UK Power supply for Roomba

[Techno]

I've just got a Roomba from the States and looking to find a UK power supply that is suitable. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've already tried searching the forums but the discussions are old. There was one post that linked off to a power supply in Maplins but apparently that item is no longer sold. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[debugger]

Hi there,

I have been on a mission to find the best solution to this for some time, and have found out the following information:

1. Maplin RP90X 45W UK to USA Voltage Convertor

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Mod ... 3&doy=14m4

This works quite nicely with the Roomba supplied power supply. I have seen this same unit from other suppliers and if you shop around you should be able to get it for about ?10 rather then the ?15.99 that Maplin charge. Maplin are not cheap, but they are handy.


2. Maplin RS59P 100W UK to USA Voltage Convertor

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?cri ... P&DOY=14m4

This one also works well, but is over powered for the purpose, and is on a trailing cable rather than having a built in plug as the one above. If you were looking to power a Scooba this one would be more appropriate. Again, this is a standard piece of kit and you probably could get it cheaper elsewhere.


3. Maplin L52BR 150W Laptop Power Supply

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?cri ... ce=15&SD=Y

This has the advantage of being a single unit, it can be set to 22V. It is a bit over powered and expensive at ?52.99, but they did have it on special offer at ?29.99 for a short time - maybe they'll do that again. It also is slightly noisy as it has a fan in it that gets faster when the supply is on a load - might annoy you depending on where you install it, I think it's not too bad.


4. Play.com Universal Laptop Mains Charger

http://play.com/PC/PCs/4-/587149/Univer ... oduct.html

This was recommended on a post on this site, but I cannot vouch for this yet, I currently have one on order and will update when I've used it a bit.


5. Official iRobot 220V supply

This is continuing to be elusive in the UK - I know it exists as they ship units in the UK with it, but I've not been able to source anyone in the UK who can supply it.

Finally got hold of one, you can get them from here:

http://www.robokeskus.fi/PublishedServi ... roupID=261

47 EUR plus 20 EUR carriage to the UK - you need to be able to transmit Euros to their bank account, which can be expensive - so it helps if you have a friendly person in Finland who can order it for you (thanks June).

This unit arrives with a 2 pin European plug that you either chop off and replace or you can change the lead if you have the right one already (the standard 8-lookalike plug that goes int the PSU).

6. Home Base and Charger (European)

http://www.irobotstore.nl/index.php?mai ... ffc508ae0f

I believe that this item on a dutch site should be the 220v supply (along with a home base), but it does not specifically say so and I've not bought one to see - it wouldn't have a UK plug, but if it is the right charger that would not be too much of a problem.

I asked Cyberhuis some questions about this power supply (if it was the new version for the castor front wheel and about the voltage) and got the following answer:

"The Homebase is still the old one, but we have the confirmation from iRobot that the old homebase is compatible with the new front wheel. We have also tested ourselves and do not have any problems.
All iRobot products we sell are for EU operation so made for 230VAC. The power supply can be used without the Homebase to charge the Roomba."

Unfortunately, when I tried to order, the Dutch company advised they cannot ship to the UK so this option is not available.

7. Beware of Travel Voltage Converters

http://www.world-import.com/WSS207.htm

Items like the one above are not designed for continuous use (which is needed to charge a Roomba). They are really for very short term use, typically 15 mins or so.

If you buy a Roomba on e-bay and it says it comes with a UK plug, it may have one of these - best advice is chuck it in the bin. It may kind of work plugged directly into the Roomba, but if you try it with a home base it'll start charging, but when you come back to look at it later the home base lights will be dancing about like nothing on earth!

It can be difficult to identify these as the word Converter/Convertor is also used on the ones that work - if it's cheap and small it's no use!

8. UK Rapid Charger (from Domotec)

Per Domotec - "the cost of the fast charger would be ?49.99 and a docking station would be ?49.99."

If you order a Fast Charger from Domotec then you get the stand alone battery Rapid Rapid Charger and not the APS Fast Charger that you might expect.



I hope that this helps.

[debugger]

Edited above post to include item 7.

[Techno]

Top stuff, thank you for that. I think item 1 is the best option for me. The notes on maplins say "NB: This product is not suitable for appliances requiring an earth", would this be a problem for the Roomba? Thanks again.

[debugger]

"NB: This product is not suitable for appliances requiring an earth", would this be a problem for the Roomba? Thanks again.

Nope the Roomba supply is 2 pin anyway and does not need an earth.

[debugger]

Edited above post to add comments from the vendor about item 6 - Home Base and Charger (European).

