The very latest news and updates for the iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum, the Scooba Robotic Washer and the Dirt Dog workshop sweeper. All discussion and troubleshooting questions go here.
If you were not informed by now, iRobot has been providing a firmware update to Scooba 5800 and 5900 that have the charging problem in which leaving the battery charging shortens the battery life by a huge margin. Since I own a Scooba 5900 with this issue I did not hesitate to contact iRobot customer service this past week, after a friendly conversation with one of their reps about the Scooba battery issue, they offered me the Scooba OSMO that resolves this issue IF the battery is charged IN THE SCOOBA (NOT ON THE EXTERNAL CHARGE BASE). Here I provide you with pictures of what I received and will update all of you with my experience with it. I also pasted the original post that I made about a week ago about the Scooba OSMO:
iRobot is providing a firmware update on all Scooba in order to solve the battery charging issue.
Your Scooba can qualify for Scooba OSMO if your robot was manufactured (BORN) BEFORE the following dates listed here:
Scooba 5900 ? 11/22/2006
Scooba 5800 ? 09/22/2006
If so please contact iRobot support ASAP!!!
This will solve the charging issue if you charge the battery inside your Scooba, it does NOT solve the charging issue if you use the external charger."
Here is the Scooba 5800/5900 OSMO and it's simple instructions :
Close up shot of the front face of the Scooba OSMO (you can see the internal circuit and chip w/updated firmware):
Close up shot of the rear face of the Scooba OSMO with the serial connector AND firmware date (edited rest of the numbers but it shows a date of FEB. 05, 2007):
Would like to know the Scooba OSMO date from anyone else that has received it to see if there are newer versions of the Scooba OSMO!
I have my Scooba 5900 OSMO sitting here on my desk. It is exactly as you pictured, but instead of a yy/dd/mm date on the white label on the back, mine has a serial number in the same format as the serial # on the tank and Scooba body. However, the serial number does NOT match either of the serial numbers on my Scooba.
Using: Roomba Scheduler with Intelli-Bin, Scooba 380. Former: Sage, Scooba 5900 and Discovery SE
You are correct, there should be a complete serial number. I edited my picture to ONLY show the date within the complete serial number. Just like your Roomba and Scooba within the serial number you will find the 'born date' of your device in the format YYMMDD (Y = Year, M= Month and D = Day). Hope this helps.
Your Scooba can qualify for Scooba OSMO if your robot was manufactured (BORN) BEFORE the following dates listed here:
Scooba 5900 ? 11/22/2006
Scooba 5800 ? 09/22/2006
If so please contact iRobot support ASAP!!!
This will solve the charging issue if you charge the battery inside your Scooba, it does NOT solve the charging issue if you use the external charger."[/color][/i]
Hi Davem:
See THX's post above for the cutoff by date of manufacture. However, I was asked about when I purchased Scooba when I called about tyhe OSMO.
I would call iRobot and see if you can get the OSMO. Even if you don't "qualify", I think it is worth requesting it. The OSMO only provides some of the functionality that iRobot advertised and documented in the owner's manual.
Using: Roomba Scheduler with Intelli-Bin, Scooba 380. Former: Sage, Scooba 5900 and Discovery SE
I just received my Scooba 5800 today, I wanted to check this out before I did anything with the Scooba.
My serial number starts JEN05800060818xxxxxx
From this number my machine is older and would need an OSMO, correct?
Now, what is the danger - if I don't get the OSMO then I can't leave the charger plugged in all the time, is that correct? If so how long do I charge it for?
If I can get hold of an OSMO then I will be able to leave the charger plugged in all the time, correct? If so my issue is how to get hold of an OSMO, I am in the UK and iRobot do not sell the SCOOBA over here, so they won't send me an OSMO - anyone got one they've finished with that I could get hold of?
Would like to know the Scooba OSMO date from anyone else that has received it to see if there are newer versions of the Scooba OSMO!
I have a replacement Scooba from HS that has a serial number o X. I just got it this year.
I still don't understand exactly what born on date I have. Sorry Can anyone help me figure it out? Should I call the iRobot customer service to get this upgrade if the first 05 means 2005?
Thanks if anyone understands this better than I do.
Just received the Scooba OSMO and installed it in both 5900s. Also received a new battery. Installed it in the Scooba and started the charging process. The battery only reached 52C (125.6 F) instead of 60C (140 F). Looking at the charging data now and will post on the hacker forum. There is also a new field in the charger output message, see below:
bat: min 117 sec 5 mV 17615 mA 429 deg-C 48 mAH 6928
I got my OSMO for my 5800 today and the date section of the serial is 061226. It also has a clear case instead of the yellow one from the photos in this thread. I haven't installed it yet, I'll do it tomorrow morning.
If that's the actual build date, it's surprising that it was another three months before it was announced.
If you were not informed by now, iRobot has been providing a firmware update to Scooba 5800 and 5900 that have the charging problem in which leaving the battery charging shortens the battery life by a huge margin. Since I own a Scooba 5900 with this issue I did not hesitate to contact iRobot customer service this past week, after a friendly conversation with one of their reps about the Scooba battery issue, they offered me the Scooba OSMO that resolves this issue IF the battery is charged IN THE SCOOBA (NOT ON THE EXTERNAL CHARGE BASE).
They must treat you differently at iRobot than me, here is how my plight went. Response (Eduardo) 04/21/2007 10:57 AM
Dear Carole,
Thank you for contacting iRobot Customer Support.
I understand your concerns with the battery life of your Scooba. Based on the information provided by your Support File, your Scooba's are remanufactured. Remanufactured robots already have the latest software enhancements including the OSMO. Should you require further assistance, please feel free to contact us again!
Thank you,
Eduardo
iRobot Customer Support
Customer (Carole Kohler) 04/20/2007 06:07 PM
I have two Scoobas that have born on dates before Nov of 06 and was told I needed to advise you so you could send me an osmo upgrade so my battery would not burn out?
I would just like to say that after having my Scooba in a box for the last 2+ years, I contacted iRobot and asked for the OSMO update and told them I had purchased a new battery on Amazon. She asked me if I had a "QC" sticker (which apparently just says QC ??) - I didn't. After a brief pause, she asked for my address and is sending me the OSMO.
Thanks iRobot and Scooba Chatters - without repeating the lingo over and over, I doubt I would have gotten this replacement part so far after it was initially identified.
I have an old 5900 (birth date Dec 15, 2005) purchased off ebay with a dead battery. I called iRobot Customer Service asking if there was any way of determining if the OSMO was installed. I could not have been happier with their response. After answering a couple of questions they said they will be sending me the OSMO free of charge. This kind of customer care is almost unheard of these days. Thanks again iRobot.
The only main firmware patch that the OSMO unit performed on the 5800 was a lowering of the charging current presented to the battery during a internal battery charging session. It would be easier to obtain an external charger brick to charge your Scooba battery than try to locate a 5800 OSMO. In the long run, charging the battery externally may even extend the overall life cycle of a new battery.
There is also a rumor that there will soon be a LI-ion 6000 mAH battery solution for the 5XXX and 3XX Scooba models.
Can anyone help me figure it out? Should I call the iRobot customer service to get this upgrade if the first 05 means 2005?
