Neato D5 Battery Issues (RESOLVED)

[E-a-l]

I have an issue with Neato D5 that it doesn't charge and it just shuts down after few minutes. When I turn it on it will start blinking blue light and green battery light will be on. Almost immediately it will start beeping and battery light goes to orange and blue light keeps blinking. After a while it will just shut itself down (few minutes).

I have measured battery voltage with meter and it's 16.5V, so it should be pretty much fully charged.

I have also used Neato Control application to diagnose what I can, one weird thing what I find from there is that it's not detecting battery voltage at all, any ideas?


____ Discrete: ____=
SNSR_DC_JACK_IS_IN=False
SNSR_DUSTBIN_IS_IN=True
SNSR_LEFT_WHEEL_EXTENDED=False
SNSR_RIGHT_WHEEL_EXTENDED=False
LSIDEBIT=False
LFRONTBIT=False
LLDSBIT=False
RSIDEBIT=False
RFRONTBIT=False
RLDSBIT=False
____ Analog: ____=
BatteryVoltage=mV=0
BatteryCurrent=mA=0
BatteryTemperature=mC=0
ExternalVoltage=mV=18920
AccelerometerX=mG=39
AccelerometerY=mG=-8
AccelerometerZ=mG=1016
CompassmeterX=mG=0
CompassmeterY=mG=0
CompassmeterZ=mG=0
GyroscopeX=dps=0
GyroscopeY=dps=0
GyroscopeZ=dps=0
IMUAccelerometerX=mG=0
IMUAccelerometerY=mG=0
IMUAccelerometerZ=mG=0
VacuumCurrent=mA=0
SideBrushCurrent=mA=0
MagSensorLeft=VAL=0
MagSensorRight=VAL=0
WallSensor=mm=255
DropSensorLeft=mm=0
DropSensorRight=mm=0
____ Buttons: ____=
BTN_SOFT_KEY=False
BTN_SCROLL_UP=False
BTN_START=False
BTN_BACK=False
BTN_SCROLL_DOWN=False
BTN_SPOT=False
IR_BTN_HOME=False
IR_BTN_SPOT=False
IR_BTN_ECO=False
IR_BTN_UP=False
IR_BTN_DOWN=False
IR_BTN_RIGHT=False
IR_BTN_LEFT=False
IR_BTN_START=False
IR_BTN_LEFT_ARC=False
IR_BTN_RIGHT_ARC=False
____ Charger: ____=
FuelPercent=0
BatteryOverTemp=0
ChargingActive=1
ChargingEnabled=1
ConfidentOnFuel=0
OnReservedFuel=0
EmptyFuel=1
BatteryFailure=0
ExtPwrPresent=1
ThermistorPresent=1
BattTempCAvg=0
VBattV=0.00
VExtV=18.92
Charger_mAH=0
Discharge_mAH=0

RESOLUTION:
See instructions for Neato Control:
http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 20&t=18173

Open application and connect
Go to commands
Run command: Testmode on
Run command: NewBattery
Run command: TestMode off

Restart vacuum, you have voltage again showing on neato control and vacuum works!

[ruggiero]

I signed up just to say Thank You!!

This fixed my problem.

[suzuka1980]

It does not work for me. The error says "COM port not detected". I cannot even start NeatoConnect

[glnc222]

Certain old AMD-Nvidia PC's do not handle the USB protocol correctly with Neato, error in system board drivers affecting only Neato's odd procedure emulating older serial connections. Intel's always worked. The connection can be tested with a terminal emulator program. Might not be your problem.

[suzuka1980]

I found out something strange. The PC does not even detect the D5 at all!

When I plug in the old Botvac connected, it initiates and assigns COM3 to the device, but nothing happens when I plug in the D5. Could it be that the USB port itself on the robot is spoilt?

[vic7767]

Is it possible that the USB cable is a charge only cable and not a data cable?

[glnc222]

Maybe works only when docked? Could be strange though, because updating I think has to be off the dock, because the power management software gets updated. But you can't clean from the dock with USB because it wants it unplugged to not tether the bot against motion -- issues an error notice. WiFi units update over WiFi anyway.
Can you get any clarification from the company? They are not supporting use of the USB by customers even though it is there, so they might not say. Documentation saved here from older days before WiFi models.

[suzuka1980]

Nope. Cable is definitely fine since I can connect the old botvac connected with it.

Yeah... neato will never entertain me. Probably will ask me to send it in to the dealer... Which in turn will charge me $$$

[vic7767]

I can monitor a D3, D5, D7, & D8 via usb. There is no issue using NeatoToolio and monitoring the USB port.

What OS are you using to monitor your D(X) ?

[suzuka1980]

I am using windows 10. It detects perfectly fine for my Botvac Connected, but nothing happens at all for Botvac D5.

I am suspecting the USB port of the Botvac D5 is dead. I looked in th device manager, but no com port is detected when the D5 is plugged to the computer.

[TheXtremeKing]

Just created an account to say thank you! Fixed this fixed the problem for me as well.