[debugger]

Edited above to take note that Dutch company cannot deliver to UK, so this avenue gone.

Have tried asking both domotec in the UK and iRobot where these items can be sourced in the UK - awaiting replies.

[Techno]

I went out to Maplins and bought item 1 you mentioned. Seems to be working a treat. I have to keep it charged for 16 hours for the first time though so can't use it until tomorrow. Thanks for the help Debugger. A very informative thread.

[bella]

I don't know if this is helpful, but here are pics I took of my homebase and charger tech specs from the Dutch site. I realise they will not ship to the UK, but it may help to find the best alternative.
Click on pics for larger images.

Mains power for homebase charger:





Mains power and lead for homebase charger:



Back of homebase charger:

[debugger]

Added note 8. above re availability of UK charger from Domotec.

[debugger]

NB. Noticed in Maplin today that the

1. Maplin RP90X 45W UK to USA Voltage Convertor

is now selling at ?5.99, don't know how long they'll do it at that price for - seems too good to be true!

[Techno]

Just checked the maplin website and it's actually ?4.99. I think I'll take the one I got for ?15.99 and get a refund. I'll then re-buy it at another store

[debugger]

Thanks, I must have remembered wrong - I knew it was a bargain.

I bought mine too long ago to try for a refund

[debugger]

FYI, thought I'd buy a fast charger from Domotec in the UK.

Arrrived today, but it was a the stand alone Rapid Charger rather than the (APS) Fast Charger that I thought I was buying.

Not sure if I've got the energy to try to return it now, it was hard enough getting this far!!!!!

[Gordon]

..., but it was a the stand alone Rapid Charger rather than the (APS) Fast Charger that I thought I was buying. ...

Don't be too disappointed, after all, the unit will plug right into your mains (given a new plug-cap, or fitting a plug-adapter). Sure, it will take around 25% longer to re-fill your battery, but will be great for troubleshooting future APS-charging issues with the 'bot, or its Fast Charger (which, I presume, you will still endeavor to buy).

[June]

----
5. Official iRobot 220V supply

This is continuing to be elusive - I know it exists as they ship units in the UK with it, but I've not been able to source it on any web sites in 220V countries anywhere in the world.

6. Home Base and Charger (European)
---

At least the Finnish retailer/importer Robokeskus sells bot hte 'regular' and fast chargers that are 220V (with the continental 2-pin plug, but an adaptor/replaced wire will get you the correct plug). The standard is 37 euros, and the fast charger 47 euros.
I have their fast charger, it states input 100-240V. And the lead in wire can be unplugged, so instead of using a plug converter, the UK people can just plug in a UK-lead (the standard 8-lookalike plug that goes int the PSU)


It would be interesting to know if the US PSU also really are 100-240V, but only labeled as 110V, since the European ones are universal. But I'm sure that has been looked into, and the two PSU are different.

[debugger]

At least the Finnish retailer/importer Robokeskus sells bot hte 'regular' and fast chargers that are 220V (with the continental 2-pin plug, but an adaptor/replaced wire will get you the correct plug). The standard is 37 euros, and the fast charger 47 euros.
I have their fast charger, it states input 100-240V. And the lead in wire can be unplugged, so instead of using a plug converter, the UK people can just plug in a UK-lead (the standard 8-lookalike plug that goes int the PSU)


It would be interesting to know if the US PSU also really are 100-240V, but only labeled as 110V, since the European ones are universal. But I'm sure that has been looked into, and the two PSU are different.

June, thanks for that information - unfortunately my Finnish is non-existent and I cannot work out what buttons to press to even find out if they will ship to the UK, never mind actually placing an order.

From research on this BBS the US chargers cannot be used without either a step down transformer or some internal changing of components; which would definitely be dodgy if you don't know what you're doing. And I also got the impression that they changed the circuitry at some point that might make those mods not even possible.

[June]

June, thanks for that information - unfortunately my Finnish is non-existent and I cannot work out what buttons to press to even find out if they will ship to the UK, never mind actually placing an order.
--

LOL, really?
If you're interested, I can drop them an email and ask whether they ship to the UK. Alternatively we can use my address as delivery, and I'd be happy to forward it to you, let me know.

[robots4matt]

Edit for Item 4

It is in stock and I have been using three of them for +12 months with Zero problems the down side is it cost ?17.99

[debugger]

Edit for Item 4

It is in stock and I have been using three of them for +12 months with Zero problems the down side is it cost ?17.99

Thanks for the info, I have ordered one so that my UK Power options/comparisons on here can be complete.

Am I becoming fanatical or what ?