More on PoolBusters

[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!

[tphaggerty]

As CarlD said on cleaning. Our pool is a 20x40 IG and I normally have to empty clean the fine mesh bag twice when cleaning. But, we are still building around the pool so we have TONs of millipedes and lots of dirt still getting in plus lots of pollen and such.

But it takes, at most, 2 minutes to remove/clean/reinstall the bag and go.

I didn't realize the fine bag was $25. At that price, I think the extra 50 I spent on the CG model was worth it (it can with the fine mesh bag and the regular bag, plus charges in 2 hours instead of 8 and is supposed to have 30% more power, but who knows on that part).

[CarlD]

I picked up 30-50% more power just by replacing the battery/motor pack. At $79., I wish I had sent it back under warranty. If only I knew then what I know now...

Still, that and $25 for the filter was STILL cheaper than replacing it with a new one, and now it's like new again--better, actually, because I don't think the orig pack EVER ran like this one.

[CelticDaddio]

Will the PoolBuster with the fine filter bag suck up dead algae?

Ed

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!

[CarlD]

I don't know. I don't have any dead algae, and haven't had much in years.

[tphaggerty]

Will the PoolBuster with the fine filter bag suck up dead algae?

Ed

Don't know if it will handle algae, probably. It handles the VERY fine silt I get in the pool through my mesh winter cover. What *WILL* get algae - before it hits the filter - is the filter socks. They are also great at trapping pollen before it hits the filter. I have them on now and the amount of stuff they trap is phenomenol.