My Dolphin: Now I'm getting rid of it

[ohpoolboy]

This morning the guy at the AquaTron International service center (for Blue Diamond) told me that the Blue Diamond is made in Israel.

Maybe HE'S wrong, but that's what he told me.

I started following this thread a few days before I was ready to order a Dolphin - glad I did ! Needless to say I just ordered a Blue Diamond based on this forum and other reviews I've read. One of the questions I asked the person who took my order was "where is the Blue Diamond manufactured"? His answer was New Jersey.

I was initially interested in the Blue Pearl but decided on the Blue Diamond because of my pool size (24x44 free-form) and the Blue Pearl availability (see below).

Here is some information I got when talking with the sales rep (some of this has been posted already so this may just confirm that info):

- Watertech was started by the son of the founder of Aquabot.
- The Blue Pearls (smaller model than the Blue Diamond) are sold out for 2006. They will begin shipping 2007 models in 3-4 weeks.
- The 2007 Blue Pearl adds the Shut-off timer.
- Blue Pearl / Blue Diamond / Aquabot filter bags - 2 microns. Dolphin - 20 microns.
- Blue Pearl / Blue Diamond use oil to lubricate (and cool) the motors. Dolphin claims to be cooled by water suggesting there is no oil in the motor. This is misleading. There is oil used for lubrication. In all cases it is "a small amount". (This is open for interpretation, I'm not certain of the amount in any of the robots.)
- Blue Pearl and Blue Diamond utilize a "smart processor" which causes the robot to randomly turn on the bottom of the pool. This increases the coverage.
- Blue Diamond "is a better quality machine" than the Blue Pearl. (I'm not sure what that specifically means).
- Blue Diamond - 4 yr warranty / Blue Pearl - 1 year warranty.

I'll post some reviews of the Blue Diamond once I get it and test it out.

Thank you to all who have posted such great information on this forum.

-Anthony

[jimwnola]

Not to beat this to death, but I will anyway. I have touched on this in a number of scattered posts, but thought I would try to approach this again from another angle, as I'm interested on feedback.

As for all robotics, I question just how sophisticated any of them really are. Ths is especially true when you start gettign into irregular shaped pools. I don't see how any could be smart of enough to figure the shape, or know which part of the pool they were dropped, etc. Where their limitations come into play, especiailly in my opinion, is their understanding of walls versus floors or steps. Although I have only owned 2 types (Aquabot and Pool Rover Plus), it sounds like most robots face similar issues, whether they are Dolphins, Aquabots, Tigersharks,etc. However, it does sound like there has been some improvement on soem of the programing, maybe.


Anyway, it seems unrealistic to expect these things to really figure your pool out if isn't a perfect square. Many have complained about robots not climbing walls, but one of my main complaints is how much time spent on walls when there remains a few big leaves by the drain. Whereas I can brush my walls downs in about 10 minutes, it is very difficut to get debris out from the bottom of the pool. Also, attempting to get all the walls and pool bottom starts getting into why they take so long to clean.

So, to me, I started thinking the best device would be to get one that simply cleaned the bottom of pool, a realistic goal, if it could just do that reliably. That is why still owning an Aquabot, I tried a pool rover plus, although theoretically a step down. Although I liked its design for maintenance, its really simple approach to steering didn't work on an oval pool, and it floated away in Katrina before ever gettign to try it on my irregular shaped pool of new house. My old beat-up Aquabot was in attic and back to using it now.

AquaVac had Aqua Queens long ago that just went on bottom of pool, but they seeemd to have gone out of favor. Their Mako Shark is similar, but seems very unpopular. Now, you have the Orion, but no one seems to own to comment. I also wonder how the Pool Rover plus (same as Aquajet) might do in my current pool.

Has anybody else contemplated just trying to get a cleaner that reliably cleans bottom of pool? Am I the only one who gets sick of watching all the time on pool walls, over simply gettng the bottom clean? If the cleaner didn't try to do the walls, wouldn't it be much less likely to get stuck on ladders or trying to climb steps? Anybody using a cleaner just for floor? Am i only one intrigued by Orion as a possible improvement, if it does what it says, rather than step down?

[hzz]

Couple of points to add-

I agree with Jim.Climbing the walls to the surface is pretty much a waste of time. I have my Dolphin set not to climb as I am much more interested in getting the bottom clean.
It still does climb somewhat,even up to my ladder, but it doesn't get stuck there.

As for the sales reps info on the Blue Diamond I would dispute two points.I believe the bag of the Dolphin does filter down to 2 microns, not 20.The Aquabot Turbo goes to 2 microns, and the Dolphin bag is much more substantial than the Aquabot's.

As far as the "smart processor" which causes the robot to randomly turn on the bottom of the pool, the Dolphin does this as well. I have witnessed it do this on many occasions. The Aquabot Turbo does not do this. It relies on wall climbing and then creeping along the water's edge to change it's direction.

Into my third year with the Dolphin-it has been trouble free and does an excellent job of cleaning my 20x40 pool.

