iRobot and Roomba's

Aug 19, 2020
6,062
26,272
San Antonio, TX
About 11 years ago I started getting into buying busted Roomba's on Fleabay and repairing them. I kept two of them, both 600 series 'frakenstein' builds, and they have been running off and on since then. All I have done was replace the batteries recently. My wife is OCD when it comes to our wood floors, so for her early birthday present I got her a Roomba 891 and a Braava M6 Jet. I have to say, that I am EXTREMELY impressed with both of their performances, and more importantly, so is she! She hasn't touched a mop or broom for over a month now, and always comments about how clean their floor is. 'Happy wife - happy life.' :) Of course, the secret to buying these things, is to buy them 'used', as you get a HUGE discount on a like new item. The iRobot brand, in my opinion, are very well made. There are others that I have my eye on, such as the Roborock S series with LIDAR and a few others. We certainly are not at the Rosie Jetson stage, but we are getting there. Of course, there is some maintenance to them, but only a few minutes a week, so it isn't bad. Anyone else use them? Here is Eve, Wall-E (Braava), and Blossom and 'bot'. (I have 9 and 13 year old girls, names are appropriate...)
 

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From time to time you can get used Roombas from Amazon's Warehouse deals for a significant discount. Got the Roomba 960 for $157 used last year

Exactly. If you know what to look for, Fleabay and Mercari are excellent places to look as well. I would NEVER pay retail for one. But I typically buy 'used' stuff so I have something to work on...:)
 
I have the Roborock S5, "Johnny 5". Had him for years now and he's not skipped a beat. The lidar is great on it and it means it can run at night with the lights off where many others that use optics cannot. It also means that i can "park" him away in a small little hole in the utility room where his charging dock is hidden from sight.
 
I agree Sphinxicus, from what I have read, LIDAR is fantastic. My house is like the grand canyon...any slight noise just echo's. So I only run them during the day, so that it doesn't afffect the VSLAM that iRobot uses.
 
haha, we have lots of rooms (some big/some small). The map it generates after its first voyage splits the house up into seperate rooms too. (you can edit the map to further sub-divide or merge rooms/areas). Dead handy because i can schedule it to wander out and clean the utility room, kitchen, dining area every night after midnight when nobody should be using the kitchen. Then during the day on a week day i will have it clean other rooms that wont be in use while people are out etc. Only think i have to do is remember to leave the right doors open, it cant manage that alone (yet).

I dont think i could get anything but lidar (or equivilent) now. Its just so good at figuring out where it is if it gets moved or furnature is re-arranged. The normal hoover still gets a run out every now n then to get into areas where Johnny 5 cant get to but its drastically reduced its usage and therefore saved us time.
 
I don't disagree at all. I choose iRobot, because I know how to repair them...mostly. :)
 
I don't disagree at all. I choose iRobot, because I know how to repair them...mostly. :)
that's awesome - i would be happy taking them apart and replacing parts but its when it gets to replacing things on the mainboards where soldering is required that i check out ;)

You must save a fortune. I doff my cap to you sir :highfive:
 
Just keep your eye on 'em though, @SJGUSMC21 ....they might organize a union overnight and start demanding sick days, vacation, health care, etc. :highfive:
 
You can scare them out of unionization by threatening them with getting the vax.
 
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Unlike my wife and girls, they are programmable and will comply. :)
 
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that's awesome - i would be happy taking them apart and replacing parts but its when it gets to replacing things on the mainboards where soldering is required that i check out ;)

You must save a fortune. I doff my cap to you sir :highfive:

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Trial by error mostly, but as I have gotten older, I tend to take more time now before doing something questionable. Thank God, don't know how I made it to this age. I should have received the Darwin award numerous times....