Did I get a DOA Neato XV14? :( help

[rpaulg87]

I just got a new Neato XV-14 from Costco to replace my messing up Roomba 4-series (won't go forward, even after taking it apart piece by piece). Anyway, the NEATO out of the box won't do a thing really, I dock it and the robot lights up GREEN then LCD says very quickly "I need to reset press okay" but it's a fraction of a second before the LCD goes off so I can never actually control anything\press okay.

I tried charging it directly via the charging port, doing it that way the NEATO does absolutely nothing. No lights, no LCD, nothing, docking, the lcd just flashes that message and bam resets and keeps doing it over and over while docked, left it docked for 24 hours, and it just kept resetting, off the dock it'll just flash green\amber and the LCD message then reset again. Also, yes the on\off button in the dust-pan is set to ON. Ironically if I set to OFF and dock it I can go through the menu, unlike when it is set to ON, but about 20 sec in it will throw a battery error and reset. Never charges either way.

I've taken out both the batteries, checked the connections\pins, everything is A-Ok there, I'm guessing I got a bad NEATO which does not seem to uncommon around here

The actual NEATO website itself is down right now too, so I can't even go on there, but having prior experience with these types of bots this one just seems to be totally dead out of factory\messed up . Any ideas?

Also, I was very excited to get a NEATO, but is their QC sub-par to ROOMBA? Just worried about getting another bad one or this happening again, but I really want to give it a shot.

[vic7767]

Seek a replacement, that one is shot.

[rpaulg87]

Seek a replacement, that one is shot.

Ugh. Question, should I just return this to Costco? It came with extra stuff, but I can get the X11 with a 3 year warranty from Walmart...aren't the X-11 and X-14 the same basically?

[vic7767]

You can take it back where you got it for another, Costco is good about that. I think there is a major change in the drive motor spring assembly as well as a newer revision of the main board on the XV-14 so you might want to stick with that model.

[rpaulg87]

You can take it back where you got it for another, Costco is good about that. I think there is a major change in the drive motor spring assembly as well as a newer revision of the main board on the XV-14 so you might want to stick with that model.

Revision in which way? Firmware? I never knew the actual boards were changed, just software. Also, what change did they do in the drive motor? I guess I'm just trying to judge an X-11 for 250$ + 3 year warranty (take it back to Walmart whenever) or Costco's XV-14 with a 90 day warranty (there) and Neatos 1 year warranty...I thought the XV-11, 12, and 14 were just company specific. I.E. Walmart got the 11, Target got the 12, and Costco got the XV-14. I didn't know internally they were different so that's interesting, is it for sure though?

All I can find is
"Internal improvements were made in the XV-1x (late 2011), included in all models, with a stronger attachment of suspension springs inside the case, after a number of breakages of a weaker original design. The XV-21 models discontinued the charging plug on the vacuum itself, as the charging base was preferred; some units might have the plug but under a cover, and it could disappear with later system circuit boards; the plug was removed from revised User Guides. Changes were made in late 2012 to the charging base, using a lower capacity "brick" AC/DC adapter, and electronics changes making old chargers incompatible with newer models (with rev 64 system board); backwards compatibility of new chargers with old vacuums was maintained.".

So wouldn't the X-11 obviously have been fixed\upgraded along with all the others? I mean it is almost 2014, and they were fixed\upgraded in manufacturing by NEATO in 2011..

Also, I got the NEATO on sell from COSTCO online, the sell is over, now 300$ actually, so I'd pretty much have to deal with NEATO I think, or just return it. You can't get them locally :-\

[vic7767]

I'm not sure about the XV-11s and what vintage they are. The new rev from 113 to 64 is a major main board design change that was not retrofitted back to the XV-11.

[rpaulg87]

I'm not sure about the XV-11s and what vintage they are. The new rev from 113 to 64 is a major main board design change that was not retrofitted back to the XV-11.

I really can't find anything on board changes...esp as the firm-ware is universal its very odd to me that the main board was changed. Throughout this forum I can't find anything diff between the X-11 through 15's besides color\nationality lol, and of course the upgraded PET brush in the XV-14. Is there any thread where someone really broke this down to tell the differences?

Since the sale is over I guess I'll have to call NEATO, if they really have not updated the XV-11 since its release internally like the others. They do send out BRAND NEW replacements right? Also, on your personal opinion as you work on both and mod them, what do you think is the more reliable\better one, the ROOMBA 595 or the XV-14? They are direct competitors at Costco price wise.

[rpaulg87]

Also I just looked it up... the X-11, X-12, X-14, X-15, all have the REV 113 board...the X-21+ are only ones with the 64...is this correct? The X-11 series has the 113..so that 64 revision wouldn't even apply to the X-14, or X-11, they would be 113..right... these things are friggin confusing.

Just saying, if you bought the X-11 at time of release...then got one now..as they would have been refreshed via issues (obv neato wouldn't want to keep shipping out clear issue X-11's lol). But maybe thats just me thinking hopefully.

[vic7767]

I agree, I kept jumping to the XV-21, XV-25 models. As far as robotic vacuums and vendors it boils down to how well equipped your toolbox is. Some work to maintain them will be necessary. It's somewhat easier to remove and replace modules in the Roomba. Since the Neato is not designed to be as friendly to a "hacker" parts are more difficult to reach and swap out. It boils down to a personal choice as to what you want and what you expect.

