in year 3 or 4 …

Thats where I'm at. I vacuumed 6 times this year and can't part with $1000 for 18 uses, if I'm lucky. Well. I'd use the vac alot more because it was so easy, but it would only save me 18 manual vacs. Lol.

I vacuum from in the pool and it's 95% swimming and 5% work. I *almost* enjoy it. When the kids were little and fought like raccoons, i would pay good money for that hour of peaceful time.

 

[revitup]

I purchased a new dolphin active20 in may 2022. I have used it 1-2x per week for the past 3 summers. Each time I use it I remove it from the pool, hose it off and store it in my garage in an effort to make it last as long as possible. Starting last week it will go halfway up the wall on its first run and then go into this reverse mode where it will only go backwards in short increments and then back into a wall on the other side of the pool where it gets stuck since it cannot climb a wall backwards. I disassembled the whole robot and reassembled hoping it would somehow resolve the issue but no luck. Is this thing shot or what do you suggest? I’m very disappointed in the product since I took extra care to ensure it was properly maintained.

Removing and hosing off, etc, you are too good to it. It’s spoiled. We leave ours in 24/7 during the season and it lasts for years.