Robotics- Safety and Operational

[webfeet]

I have two specific questions that I have not been able to find the answers to on the forum.
1. Can robotics like BD, Aquabot, Dolphin, and the such be operated safely while swimmers are in in the pool?

2. What happens to the robotic cleaner, if you leave it in the water indefinitely? For example, as compared to the polaris 280, which can stay in the pool all summer.

Thanks Webfeet.

[korinian]

The Dolphin manual states you should not have swimmers in the pool when the unit is in the pool running.

[CarlD]

I have two specific questions that I have not been able to find the answers to on the forum.
1. Can robotics like BD, Aquabot, Dolphin, and the such be operated safely while swimmers are in in the pool?

Absolutely not. They have a finger-thick cable that could strangle somebody,not a thick, 1.5" stiff hose, and run 29 volts. Both Dolphin and BD say you should NOT enter the water while they are operating.

2. What happens to the robotic cleaner, if you leave it in the water indefinitely? For example, as compared to the polaris 280, which can stay in the pool all summer.

No. It makes no sense, either, as you need to remove the robot to remove and clean the filter. You will void your warranty, too.

Thanks Webfeet.

These things are rather different than what you are used to. They require a minor bit of setup, then run nicely (when they work).

[cleancloths]

While CarlD is probably correct from a 100% safety viewpoint, I think you are probably 99.999% safe being in the water with one of these cleaners. They are low voltage and are plugged into GFI protected circuits. Your risk of a shock is minute. I think you run a greater risk of a shock from your pool light.

As for the cable strangling you, again these things move very slowly and that is highly unlikely. I think you run a greater chance of getting a toe caught in the unit if you don't watch where it is while you are in the pool.

Bottom line, I would never allow a child in the pool with one of these running, but it is probably fairly safe for an adult swimmer that exhibits just a modicum of common sense and care.

Please don't interpret the above to mean I suggest that you do what is contrary to what the user guide of your equipment states - this is just my opinion based on the way I operate my pool and I take no responsibility legally or otherwise with what you decide to do. (damn I hate lawyers)!!!

[CarlD]

I strongly recommend you do NOT swim when the robot is working! I never do it, I never allow anyone to do it in MY pool!

Pools are dangerous--we forget that as we talk about cleaning and building and chemistry--Ben's point is: By FAR the most dangerous chemical in our pool is the WATER! One slip--the robot catches your toe, while you are underwater, you come up, and your head is inside a loop of the cable, etc....Unlikely? Sure! So is being struck by lightning. Impossible? No WAY! Too many people drown in backyard pools every year and people are killed by lightning every year too.

I cannot recommend a needlessly risky behavior that is easily avoided.

[lookingforautopoolcleaner]

These things are rather different than what you are used to. They require a minor bit of setup, then run nicely (when they work).

Going back to the question of leaving the Robotics in the water indefinately. I run my navigator everyday of the year in my gunnite pool.

Can you leave the robotics in the pool and take it out ONLY when cleaning out it's filter or when someone is in the pool?



My navigator is just getting too expensive to repair and it likes to get stuck on the steps alot.

Any recommendations on what to buy? I can't seem to find a clear cut winner when it comes to an automatic pool cleaner for a gunnite pool.

Thanks
Sam

[CarlD]

Can you leave the robotics in the pool and take it out ONLY when cleaning out it's filter or when someone is in the pool?

I've already answered this above: No. It voids the warranty.

That means the manufacturers instruct you to remove it from the water.

[KurtV]

Going back to the question of leaving the Robotics in the water indefinately...
Can you leave the robotics in the pool and take it out ONLY when cleaning out it's filter or when someone is in the pool?

Below are links to the owner's manuals for Dolphin, Aquabot, and Blue Diamond cleaners. The Blue Diamond says that the cleaner should not be left in the pool all the time while, unless I missed it, the others don't say anything about that.
Dolphin: http://www.smartpool.com/website/RPC/MANUALS/DL2010.PDF
Blue Diamond: http://www.watertechcorp.com/docs/BD_Owners_Manual_English.pdf
Aquabot: http://www.aquaproducts.com/AquaProductsNewSite/images/OpManualsPDFS/AquabotOpManual.pdf
...
Thanks
Sam
Sam,
That you'd shorten the life of these cleaners by leaving them in the pool all the time seems intuitive, but at least a couple of manufacturers don't bother to say anything about it. Perhaps because failures likely to be caused by the practice would tend to occur after the warranty expired (or maybe they just didn't think anyone would do that:) ).