scooba alarm and 4 beeps - power supply problem

[altecfun]

Hi all,

Having issue with my scooba 5800.
Scooba has year and a half and it was bought in US and later on power supply was modded to 220V.
It was working correctly.
Recently I took it to another flat from other one and it just got the error.

I got alarm and 4 beeps after plugging charger to scooba.

Sometimes (very very sledom) it does not give alarm and error and looks like charging - but after all battery is not charged.

Any ideas hot to fix it?

Thanks!

[oSPANNERo]

According to this chart:

http://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answe ... l/a_id/591

Its either

"Uh-oh" plus 4 beep. = Scooba's Cliff Sensors are dirty or malfunctioning.

or

4 tone alarm and 4 beep: Service light is red. = Power Supply has failed.

[oSPANNERo]

So in the end you either:

1) Need to clean the sensors / install new ones

or

2) Need a new power brick

[altecfun]

this is definitely power supply error.
right now it acts like charging but battery is still empty.

i would like to fix it not buy new one.... what should I check?
help !

i have measured voltage on scooba plug:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7893 ... pinout.jpg

[oSPANNERo]

Hmmm... that is a bit beyond my expertise so hopefully someone else will weigh in.

The other option to try is getting a Scooba charging cradle:

http://store.irobot.com/product/index.j ... age=family

Using this would bypass the charging circuitry in your Scooba. I am not saying it would fix your problem, just eliminate any possibility its an issue inside the Scooba.

[altecfun]

oSPANNERo: i do not understand your logic, sorry!

I have issue with power supply - i do not need to buy extra things - this is something I have already identified.

if you can help - please measure voltage on plug from charger and let me know what do you have!

thanks!

[oSPANNERo]

My logic is based on the fact that there is more to the charging circuit than just the power brick. There is still a component inside the Scooba itself. I was trying to bypass the Scooba to ensure that the problem was really with the power brick.

I will try taking a look at my Scooba charger tonight but in the mean time I searched the forum for the terms "scooba power supply" and found these relevant articles on the first 2 pages of search results:

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... ply#p86405

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... ply#p83634

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... ply#p80682

If you review them I believe they will have a good amount of information relevant to your diagnostic questions...

[altecfun]

I will try taking a look at my Scooba charger tonight but in the mean time I searched the forum for the terms "scooba power supply" and found these relevant articles on the first 2 pages...

Thanks for that - I have already read them before posting my post. This is just how to convert 110v do 22V.
This doeas not help me on my issue. Would you please check values on your plug? especialy on the second pair? I am doubt if 15V is the right one.

thanks!

[mfortuna]

Check this post for info on the 3rd pin on the scooba jack:

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... wer+supply

[oSPANNERo]

Check this post for info on the 3rd pin on the scooba jack:

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... wer+supply

Yep... mfortuna is pointing at the same article as I did so I know I am not too crazy

I believe the specific line we are both pointing at says "by a multi-meter, I noticed a GND, 22V DC and a 5V DC at this plug."

Which then says several lines down "I've performed this specific search, and now notice that it's a kind of analogue control-pin. So, to keep it blunt and simple :
- the range of 0 to 1.5V means : stop charging
- 3.0 to 6.xV : keep charging
- 6.7V : trickle charging (prevent battery from leaking / discharging)"

I think that article will be far more helpful in your diagnostics than anything I can provide.

[Jubo]

Your 14.5V is out of range. It should read between 21-24V. try changing the capacitor to a new one. It might be the culprit.

[Gordon]

this is definitely power supply error.

That has not been proven, so far as I can tell. You have said nothing about the battery's condition -- not even its no-load voltage.

right now it acts like charging but battery is still empty. ...i have measured voltage on scooba plug:http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7893 ... pinout.jpg

You should say how you went about making those measurements. Also, if you repeat them, be sure to reference both measurements to the return (RTN) line (shown as "-" in your drawing). I can effectively convert your measured V_ctrl of "14.5V" to the real V_ctrl via 22V - 14.5V = 7.5V, which is a more reasonable value for V_ctrl. That is a level that will keep the PSU's output at the trickle charge rate, hence, no real battery charging can take place.

In case you have not run across these sources, take a look, there could be something new in them:
http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 832#p40832
http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 619#p73619

If you have not run Scooba's BiTs (Built in Tests), you should become familiar with how to do them, since Test 21 can be a help when battery charging is in question.

[altecfun]

hi.... I have checked everything - this was in fact BATTERY.
So this alarm is related to POWER SUPPLY (per instruction) which is in fact battery.... not charger.