More on PoolBusters

[CarlD]

When the PoolBuster first hit the stores, I acted like a little kid and bought one on impulse. Much to my surprise, it worked AMAZINGLY well--so well I stopped using my manual vacuum completely, relying on the PB and the Dolphin Robotic.

However, I found battery life to be incredibly disappointing. I thought it was just grandiose claims and thought, well, that's the price. It's still a good gadget. I didn't contact PB about it until recently, well after the warranty ran out.

Big mistake. They now have a replacement battery/motor pack that they sell--it's pricey, about 1/3 of the total price. Had I contacted them during the warranty they would have just given it to me. But I had to buy it. This is no slam on PB--The warranty is 1 year, and I contacted them after 2 1/2 years. Still, they were pretty good about it--I couldn't find my charger so they sent me a used one for free with the battery/motor.

But the new battery/motor is fairly easy to install, and BOY! WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It's running like it's supposed to again. I also ordered the silt bag--it, too, increases the PB's effectiveness.

I don't know about the newer PoolBuster models, but I am still very, very pleased with mine. It's like a new unit again.

[tjcat]

Hi, I read your post on the dolphin pool cleaner but haven't been able to find it. We ordered a 28 ft above ground. There seem to be 2 choices in robotic cleaners for above ground pools, the aquabot pool rover and the dophin roboclean, do you use an inground cleaner?
Thanks, tj

[CarlD]

Hi, I read your post on the dolphin pool cleaner but haven't been able to find it. We ordered a 28 ft above ground. There seem to be 2 choices in robotic cleaners for above ground pools, the aquabot pool rover and the dophin roboclean, do you use an inground cleaner?
Thanks, tj

Oh, there are a LOT more than that..There's the "Blue Diamond" (i think).

I have the Dolphin Dynamic--and I use it on a vinyl AG pool--but it's more like an IG--16x40 rectangle, with a 5.5' deep end. Hard sided--the water is not a structural element--merely holds the liner in place.

[kevincad]

When the PoolBuster first hit the stores, I acted like a little kid and bought one on impulse. Much to my surprise, it worked AMAZINGLY well--so well I stopped using my manual vacuum completely, relying on the PB and the Dolphin Robotic.

However, I found battery life to be incredibly disappointing. I thought it was just grandiose claims and thought, well, that's the price. It's still a good gadget. I didn't contact PB about it until recently, well after the warranty ran out.

Big mistake. They now have a replacement battery/motor pack that they sell--it's pricey, about 1/3 of the total price. Had I contacted them during the warranty they would have just given it to me. But I had to buy it. This is no slam on PB--The warranty is 1 year, and I contacted them after 2 1/2 years. Still, they were pretty good about it--I couldn't find my charger so they sent me a used one for free with the battery/motor.

But the new battery/motor is fairly easy to install, and BOY! WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It's running like it's supposed to again. I also ordered the silt bag--it, too, increases the PB's effectiveness.

I don't know about the newer PoolBuster models, but I am still very, very pleased with mine. It's like a new unit again.

Can you attach the thing to a handle?

[CarlD]

Can you attach the thing to a handle?

Yup. Has a standard fitting like a skimmer or brush. It wouldn't be worth it without it, but that's a good question.

[tphaggerty]

I just got one of these this year (new pool), I was on the fence until I read CarlD's post in the "old" forums. I bought the CG model, supposedly 1/3 more suction and charges in 2 hours (instead of 8). So far, it has been wonderful. We don't currently have any type of robot (I have an Aquabot Pool Rover Plus on order, didn't really want a "scrubbing" unit, this one just uses water pressure to clean). The CG model includes the fine filter bag which traps silt and fine dirt really well.

The thing sounds like a toy until you put it into the water. Then you can just feel a little vibration through the pole. We have run ours about 30 to 40 minutes at a time with no problem. You do need to clean out the filter bag more often than WaterTech says, but we use a small bucket and it is no problem. We used it on opening, took several days to really clean up the silt that had fallen through our mesh winter cover, but now we use it once a day before swimming. We use the little roller wheels instead of the brushes, supposedly (according to the Watertech website) this provides more suction and is safe for vinyl.

My wife loves it, it is SOOOOO much easier to use than the regular vacuum setup. If it had a larger coverage and filter bag I might even consider not getting an automatic cleaner!

[DCR]

You do need to clean out the filter bag more often than WaterTech says, but we use a small bucket and it is no problem.

How often do you have to clean out the filter bag, and how big is your pool?

I do not have a vacuum right now, and was thinking about buying one of these instead of an aqua bug. What does every one think?

[CarlD]

You can even use the original PB as your main vac. It's easier and faster to use than a hose vac, too. Spend the $25 on the finer filter bag, it's well worth it.

You should clean the bag after every use. First dump out the junk you can, then just take a bucket of water and rinse it. Repeat once on the rinse in a fresh bucket and you're done!

[kevincad]

thanks, I'll look into it. I've got a Polaris, which does fine unless the stuff is like dust. And what I've done for my round pool, is I have the return eyeball pointed so I get a distinct circular flow around my pool, and all the stuff that goes to the bottom ends up right in the middle, maybe a two foot diameter circle. I think the PoolBuster would be excellent for a quick clean up like that!

[tphaggerty]

To jfalken, I think you can definitely use the Pool Buster as your primary cleaner. We only used our vacuum once this year - to open. Since then it has been the PB. I got the PB Max CG, specificially because I intended to use it as the primary pool cleaner. It is harder to find and more expensive, but it is supposedly 30% more powerful and it recharges in only 2 hours. We have a 20x40 IG. (The CG also comes with a finer slit bag that works quite well).

That said, I did just buy a Pool Rover Plus as well, mainly because we stay open late into the fall (solar heating is great!!) and the leaf load in the pool can get huge! The PB does pick up leaves, but the mesh bag is about the size of a 16oz cup of coffee, so you can only go so long without cleaning it out.