iRobot Roomba 650 Questions & Answers (page 2 of 2)

1. Sounds like you did not read the user manual. Turn the unit over and make sure you have removed the battery tab from the base of the machine as per the user manual instructions. This tab isolates the battery when in place and if you do not remove it the battery will not charge and the machine will not run.

2. If you do not set the machine in the correct position on the dock so the terminals on the machine line up with the terminals on the docking station the battery will not charge obviously. Turn the roomba over and you will see the 2 metal contact terminals on the base the roomba. Those terminals must be in contact with (connect) with the terminals on the docking unit when positioned on the docking unit.

If unsure if the battery is charging you can plug the cord directly into the roomba . Just disconnect the cord from the dock unit and plug it directly into the roomba (side connection) and it will charge.

3. Once charged you can start the roomba from where you like. It does not have to be started from the dock unit. Just take it where you want it, put it on the floor and press the start button on the roomba.

4. Don't use the roomba in any room where it will pick up water such as a kitchen or bathroom or laundry floor. It will pick up water and this will damage the machine and void your warranty.

5. The roomba will go anywhere that does not obstruct its passage until the battery runs low and it will return to the dock if not obstructed by anything. If obstructed (such as when you just close the door to a room you are cleaning), it will just stop cleaning when the floor has been covered or when the battery is low and you can manually place it back on the dock to recharge.

If in doubt then read the user manual that came with the machine as it is very comprehensive.

5. The virtual wall when switched on and placed as required is to prevent the roomba moving into areas you don't want it to go into. Otherwise the machine will run anywhere it is not obstructed and until the battery runs low.

1. How hard is it to restart a Roomba for heavens sake.

2. The dirt capacity of the Roomba is very small and can substantially fill in one session.

To keep the Roomba operating efficiently you need to check and empty the dirt container regularly, ideally on every charge session.

The dirt capacity of the Roomba is way too small to do an entire house without stopping the machine and emptying the dirt canister to keep it operating efficiently because these machines do pick up a lot of dust, fluff, general debris and loose carpet fibers when operating optimally. It is ridiculous to expect them to be able to clean an entire house without emptying the dust canister numerous times which means the machine would need to be stopped and started again in any event to enable it to do the cleaning job it was designed for.

You can get the whole house done in one go though while you are out. They are called a maids, they operate a vacuum cleaner quite well and they don't run on batteries. So you don't charge them. They charge you.

My understanding of how these roombas work is that the software programs the size of the room before it commences cleaning hence you see it turning around before it starts cleaning.

I don't quite understand why, it could be the size of the room maybe to efficiently clean it? Did you use the virtual walls? I don't have a large house and it will do my whole house if I don't block off rooms. Having said this I remember my first charge didn't last as long as it normally would but on the second charge it was lasting twice as long and back to what I expect from it maybe this was the same for you. Recharging batteries on the whole work better after the first discharge so I expected this to happen.