Our pool guy (aka Mr. LoveaTm) says we need a new pool vacuum. He wants either pressure side or battery powered.

I'm trying to research but feeling cross eyed so I thought I would check here and see if any of you have one you love.

Dolphin

Our dolphin quantum has really sucked…for years

I got a Dolphin 2 years ago and I love it. It picks up so much more of the finer dirt items than my old Polaris jet powered ever did. Plus it's nice having an extra jet to move water since the Dolphin is electrical powered.

Dolphin Proteus DX4 Automatic Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner, Wall Climbing, Waterline Scrubber Brush, Ideal for In-Ground Pool up to 50 FT in Length

I'm not an expert by any means, but my research indicated the battery powered models and heavier and don't have the suction of the corded models. We just replaced our Dolphin Active 20 with an Active 2000 (essentially the same model). We get a ton of leaves and are happy with it. Marina Pools has a really good deal now on the Evo 604 by Polaris (also corded) and there was an additional $100 rebate. I'd recommend giving them a call and they can walk you though the options and probably explain the pros and cons of battery powered units.

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I'm not an expert by any means, but my research indicated the battery powered models and heavier and don't have the suction of the corded models.

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I would support this statement.

I bought the cordless version of the Dolphin I mentioned above because of this exact reason. I have an old 1980s pool with a diving board and the deep end is 10 feet. The shallow end is ~ 3-4 feet. The cordless Dolphin had a hard time with the incline from deep to shallow ends and it drained the battery trying to do it.

I also have a Dolphin and am very pleased. Under no circumstances should you buy a WYBOT

and just so you're aware, the cord is an electric cord - not a vacuum cord/hose.

I didn't know this when we started looking 5+ years ago.

Piggy backing on this one... So, I just have a traditional Polaris 280 in the pool. I'm getting sick of having to manually vac the spa. Do any one of you drop your robot in your spa? Much luck?

Yes we drop ours in all the time it works great. Throws a little more water out but that's it.

We have a BeatBot aquasense 2 and it's been decent. Never returns to the surface like it's supposed to but that's why I have kids to fish it out.

Using a Pentair prowler as recommended by marina pool and spa. Been very happy. Motor died after one year but it has a two year warranty. Pool guy took care of it submitted a warranty claim and it's back up and running. When it dies I'll buy another one. I didn't realize how much work it did until I didn't have it for a week.

Here's my perspective on this. Get a Polaris 280 and save your money. Yes, it has to be rebuilt every 4-5 years and has parts designed to fail. However, I think it's crazy to spend ridiculous amounts of money on something that basically just sits at the bottom of your pool and cleans trash out of it. I also don't understand people buying $1000 toilets or vacuum cleaners, but to each his own I guess.

Too funny. That's what we did yesterday. He just replaced what he had. Which is what he wanted to do in the first place but I thought there was probably something better out there. I was wrong. But don't tell him I just flat admitted it.

Piggy backing on this, my dolphin has made it through the last 4 summers sitting in the pool. Went to plug it in this spring and the power supply flashed on and "popped" (guessing a fuse). Had a brand new back up, plugged that in and same thing… I figure that there's a short somewhere in the robot now and the fuse blows for safety. At 4 years, is it just time to drop another $1000 on a brand new one?

I will say the plastic is pretty faded from the sun and the power cord has a lot of crap shedding off from the chlorine.

They can replace the cord if you send it in. It's $250

It seems 4 years is about the longevity of pool robots. I pivoted from the dolphin models to the Evo Aqua 604 based off recommendations from Marina pool and spas. It looks, operates, and cleans like the dolphin models but has a way better basket setup. I'm hoping it lasts longer, but I will be shocked and impressed if it does.

FTR- It stays in the pool unless we're in the pool.