Roomba 550 charging/docking question

sxb · Post by **sxb** » October 22nd, 2007, 4:23 pm

Well, I got LH issue resolved, now working!

Today, Roomba did my big bedroom and large WIC, then exited to the hallway. I had VW's set up at either end, and had moved the docking platform into that hall, knowing that the charge would probably give out and Roomba would need to dock. Well, he cleaned to and fro, passed the docking station several times in his cleaning, then maxed out a foot or so from the station. I thought he'd go looking before he exhausted the battery? What can I do to help him? Any harm done? I put him on the station and he's charging away.

Thanks!
Susan

Post by **Fraggboy** » October 22nd, 2007, 4:54 pm

Susan, was the docking light blinking when it was around the dock?

Is the hallway small? The VWLH's can interfere with the docking as well. How far apart are they? Try to move the Dock in a different location.

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 4:08 am

Did you start 5xx from home base then while it was running, unplug the home base and then move it to the hall? That could have cause some kind of confusion from conflicting signals between the 5xx and home base and LHs. 5xx may have spent some time just wandering around, in a sort of daze, getting mixed or conflicting messages from the LHs calling it in one direction but also getting a signal from home base in a spot it was not anticipated to be. Although it doesn't appear that the 5xx and home base actually pair but maybe unplugging it deactivated something in the home base that needs to be activated by a 5xx docking with it when it is first plugged in before the base and any 5xx will work properly. Just guessing here.

gg=alice

sxb · Post by **sxb** » October 23rd, 2007, 4:41 am

Geekgranny,

Yes, I did move the docking station out into the hallway from the utility room, but that was on today's run. I started the Rooma in the bedroom, LH'd it into the large WIC, then LH'd it into the hallway. I moved the station to the hallway while it was in the WIC because I did not start it from the utility room,and I did not want the machine thinking it had to clean in there.

I did notice that it ran for a bit over two hours when it only ran for an hour on its first mission the day before. I am thinking I am going to get another docking station for the other end of the house when I need to run it there, also may get one more LH. Now, will Roomba need to spend some time on that docking station before it takes off so as not get confused when it comes time to go home and redock?

I also found on a previous post that part of the problem that first day of not recognzing the LH's was because I picked Roomba up at one point.

Theoretical question: If I were to take Roomba to one room and keep it there with access to no other areas, would it run for the approx 35 minutes and shut off, or clean to (battery) exhaustion?

Susan

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 5:15 am

sxb wrote:Geekgranny,

Yes....

I did notice that it ran for a bit over two hours when it only ran for an hour on its first mission the day before. I am thinking I am going to get another docking station for the other end of the house when I need to run it there, also may get one more LH. Now, will Roomba need to spend some time on that docking station before it takes off so as not get confused when it comes time to go home and redock?

Just to be sure I would dock it on both stations after plugging them in. I don't know for sure that it would make a difference but why not do it. It may not have issues docking on the far home base but it seems there is a potential for it to get confused if the LHs are calling it back. I don't know but I could try that out to see if I can simulate it. My upstairs carpet is great for running the battery down because of the major carpet drag. If I can catch some extra time this week I may try that (two home bases in far zones using LHs to guide) to see what happens.

sxb wrote:I also found on a previous post that part of the problem that first day of not recognizing the LH's was because I picked Roomba up at one point.

Did you just pick it up and put it back down in the same area without turning it off? I don't think that should interrupt the "process". Now if the LHs went off, as they do a few minutes after 5xx is turned off or docked then I can see where that would be a problem. Or if the 5xx is moved to another zone beyond the LH where you picked it up that, also, could cause, some confusion.

sxb wrote:Theoretical question: If I were to take Roomba to one room and keep it there with access to no other areas, would it run for the approx 35 minutes and shut off, or clean to (battery) exhaustion?

