Pool Buster vs Pool Blaster

[hancop]

I loved mine when I got it first and used to rave about it on this forum. I have now had all the same issues as people have mentioned and it no longer charges. Watertech should have some sort of recall on these things or provide longer warranties as they just don't last. I called them and told them I was very happy with mine when it worked but have had to many issue and spent to much money keeping it running. The batteries are a real issue. They offered me the same options as was mentioned here for replacement. I said that I am done spending all this money on a faulty product which they don't seem to be willing to help with. I also told them I would be switching my stance and going from promoting these to spreading the word that nobody should purchase them as they would just be throwing away their money and they did not seem to care.

You have been warned. Purchase at your own risk then expect it to quit working and spend half of what you paid for the original for another then expect it to quit working, and the cycle will continue.

I love this machine when it works and would certainly purchase another one if they had better quality control or stood behind their product with a better warranty.

[tphaggerty]

I love not having to lug out all the vacuum stuff so much that I probably am going to try and build my own battery pack for this when the current one cr*ps out, which it will. They are using very low grade nimh batteries, it is fairly easy to build a pack using better ones, but that will probably cost $25 or so in cells. Fortunately, I wound up with 2 motor boxes, so I figure I can mix and match for at least one or two more seasons. This thing was so close.....

[CarlD]

I bought one of the very first PoolBusters years ago. Quickly battery life got too short. After 2 years I called them and they sent me the replacement battery and motor pack for about$75. Since then, at least 3 years, it's been fine and easily runs an hour at a time. They just seem to get bad batteries from time to time and you need to catch it while it's still under warranty. I have a 16x40 rectangular pool with a 5.5' deep end. I bought the extrafine reusable filter bag and it works GREAT!

That's my experience.

[tphaggerty]

So, as I predicted, my old battery box would not charge (despite religiously checking to make sure the batteries were not fully run down over the winter - except for the last month).

I have replaced it with the "new" box, which is working (who knows for how long). I am going to open the old box up and if I can get the motor to run, may try and replace the battery pack with a hand built one from some good quality Sanyo or such rechargeables.

Before I do that, I may try and "shock" the old batteries into a recharge (again, if the motor works). Sometimes NiMH batteries won't recharge if one or more of the set is completely dead but the others are OK. I have read that if you use a higher voltage charger for a very brief period (less than a minute), it can "force" enough charge into the dead batteries to allow the original charger to do its work. I'll report back if I have any good news.

Otherwise, I LOVE the idea and HATE the implementation.

[CAP]

I took my battery pack to my local interstate battery store and they rebuilt it for me. Total cost was $28.

[CarlD]

I took my battery pack to my local interstate battery store and they rebuilt it for me. Total cost was $28.

How do they guarantee that it's waterproof?

[CAP]

I just took off the foam gasket from the old battery pack and glued it on the new one. So far it seems OK but I have only used the PB a couple of times since I changed out the battery. I don't think that the foam gasket that is on the battery pack even serves a purpose. The waterproof part is the motor/battery cover.

No guarantee from Interstate, I didn't even tell them that this was for an underwater application.