Pool robot not moving, not charging or sinking: a checklist

What's wrong, and how do you fix it?

1. 1Pool robot not moving on the floor

   Debris in the pump impeller or a tangle in the brushes or wheels causes most cases. On a corded robot, check the power supply too.

   Applies to: Beatbot, Aiper, Dolphin

   Likely causes

   • Debris stuck around the pump impeller
   • Stones, leaf stems or hair in the drive wheels, tracks or brushes
   • Corded robots: no power at the outlet or the GFCI tripped
   • A stuck state that needs a reset

   Try this, in order

   1. Pull the robot out and power it off
   2. Beatbot: open the top cover, take out the basket and nudge the impeller with a thin stick to confirm it spins both ways; if debris is stuck, remove the impeller guard and clear it
   3. Aiper S1: flip it over and pick debris out of the rear wheel housings, then turn each wheel by hand
   4. Dolphin: clear debris from the impeller housing and cover with a Phillips screwdriver, not a drill
   5. Dolphin power supply: check the outlet, then turn the power supply off, wait 30 seconds and turn it on
   6. Reset: Aiper S1, hold power 10 seconds; Aiper X1 Pro Max, hold Power and Intensity for 5 seconds

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: The impeller and wheels turn freely and it still sits still.

   Source: https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center · https://aiper.com/blogs/troubleshooting/s1-gets-stuck/ · https://www.maytronics.com/en-us/support/faq/?question=my-power-supply-works-but-the-robot-does-not · https://brand.maytronics.com/m/12ed672533b42ef9/original/User-manual-8180074-EN.pdf · https://aiper.com/blogs/troubleshooting/x1-battery-charging/

2. 2Pool robot stuck on the main drain or under the ladder

   Pump suction and raised drain covers trap robots; ladders with vertical legs leave a gap they can enter but not leave.

   Applies to: Beatbot, Aiper

   Likely causes

   • Pool pump running during the cycle
   • A drain cover sticking up from the floor; Aiper flags covers more than 1 in high
   • A ladder gap the robot drives into

   Try this, in order

   1. Turn off the pool pump before a run (Beatbot)
   2. Fit a drain cover clip so the tracks keep traction (Beatbot)
   3. Draw an exclusion zone over the drain or ladder in the Aiper app
   4. Turn on Obstacle Avoidance on the Aiper S1 (Settings, Navigation)
   5. Fit the ladder bumpers, if your ladder has them (Aiper)

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: It still gets trapped with the pump off and the cover fixed.

   Source: https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center · https://aiper.com/blogs/troubleshooting/s1-gets-stuck/ · https://www.reddit.com/r/Beatbot_Tech/comments/1tf1rs9/getting_stuck_over_bottom_drain/

3. 3Pool robot not charging

   Check the outlet, then the charging contacts. Salt and moisture corrode contacts, and heat blocks charging.

   Applies to: Beatbot, Aiper, WYBOT

   Likely causes

   • Dead outlet or loose plug
   • Dirty, wet or corroded charging contacts
   • A faulty adapter or dock
   • Battery too hot to charge

   Try this, in order

   1. Plug another device into the outlet to confirm it's live
   2. Wipe the charging port with a damp towel; Beatbot says use citric acid or white vinegar on white crystal buildup
   3. WYBOT: turn the robot off before charging and check the port for water
   4. In a salt pool, rinse the robot and dry the charging port after each run (Aiper)
   5. Overheat warning: unplug it, let it cool 30 to 60 minutes and charge in a cooler, shaded spot (Aiper)
   6. Beatbot adapter: a multimeter reading below 26.6 V or above 30 V means a bad adapter. Beatbot AquaSense 2 family dock: below 25.6 V means a bad dock

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: The outlet works, the contacts are clean and the adapter or dock tests fine. Aiper says the X1 battery is internal and not user-replaceable, so file its warranty assessment; Beatbot says severe rust on the pins means a return or replacement.

   Source: https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center · https://beatbot-help.freshdesk.com/zh-CN/support/solutions/articles/154000220844-7-1-1-charging-dock-cannot-charge-unable-to-charge · https://aiper.com/blogs/troubleshooting/x1-battery-charging/ · https://www.wybotpool.com/pages/support

4. 4Pool robot charges slowly or dies early

   Cool weather slows Beatbot charging, and a full basket or the ultra-fine basket drains the battery faster.

   Applies to: Beatbot, Aiper

   Likely causes

   • Charging below 77°F, which Beatbot says can take longer
   • Clogged basket or the ultra-fine basket
   • Motor overcurrent or the robot getting stuck

   Try this, in order

   1. Charge indoors or in a warmer spot in winter
   2. Clean the basket thoroughly and fully charge before the next run (Beatbot)
   3. Clear any snag that keeps the robot fighting an obstacle

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: Runtime keeps dropping run after run with a clean basket. Ask about the battery under warranty; see the lifespan guide for terms.

   Source: https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center

5. 5Pool robot floats or won't sink

   Trapped air is the usual cause. Salt level, foam parts and firmware also matter.

   Applies to: Beatbot, Dolphin

   Likely causes

   • Air trapped inside the robot
   • High salt, which adds buoyancy; Maytronics lists 5,000 ppm as the maximum
   • On Beatbot cordless models, the foam pad, older firmware or a missing weight block

   Try this, in order

   1. Hold the robot underwater and shake or tilt it until the bubbles stop
   2. Test salt and keep it at or below 5,000 ppm
   3. Beatbot: remove the white foam pad from the bottom, update firmware, start in the deep end, and ask Beatbot for its free replacement weight block

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: It still floats with the air purged and salt in range. Owners on r/Beatbot_Tech report AquaSense 2 Ultra floating on pools with steep sloped sides, so describe your pool shape to support.

   Source: https://www.maytronics.com/global/support/faq/?question=my-dolphin-swims-and-does-not-sinks-to-the-bottom-of-the-pool · https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center · https://www.reddit.com/r/Beatbot_Tech/comments/1ujnk6x/aquasense_2_ultra/

6. 6Pool robot sinks and won't come back up

   Often it's normal: Beatbot robots wait 10 minutes at the waterline after a cycle, then go back down to standby. Otherwise a full basket, a tangle or tight coping is the cause.

   Applies to: Beatbot AquaSense 2 family; Dolphin for manual retrieval

   Likely causes

   • You missed Beatbot's 10-minute waterline window
   • Clogged filter basket
   • Debris in the roller brush or tracks
   • Coping too close to the waterline for the handle to break the surface

   Try this, in order

   1. Beatbot: plan to pick it up within 10 minutes of the cycle ending; the app gets the finish notice only once the robot is out of the water
   2. Clean the basket and clear tangles before the next run
   3. Lower the water to leave at least 7 in (18 cm) between the coping and the waterline (Beatbot)
   4. Dolphin: use Pick-up mode in the MyDolphin Plus app, or pull it to the side by the cable, then lift it by the handle

   Call the maker or your warranty line if: It stays down after a full cycle with a clean basket. Upload the app log and give Beatbot the serial number.

   Source: https://beatbot.com/pages/help-center · https://brand.maytronics.com/m/12ed672533b42ef9/original/User-manual-8180074-EN.pdf