Susan

When I do that mine will clean for a period and then stop and signal finished. I have moved them to several different rooms after they stop cleaning one room, to clean several missions on one charge. As long as there is enough battery charge left you could do it as many times as you want. Roomba will usually spend various amounts of time cleaning different rooms depending on factors like obstacles, room size, surface type, etc. It may only spend a little time in my small bathroom but an hour in my living room. It also seems to depend on how much dirt it encounters. Occasionally one will run down till battery drained but I'm not sure what the causes are. Perhaps, just guessing here, if it only has enough battery for, say, 15 minutes more cleaning, it may "try" to go at least to software preset minimum time. I'm just not sure. I usually don't push them beyond when the light gets dark orange, almost but not to red. It's best not to run the battery to red too often; potential shortening of life and the battery gets hotter the longer it is run. Heat is an enemy of batteries. Most of the time 5xx takes good care of itself and stops cleaning well before the battery light gets red.

BTW... it has taken each of my 5xx's over a week of daily use to settle in and function in all ways as it "should".

gg=alice

sxb · Post by **sxb** » October 23rd, 2007, 5:44 am

Well, today it went to red (exhaustion). It the same the first day when it ran for only one hour. I immediately saved it and got it on the docking/charger immediately. I need to watch it more closely until the charge/run time builds up.

I was in the home office today doing something and came out when it had stopped. I wish the company manual had the light color changes and specifically beyond just the red being battery exhaustion. I think part of the problem is I am so used to Scooba and the green light as it cleans, I need a new mind set for Roomba! I appreciate your clueing me in on the color change. This forum is invaluable.

I did clean it after the first mission, and again today after the second. LOTS of dog hair (two boxers). As others have noted, and as I found with Scooba, best to clean more frequently and you'll find less of the nasties as time goes on.

Thanks!
Susan

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 5:56 am

The color progressions go like this:

green -> light yellow -> dark yellow -> light orange -> dark orange -> red

gg=alice

sxb · Post by **sxb** » October 23rd, 2007, 6:18 am

Okay, providing that a dock is nearby, how far (what color) will the Roomba push itself before it looks to dock from your experience?

Until I get it to dock on its own, I'll plan to just have to keep an eyeball on it periodically to preserve the battery life.

Susan

THX-1138 · Post by **THX-1138** » October 23rd, 2007, 6:53 am

Okay, providing that a dock is nearby, how far (what color) will the Roomba push itself before it looks to dock from your experience?

It depends on some factors but usually it will be GREEN when on the 500 series unless some odd situtions occur. Issues like turning off the dock station and then back on, turning on/off the LH, having obtacles that block the dock station, condition of the battery, condition of the Roomba, amount of dust/dirt/particles, type of surface to clean (carpet, hard floor, area rugs, etc.), akward home configurations, etc.

caseyh · Post by **caseyh** » October 23rd, 2007, 12:44 pm

I could be wrong about this, but it at least appears to me that the docking station, LHs, and VWs all need to be placed where you want them prior to starting up Roomba. If you move them around during cleaning, it doesn't appear to do what you expect it to.

Similarly, I am pretty sure that Roomba replies to the LH first and once that "mission" is completed, then it will listen for the home base. I once grabbed Roomba off its home base in my room and took it in the hallway where I started it cleaning. I had a LH telling it to go back into the room and clean when done with the hallway, thinking it would find the home base in there and dock after it finished in there. However, after it finished with the room it went back into the hallway looking for a home base and depleted its batteries while looking for it - Apparently not recognizing the home base in the room.

It also got confused between the stairs and floor vent once in the second room (telling me to check the cliff sensors) and I don't know how long it sat there in standby mode. When I finally got to it and resumed cleaning, it seemed to forget the layout and wandered aimlessly in the second room looking for its home base and not crossing back over the LH. It seems if I am there quickly though, it will remember the floor layout and positioning of the LHs, VWs, and home base.

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 4:47 pm

All heavy, draggy, "difficult" carpet. Smooth tile bathroom closed off.

I just started the 570 in zone 1 from its home base located there. It then should go to zone 2, guided by LH, then to zone 3, guided by LH. Another base is in zone 3, unoccupied. I did not unplug that second base to "reset" (if that actually happens) it by placing the test 570 on it after removing the 550 from the base. (550s battery indicator light went off soon after removing it from its base. It is sitting on a table. It is not running. Its "paired" LHs did not come on when the 570 was started.)

