My Dolphin: Now I'm getting rid of it

[jimwnola]

That is helpful Hzz.

One issue I also found annoying about my Aquabot (regular model) was that the tracks would slip out of their place, which would then stretch them even more before you noticed to push them back. With more stretching, then they would be even more likely to do it again, and the tracks would get looser all the time and more problematic, long before they ever should have worn out. I had the old model with the floats on it compared to the new floating cable, which were really bad for being eaten and then damaging the aquabot if you weren't there.

One thing good about pool rover plus was it did have the floating cord they all have now, but it also didn't have any tracks to eat the cord or to stretch or break. As posted by me elsewhere, the problem was with coverage on an oval pool. If I thought it would cover my new pool, which is more rectangular in shape (but larger and with inlet for wide set of steps that might be a problem), I might get it again. My pool rover plus never broke, but I had it a short time before washed away in Katrina. On an oval pool, it was bad. No matter how long I fiddled with the cycles, it always ended up cyling in same spot. It relies on somethign like a "y-turn," which relies upon the pool rover goign straight in 1 direction, and turning in the other. In oval pool (with stright sides), the pool wall curve would make it also curve, throwing it off, and it would do same exact path over and over once it got to the deep end.

[hzz]

The tracks haven't been a problem for me,yet.

You are right that they do slip out occasionally,but not too often on mine and I am still on my original tracks after 7 years.

Actually, everything is original on my Aquabot except the black socket on the power supply which cracked this year. Part was only $9.00

I think luck has something to do with it!

[brent.roberts]

Of course I sent back the power supply and the remote to Smart Pool. I KNOW it's working perfectly--after all you plug it in and the motor runs....Right?

Well, apparently Smartpool think so. Speed on a DC motor is very dependant on the voltage of the power supply ( I'm not sure it is DC )

[CarlD]

Yeah, according to Smart Pool my unit is working perfectly. According to CarlD, Smart Pool is full of it.

[jimwnola]

On your Turbo, HZZ, did you have the regular tracks or the ones that are bigger, that you only see on some Turbos, I think "H" models or something like that. Aqua products charges more for the bigger track ones, but some seller was telling me the regular tracks (which is what I have on regular Aquabot) stay on better. Anybody have an opinion on that. I'm semi-tempted just pick up a refurbished Turbo since you can get them for about $500 on ebay.

[hzz]

As far as I know, I have the regular tracks. I certainly didn't pay any extra for the tracks and I don't recall it being an "H" model.

[CarlD]

Well, the Blue Diamond arrived last night and the jury is still out on this thing. Somethings are upsetting but OK--the foam brushes are hard and look messed up--they just have to soak up water. The brown stains also concerned me but they test them in water in Israel, then they have to dry out and there can be mold or other stuff:



The chipped clip below the port may get it replaced. In the water, the brushes got big and soft.

It didn't seem to want to climb the walls consistently, but they tell me it only does it on the 1st, 3rd and 7th time it hits a wall. Again, that makes sense.

They tell me with my pool to be VERY wary of wear on the liner just above the bottom of the pool--where the unit bumps into the wall--they don't recommend this usually for an A/G pool, especially round or oval. Mine is rectangular so it's more what the unit is designed for--they'll get back to me.

But MOST disturbing is that 5 minutes after being dropped in the pool last night it got jammed under the ladder. This morning I left it to go eat breakfast it was jammed again. It shuts down, which is good, but the pool wasn't clean yet, which is bad.

Here's the ladder it can't negotiate:



So, the jury is still out and it may be going back really, really soon!

Meanwhile, Maytronics and Smart Pool have gone silent on me.

[Davenj]

CarlD,
Did you notice any scratches on your liner from the Dolphin. I have 6-8" scratches around the end on the bottom. Looks like where the Dolphin runs along the side (oval) against the wall. Thought it maybe pieces flakes of Kooldeck in the pool? Disturbing none the less.

[mr.bbq]

CarlD,

Thanks for the review so far, i would agree looking at the pics the less than new looking condition would have me concerned. Of course if it works no worrys. But for that kind of money i would think it would be in shiny new condition even if it was water tested.

Best of luck hope it works out for you!!

R

[cleancloths]

The pads are just fine. My Blue Pearl has similar sort of pads - two big ones rather than 4 small ones and they are rock hard when dry, but get nice and soft and spongie in the water quickly.

As far as getting caught on the ladder I used to have that problem with my Polaris. What I did was get a couple of sections of 2" (or maybe it was 1.5" - I forget) PVC pipe and I cut out a section of the pipe longitudinally that was maybe an inch or an inch and a half wide so I could force the pvc pipe over the verticle sections of the ladder. This made it a smaller opening between the ladder edge and the pool wall so the cleaner would not get stuck in there.