Powerbot Run Time Change, Multiple Passes
Posted: February 16th, 2020, 5:03 pm
The newer "R" 9000 series Powerbots, e.g. R9350, changed the procedure for time spent cleaning. In the original, e.g. 9350 without "R", the vacuum would return to base when the area available was passed over once. In the newer models the vacuum runs until the battery capacity is used, about an hour in normal power mode, so it repeats cleaning of smaller areas requiring less than a full charge and less than an hour to cover.
This gives a more thorough cleaning but can require waiting longer for the robot to finish so space can be used again. In some cases it might allow less frequent cleaning with consequent longer battery life. I suspect the change was in response to customer demand, as some posters have mentioned wanting to get double passes with other robots.
The 7000 series seems to retain the older method, e.g. R7040, which specifies cleaning areas only once.
There previously had been extra run time in small rooms where the 9000's always runs a minimum of 30 minutes.
Some brands may offer optional settings for single or full-charge runs, check features offered.
[edit] Of course you can always press the button for returning to base when wanting the room to oneself.
Cleaning Pattern Change
The new models also changed the pattern, not in its shape (they don't separately do perimeters like Neato), but direction. Now the robot turns sideways leaving the dock and runs in lines parallel to the dock mostly, while before it ran in line perpendicular to the dock, straight out from it. It now runs along walls more than before.
This gives a more thorough cleaning but can require waiting longer for the robot to finish so space can be used again. In some cases it might allow less frequent cleaning with consequent longer battery life. I suspect the change was in response to customer demand, as some posters have mentioned wanting to get double passes with other robots.
The 7000 series seems to retain the older method, e.g. R7040, which specifies cleaning areas only once.
There previously had been extra run time in small rooms where the 9000's always runs a minimum of 30 minutes.
Some brands may offer optional settings for single or full-charge runs, check features offered.
[edit] Of course you can always press the button for returning to base when wanting the room to oneself.
Cleaning Pattern Change
The new models also changed the pattern, not in its shape (they don't separately do perimeters like Neato), but direction. Now the robot turns sideways leaving the dock and runs in lines parallel to the dock mostly, while before it ran in line perpendicular to the dock, straight out from it. It now runs along walls more than before.