We'll see what happens. Because of the carpet drag, if 570 does make it all the way to zone 3, it will surely be pretty low on battery charge by then.

I'll report back.

gg=alice

sxb · Post by **sxb** » October 23rd, 2007, 4:52 pm

Good to know, as I'm considering a second docking station. If this works for you, then it's a definite purchase!

Susan

srgilbert · Post by **srgilbert** » October 23rd, 2007, 6:13 pm

I had a similar situation today. I have two bedrooms at the end of a hallway. I placed a lighthouse in the doorway of Room 1, the other in Virtual wall mode to block the hallway, and the homebase in room 2. I too thought that it would just dock with the base after it was done with room 2, but instead I found it in room 1. I wasn't home, and the floor in room 2 wasn't too bad, so I can't be sure he even went in there!

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 6:26 pm

Report:

570 didn't make it to zone 3 where I placed the additional base. While in zone 2 the battery light turned orange so it returned to zone 1 and docked. When it charges back up I'm going to remove a room from zone 2 making zone 2 essentially a long narrow hallway (bathroom has already been removed from zone 2 for this test. Zone 3, when it finally makes it in there, and the zone where extra home base is located is pretty large so will really sap the battery. The extra home base is about 6 feet into the room, very visible to 570 when it enters and exits the room (zone).

See what I mean about draggy carpet draining the battery? The two zones that it cleaned are not all that big. This carpet is murder on the 'bots. This is why I refer to it as "difficult" carpet, why I'm so glad to have the 5xx's for this carpet, and why two 'bots work better for me on this carpet.

gg=alice

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 23rd, 2007, 9:23 pm

FIRST... 570 was paired with FOUR LHs, two in LH guidance mode and two in VW block mode. 570 and all LHs in those modes talked to each other and 570 respected the VW LHs and the guiding LHs. That's a new one for me.

So the 5xx can talk to more than three LHs but I'm unsure how many and how many can be in guidance mode.

570 started from home base in zone 1, small bedroom. Zone 1 size was significantly reduced by physical barriers. After cleaning zone 1 for a few minutes 570 quickly moved to zone 2, hall, which was also reduced in size by LH VW mode (blocking the bathroom off of hall). It did not attempt to go into other small bedroom (all three mentioned doors on one end of hall) and respected LH VW (blocking the 2nd bedroom). It then pretty quickly, after cleaning hallway for short time, went into zone 3, large bedroom, guided by 4th LH but 2nd of two in LH, guidance mode. When it entered zone 3 the light was still green. It then spent a significant amount of time cleaning zone 3 well into light turning solid orange.

Second homebase was located, very visibly in zone 3. I did not "reset" that home base (if that can be done) by unplugging the home base, nor did I set the 570 onto that base before it started the mission from zone 1, leaving its home base.

570 did not attempt to dock on second home base while in zone 3. It returned to zone 2, light still orange, cleaned zone 2 for about 20 minutes, then returned to zone 1 with light still orange. The moment is returned to zone 1 the dock light began flashing. It docked within a minute of entering zone 1.

When 570 recharges I'll leave LH and barriers set up as is but first unplug spare home base in zone 3 then set 570 on it to pair (if they even do that), then return 570 to its home base in zone 1 and start another mission.

Will report later.

gg=alice

fancyfreewv · Post by **fancyfreewv** » October 23rd, 2007, 10:13 pm

It would be interesting to know if one can pair with 4 all in LH mode instead of some in VW mode. I use the old schedulers for VW and since I have 3 LH I use them all in LH mode.

presh2007 · Post by **presh2007** » October 24th, 2007, 1:05 am

I had my 535 dock on the 570 dock today. Nothing was planned or set.
I just had both of them on free roam. Haven't had time to play with lighthouses yet. The way I figure it, the home base will work for any 500, without any setting, if the robots docking light is on, when near the base of either one.