I think the point of this thread is not that the Dolphin is a poor cleaner.As Carl said, when it worked it worked well.Any robot can break down.That is not the issue.The issue is the extremely poor service he has recieved from Smartpool. For that reason alone many would shy away from buying the Dolphin and I would agree with them.To spend that amount of money and have the unit fail after two years is dissapointing.Not being able to have it repaired is totally unacceptable.

[CarlD]

I think the point of this thread is not that the Dolphin is a poor cleaner.As Carl said, when it worked it worked well.Any robot can break down.That is not the issue.The issue is the extremely poor service he has recieved from Smartpool. For that reason alone many would shy away from buying the Dolphin and I would agree with them.To spend that amount of money and have the unit fail after two years is dissapointing.Not being able to have it repaired is totally unacceptable.

I couldn't have said it better myself! I was TOTALLY satisified with my Dolphin until it failed, and until the service people at Smart Pool BS'd me!

I am not completely satisfied with the Blue Diamond--I have to remove the ladder and be VERY careful how much cord I give it--it ran over it and chewed up the casing. The svc center told me Diamonds will NOT automatically clean circular or odd-shaped pools--they like rectangles--and the remote is so you MANUALLY control them. Luckily my pool is rectangular. I think the BD is over-priced for what you get, but I hope service is better--they service PoolBusters as well and they were terrific on that.

If I didn't want a cleaner to brush the walls I would have saved my $$$ and continued to use my Polaris 165. With a handful of cotton wadding in the bag it cleans quite well, and Polaris has been good on service. I brought it out of the basement when the Dolphin failed and it does pretty well. I just need the P/B to get the last little bits and that only takes a minute or two.

I just don't see the point of a robotic if it's not brushing your pool--other automatics will pick up debris nicely.

[cleancloths]

Why would the Diamond not work well in an odd shaped pool? I would think that since it makes random turns rather than moving in straight lines that it would do well in any shape of pool.

As for your ladder problem - how exactly is the unit getting stuck. Is it squeezing behind the ladder between it and the pool wall? Perhaps you can post a picture of it being stuck and maybe we could give some advice on how to prevent it.

[jimwnola]

"I just don't see the point of a robotic if it's not brushing your pool--other automatics will pick up debris nicely."

Because it is too late install a Polaris pressure style into my pool without running pipe over the deck. I haven't heard anything good about pressure side cleaners without booster pumps. Suction side put everything into filter and I hear compaints about them all the time too. Both involve having to put a whole bunch of tubing into pool, to the point that people just seem to leave them in all the time. Those type seem like a chore to remove if you want a pool with nothing in it and a neat appearance around pool.

However, I might be interested in any type of cleaner that cleans bottom of pool well, is easy to maintain, is reliable, and is practical with respect to ease of use and taking in and out of pool as needed.

[brent.roberts]

the one thing that I was pleasantly surprised about with the Dolphin was how good a job it did on the waterline.

Each time it climbs the wall at one end of the cycle, the handle sits level with the water line. This forces the cleaner to cock over about 15 degrees and one side of the scrubbing brushes protrude about 1 1/2" above the water line. The drive keeps running so the waterline gets scrubbed for 1 1/2" above to about 3" below. This also causes the unit to run along the waterline a few feet before it reverses and descends. Pretty cool.

[CarlD]

"I just don't see the point of a robotic if it's not brushing your pool--other automatics will pick up debris nicely."

Because it is too late install a Polaris pressure style into my pool without running pipe over the deck. I haven't heard anything good about pressure side cleaners without booster pumps. Suction side put everything into filter and I hear compaints about them all the time too. Both involve having to put a whole bunch of tubing into pool, to the point that people just seem to leave them in all the time. Those type seem like a chore to remove if you want a pool with nothing in it and a neat appearance around pool.

However, I might be interested in any type of cleaner that cleans bottom of pool well, is easy to maintain, is reliable, and is practical with respect to ease of use and taking in and out of pool as needed.

The Polaris 165 is a pressure-side cleaner. I don't need a booster pump, and it works fine--to its limit. It's far cheaper than a robotic. Installation consists of changing the return nozzle.

[CarlD]

Why would the Diamond not work well in an odd shaped pool? I would think that since it makes random turns rather than moving in straight lines that it would do well in any shape of pool.

As for your ladder problem - how exactly is the unit getting stuck. Is it squeezing behind the ladder between it and the pool wall? Perhaps you can post a picture of it being stuck and maybe we could give some advice on how to prevent it.

I'm telling you what the Blue Diamond service center told me--I can't test it--I don't have anything but a rectangular pool.

It gets stuck UNDER the ladder when it goes up the ramp. Here's a pic I got of the Dolphin by the ladder--this was for Maytronics' viewing. The Dolphin's either taller or shorter so it cannot get stuck under that ladder.

For now, I have to loosen two bolts and lift it out. It's quick and easy but I would prefer not to have to do that.

[cruzmisl]

For now, I have to loosen two bolts and lift it out. It's quick and easy but I would prefer not to have to do that.

Honestly, for $1600 you shouldn't have to. If you were happy with the way the Dolphin cleaned then I would sell the one you have on Ebay and buy another from Costco. This way you'll never have to deal with Maytronics again. If it breaks it's Costco's problem, not yours. This way you still get a great cleaner and save $600 in the process. Just an idea.