I’m fixing up a Roomba that @SDY very graciously sent my way since he already has a working one. I’m following these instructions…
I’ve figured out that one of the IR emitters is faulty and either needs cleaned or replaced. These are located in the front bumper of the roomba. When one is broken, the roomba keeps spinning and thinking that it is hitting a wall, hence the circle of death. So…you replace the part.
I followed the diagnostic test recommended on the Roomba repair page link. I can also look through my phone camera and see that the IR unit isn’t flashing on that side.
Next step is opening it up and taking a look at the emitter.
Feel free to join me in this quest if you have a spinning Roomba.
Roomba is now fixed. It took a couple of hours once I finally got around to it. I followed the instructions in the post above. I replaced the IR emitter and the receiver on one side. It was just two components that I picked up at digikey for about $2.00 total. It was all through-hole soldering. The thing has a thousand screws in it, but apart from that it was an easy and very satisfying fix. A machine that would have been junked is now working like new. That is the happiest part for me.
Now if you could figure out a way to increase the dust bin capacity by 10x then it would be a useful machine (mine is full after one room … darn those perma-shedding huskies)
Well, it’s almost a year later and we’ve fixed a few Roombas at the space. Steve R. fixed one up tonight. @packetbob picked up some new IR emitter/receivers which he kindly donated to the Roomba cause.
Do you have a broken or poorly Roomba? Save it from the landfill and fix it at the space, for free. PM me for details.
I’m also on the hunt for discarded Roombas. I will post any I find if people are interested in refurbishing a robot vac.