New IRobot pool cleaner

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18072528/


2 million Roombas sold in 4 and 1/2 years!

what do you think about this ...A pool owner plugs the Verro's electrical cord into a poolside transformer and then drops the device in the drink?...sounds expensive and dangerous!

We own an Aquabot Turbo and love it. Looks a bit like a plano tackle box with tank treads...but it's the same idea as this newer offering. The transformer makes it a low voltage device and really you just set it in the pool, turn it on and the bot rolls around the bottom and climbs up the sides vaccuming the pool. Our model takes about 8 hours to completely cover our 15' x 36' pool. They make more expensive units which take less time and one with a remote control if you want to drive it into a specific area to spot clean.

As far as danger, again it's low voltage and you should have a gfi outlet to plug the transformer into as a matter of course if you have a pool anyways.

I picked ours up on ebay refurbished with a 1 year warranty for under $500 and am very happy with it.

I know someone who bought a similar devise -- oh, I would say it is going on twenty years ago. Overall, it worked about as advertised. It kept the pool clean. Random chance was supposed to ensure that it hit every spot, but there were a few streaks up the sides of the pool that never got hit. Those had to be cleaned manually. So, good, but not perfect.

bill,
i think you answered it with the word- transformer. these things work at 12-14 v max; but certainly the public is out while cleaning is going on. ------ken