I broke the old battery when trying to do a manual balancing and probably shorted it a little bit
After that the battery output 0 volts to the connector whilst the battery themselves where OK and completely full.
The BMS was probably fried.

I ordered a new battery and that wouldn't get recognized. I got an unkown error in the app and the battery indicator was flashing slowly red. After a few minutes it would turn off. I couldn't get it to charge again (soft/hard reset etc).

Since the new battery pack was at a very low voltage (14,2V) I manually charged it (current limited 500mA/16V @ the black and red wires) but that didn't help.

But after executing the commands it worked again!!!

[NeatoUser45]

I can't believe I had to go through all this nonsense to get my D3 working again after a battery replacement. The Neato app displayed the message, 'Having a problem. batt_deep_discharge' which indicated the battery was dead, which it was. Imagine my surprise when I replaced the battery and was greeted with the same message and a robot that would simply shut down and never charge. A quick search revealed many others had the same experience.

After much searching I found this thread. I downloaded the control program entered the commands and voila, the battery began charging. How can battery replacement/reset be absent on the app? Or at least make the control program available so a person has a chance. Big fail on Neato's part. Otherwise, I'm really happy with the thing, five years of operation and it hasn't missed a beat.

[Kunislav]

Just registered to say one big thank you to the author of this topic. You should make a video on youtube and have somewhere a donate button because you probably could save a lot of money for many people.
Rally appreciates that you have shared this instruction. I was deeply frustrated that I am gonna throw to garbage a normal working product just because of the software issue which is so stupid and critical and Neato is not able to solve it. Thank you!!

[Umbep72]

Hi
Have a problemi.
How i can write comand new battery.
I write it but bad comand
Help me
Thanks

[Wolfprophet]

Hi everyone!
I'm having the same problem on one of my two D5 connected.

In the broken one, the boot sequence looks like this:
1. The LEDs flash alternately
2. The battery LED turns solid green
3. An error sound plays and the battery LED turns solid orange, while the info LED flashes red
4. If the robot is not connected to the base, it turns off. Otherwise, it restarts and loops the same sequence

I can connect with the neatocontrol app, run the commands and receive the expected feedback (e.g. "new battery inserted") but, after less than two seconds, the bot reboots automatically and the USB connection is lost (I get "communication error 22"). Then, the loop starts again as above.

Here's the "version" message:

Code: Select all

GetVersion
Component,Major,Minor,Build,Aux
APPassword,9E394898
BaseID,0.0,0.0,0,0,
BatteryType,4,LIION_4CELL_SMART,
Beehive URL, beehive.neatocloud.com
BlowerType,1,BLOWER_ORIG,
Bootloader Version,46878,,
BrushMotorType,1,BRUSH_MOTOR_ORIG,
BrushSpeed,1200,,
BrushSpeedEco,800,,
ChassisRev,1,,
Cloud Selector, 2
DropSensorType,1,DROP_SENSOR_ORIG,
LCD Panel,0,0,0,
LDS CPU,,,
LDS Serial,,,
LDS Software,,,
LDSMotorType,2,LDS_MOTOR_MABUCHI,
Locale,1,LOCALE_USA,
MagSensorType,1,MAG_SENSOR_ORIG,
MainBoard Serial Number,GPC25618,3045118277fb,
MainBoard Version,4,,
Model,BotVacD5Connected,905-0358,
Nucleo URL, nucleo.neatocloud.com
QAState,QA_STATE_APPROVED
Serial Number,GPC26118,3045118277fb,P
SideBrushPower,1500,,
SideBrushType,2,SIDE_BRUSH_VORWERK_REV1,
SmartBatt Authorization,0
SmartBatt Data Version,0
SmartBatt Device Chemistry,
SmartBatt Device Name,
SmartBatt Manufacturer Name,
SmartBatt Mfg Year/Month/Day,0,0,0
SmartBatt Serial Number,0
SmartBatt Software Version,0
Software,3,2,0,305,0
Time Local,Thu Jan  1 01:00:08 1970
Time UTC,Thu Jan  1 00:00:08 1970
UI Board Hardware,0,0,
UI Board Software,0,0,
UI Name,NONE
UI Version,NONE
VacuumPwr,65,,
VacuumPwrEco,65,,
WallSensorType,1,WALL_SENSOR_ORIG,
WheelPodType,1,WHEEL_POD_ORIG,

In LDS CPU and others, it doesn't show anything.
Also please notice:

SmartBatt Authorization,0
SmartBatt Data Version,0
SmartBatt Device Chemistry,
SmartBatt Device Name,
SmartBatt Manufacturer Name,
SmartBatt Mfg Year/Month/Day,0,0,0
SmartBatt Serial Number,0
SmartBatt Software Version,0

In the "Sensors" tab, BatteryVoltage was 0 for most of the time. Then, after a couple tries, it now shows 12V. I don't exactly know what changed. However, in my other bot it displays 16V.

Of course, I tried swapping batteries and I always get the same result.

Any ideas?

[Daghino]

Hi Everyone,
I have the same issue,
When I try to set the neato in test mode the communication is lost (Error 22).
How do you fix it?

Daniele