Beater vs Brush

[rstark18]

A while back I bought the Pet kit that came with the brush assembly as we were getting a dog. I used it for a few months but just recently decided to go back to the beater assembly. I am much happier with the cleaning performance of the beater. I have all hardwood floors with some large throw rugs throughout the house. They both do a good job on the hardwood (really no difference) but the throw rugs are MUCH cleaner with the beater.

[holmes4]

I have the opposite experience - rugs are much cleaner with the brush/beater combo. It's also quieter. In my house it's cat fur - I have five cats.

[denodan]

Is it common at the odd time the Neato turns off it's beater, but still vacuums? Think it happens if it, at odd times over the same spot. Its never done it for any length of time, but just at the odd time turns the beater off. Is this common? but think it happens more often if it's in a tight situation, or spot.

[JEfromCanada]

I believe Neato will turn off the brush while traversing an area it thinks has already been cleaned.

[Wing Nut]

A previous firmware used to frequently stop the beater (and maybe the vacuum?), just for a few seconds possibly as it crossed a part of floor it had already done, but the most recent FW in the XV-11 relaxed this fussiness. However, it's still likely to happen especially when, as you suggest, it's extracting itself from a tight spot. I guess that apart from saving power, it's to avoid damaging the carpet with it rubbing away in one place for too long - which may happen every time it goes by this spot when cleaning the house.

[glnc222]

In V2.6 the vacuum and brush stop while returning to base for recharge, but when going back to the stopping place to resume with a full charge, it cleans all the way -- just in case it got dirty again while charging.