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 24th, 2007, 1:38 am

fancyfreewv wrote:It would be interesting to know if one can pair with 4 all in LH mode instead of some in VW mode. I use the old schedulers for VW and since I have 3 LH I use them all in LH mode.

I tried pair with four (4) LHs all in LH mode. The fourth one wouldn't pair. Its light stayed on continuously and remained on after 5xx finished cleaning and all the others had switched off, which BTW is approximately 30 seconds after the 5xx docks. I finally took the batteries out to get it to turn off. It was like it was "wanting" to pair but couldn't.

That fourth one may have turned off at times while 5xx was running but every time I checked it it was on. It never blinked when I was watching and it didn't guide or stop the 5xx, if I am remembering correctly. It was essentially null.

gg=alice

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 24th, 2007, 1:55 am

presh2007 wrote:I had my 535 dock on the 570 dock today. Nothing was planned or set.
I just had both of them on free roam. Haven't had time to play with lighthouses yet. The way I figure it, the home base will work for any 500, without any setting, if the robots docking light is on, when near the base of either one.

I let my two 535s free roam downstairs in main living area. The bases are about 10 ft from each other separated by a piece of furniture. Which ever one gets to the base first gets to dock there. A few days ago they both arrived at the same home base at the same time. They spent a couple of minutes battling it out, bumping into each other, circling, maneuvering, bumping, until the victor claimed the prize. The loser went immediately to the remaining home base. It was quite entertaining to watch.

gg=alice

geekgranny · Post by **geekgranny** » October 24th, 2007, 2:33 am

Run times will seem really short, around an hour. This carpet, all upstairs except for small bathroom, is extremely "difficult", thick, draggy, cut and loop with cut part a frieze (tightly twisted dense - doesnt' show footmarks or much showing of vacuum marks). The 5xx's can run over two hours per mission on my downstairs tile with some short pile rug runners.

Third test mission of 570 today. Same setup as previous post, except...

For the spare homebase in zone 3 I unplugged homebase, plugged it in and docked 570 on it until the "I'm home" sounded. I then carried it back to its homebase in zone 1 and waited for the LHs to turn off. Then started 570 from its homebase. Oh yes, I did increase the size of zone 1 a tad to get the battery to be a little more used up by the time it entered zone 3.

It cleaned zone 1 35 minutes, entered zone 2 with green light, cleaned zone 2 (very small) 19 minutes, then entered zone 3 with light lt. orange. Interesting note here before it entered zone 3 it hung around the LH for a couple of minutes as if in indecision

like it was trying to make up its "mind" if it wanted to enter zone 3 (it doesn't always if battery too low) or turn back to go home.

It cleaned zone 3 for 12 minutes (this is the heaviest draggiest carpet) then the dock light turned on. Power light was dark orange at this point. It went into the bathroom and acted like it was trying to get through the wall. That area is the closest to the first LH at zone 1 but has two wall between it and the first LH. It was also really, really close to the second LH between zone 2 and 3 but had a cabinet and wall between it and that LH. It did this for about 7 minutes and then stopped with power light red. It was about 10 ft from the extra homebase in zone 3 and had to turn two corners to be able to see it.

I think this is similar to some reports that 5xx will run out of power away from homebase even though the LH should guide it back to homebase. It appears that when battery time gets critical, the 5xx receiving RF, (which travels through walls, unlike visible IR which doesn't travel throuh walls and has to actually be seen), from the LHs it will desperately attempt to follow the shortest route and flounder trying to get through the wall or get there "as the crows fly".

It didn't seem to have any desire to dock on the extra homebase in zone 3 leading me to believe that the "call" of the guiding LHs is stronger than the attraction to a nearby homebase when LHs are used to guide it from zone to zone. I have no doubts that it would have docked on the extra homebase in zone 3 if the LHs hadn't been calling it back. This conclusion is drawn from watching my two 535 free roaming downstairs without any LH guidance docking at any home base each finds open when they want to dock. Downstairs, in a 1200 sq ft area, using no LHs for guidance, they dock virtually 100% of the time.

570 is now put to bed and I'm to follow soon.

gg=alice