[invenio]

In terms of what model to get really depends on how likely you would be in making repairs yourself. All neato's are essentially the same device with some VERY minor modifications (+/- the pet filter and brush). I have read countless failures of all their models on this forum site and haven't seen any reliable data on failure rates between the individual models. The software that runs the bot is the same so you are not getting a more advanced cleaning system with their latest model vs the XV-11.

I went with the XV-11 a few months ago as it was the cheapest (I think it's like $220 with free shipping at Walmart). I bought the $28, 3 year warranty so that if it does break, I am simply going to have it replaced. I personally do not have the inclination to spend time diagnosing a bad motor, and then spending more money on the replacement part than it costs for the hassle free warranty. If you enjoy "tinkering" (which is fine, I'm not arguing against this) and don't want to buy the warranty, then "maybe" a newer model is a better choice. But remember, if you start pulling apart the Neato, you void any warranty, so that's a consideration. For me, at the end of the day all their models are "about the same" so price is the ultimate deciding factor.

[RalphsDad]

Did you turn "on" the tiny on/off slider switch located in the dustbin cavity, and which I think is standard on the newer XV14's from Costco?

[vic7767]

Did you turn "on" the tiny on/off slider switch located in the dustbin cavity, and which I think is standard on the newer XV14's from Costco?

That was answered in the very first post. Yes

[rpaulg87]

Yes, did that, Called Neato, really all they told me to do as I informed them all I did prior was the basic hold the start button for 15 seconds. They are shipping me out a new one then I send this junk in, I should enlighten the prior question vic, I have taken apart Roombas completely down to the PCB, but never a NEATO, in terms of reliablity, which is better? I mean obv Neato's target was ROOMBA...my main failure in the past was that I have a long-haired cat which just clogs up Roomba constantly, then the right wheel died and I cleaned it each run...just wasn't sure what they could stand up to.

What do you think, in terms of that? As right now It's Costco's return policy + neatos 1 year, or return it, get a X-11, + 3 year warranty via Walmart, and just swap out the pet\allergy improved filters\brushes..OR go Roomba 595 Pet-Series.

I just don't know how the Neato X11-X15 series compares to the newer Roomba 595, any input?

[vic7767]

Well, I've taken a few Neatos down to the PCB and beyond and of course many Roomba models as well. I've always enjoyed the teardowns as each new model was introduced to us hackers. I find it easier to take the Roomba apart but it may be because of the number of years and models. The Neato is a sturdy machine but I don't know how well it will hold up to semi-extreme cleaning environments, only time will tell.

The 595 Roomba with the Aerovac bin and the newly designed 700 series CHM may put the Roomba back into the running with better cleaning performance and a lot less clogging. With a bearing mod it may become unstoppable.

[rika123]

I just got a Neato XV-11 from walmart's clearance.
After reading these forums I waited 24hrs with it on the charger because mine appeared to be DOA. No LEDs, no lights, nothing. Both batteries plugged in correctly. Nothing still. So I called CS after the 24 horus was up and they asked me the standard troubleshooting questions.
After plugging and unplugging the adapter several times at several different outlets, the green LED finally came on.

I have had many things plugged into that outlet with no problems and my mechanically inclined fiancee checked the voltage and everything was fine. I plugged the TV into that outlet and wala, power.

The CSR did tell me that trying to charge the XV-11 with the power brick outside of the dock was no longer an option "it doesn't work anymore". Oookay. No idea if that is true or not.

here's hoping it stays alive because I just returned a infinvo QQ2 plus and was hoping for a smarter robot since the QQ2 got stuck on a cord during the day, never errored out, and left black marks all over on my carpet. It also never once successfully found its base, even right in front of it. It went back to walmart.

[rpaulg87]

Got my new one. Charging fine, interesting as it is the same XV-14 Costco sells but this one lacks the on\off power button switch even though it clearly still has the slot for it..wtf is neato doing? I'll look for other differences after, but the warning label w\ switch from off to on and that entire switch part is totally gone. Is there a benefit to the "belt" the Neato uses vs the Roomba? Seems to be a basic tiny pulley belt so I'm going to apply belt grease to it every so often to extend life...any input?

[glnc222]

I'm going to apply belt grease to it every so often to extend life

Grease could stick dirt and fibers on the belt. not an expensive part and pretty durable. This is the one vulnerable point on Neato which can accumulate debris, best not exacerbate, in my ignorant opinion. If it wasn't greased at the factory probably not intended. If you greased it already, clean off with alcohol which dessolves oil. I used full size vacuums for years with belts never needing replacement. Maybe in hotels used every day.

[Kolenka]

I'm not sure about the XV-11s and what vintage they are. The new rev from 113 to 64 is a major main board design change that was not retrofitted back to the XV-11.

Recent XV-11s do contain the updated main board, although I can't say when they started entering the pipeline. The 11 I just got is rev 64.

[vic7767]

Ya, I just picked up an XV-11 with 3.0 and rev 64. So looks like the model number is old but the model is new.