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07-26-2017, 10:43 PM
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UPDATED REVIEW - DOLPHIN M-400 POOL ROBOT
I don't know how many here have an in-ground swimming pool and so I am not sure how many are interested in this post. I am doing this out of sheer joy of this product! After having pools in my homes for 34 years I have had my share of pool cleaners.
About 6 weeks or so ago I bought a new Pool Cleaner (robot) and was initially very impressed with it. I did my homework before buying it and this one kept coming up as #1 - that's why I got this brand & model. I also said I would do a follow up review after using it for a while - so here it is...............
The Model is the Dolphin M-400 (made by Maytronics in Israel). It is an independent unit and does not connect in any way to your pool. The unit comes with its own caddy cart, 60 feet of robot to computer controller cable and two sets of different cartridge filters. It is fully capable of being controlled with your Smartphone although other than to play with it - it's not necessary because the robot does such an incredible job on its own. It also has a 360º swivel so your cable will NOT tangle up.
Anyone here who has ever owned one of these robots knows how disgusting it is to clean out the Bag - well this one is different because it has two removable cartridges (no bag) that insert from the TOP! Cleaning them out takes a minute and could not be easier . There are two different sets of filters for the cartridges - one fine and the other super fine. When this robot completes its cycle, the pool is 100% spotless! Every grain of sand, leaf, bug, etc is gone! This is a SMART robot and maps your pool - no more random moving around and it does not miss one inch of the pool - including the walls & steps.
Anyone interested in a SMART pool cleaning robot should strongly consider this new model unit. It is certainly NOT cheap but does go on sale occasionally. It is $1,499.00 (list) but when I bought mine in May it was on sale for $1,299.00 The store I bought it in also had a $75.00 instant rebate so I got mine for $1,224.99. Yes - still expensive but the "dumb" pool robots are only a few hundred less if you get one of the better ones. The last one I had was a Blue Diamond by Water-tech and it worked OK for the technology back then, but does not hold a candle to this one.
Anyway, I just wanted to follow through on my promise to do another more in-depth review after owning and using it for a while. Oh, it also comes with a 3 year warranty which is more than most. All I can say is I am ecstatic about its performance and would highly recommend it to anyone with an in-ground pool! It is very well made too! BEST I'VE EVER SEEN!
VIDEO:
Last edited by chief38; 07-26-2017 at 11:00 PM.
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07-27-2017, 07:35 AM
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I don't have a pool, but if it comes with the young lady included, I'm interested!
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So many S&W's, so few funds!!
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07-27-2017, 08:14 AM
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We swin in the crick.
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07-27-2017, 08:18 AM
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Mud "turkles" clean it up no extra charge.
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07-27-2017, 08:34 AM
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YIKES..
And I thought my MX-8 was cool.. , that's wild...
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DAV in honor of POP
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07-27-2017, 10:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6518John
We swin in the crick.
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I don't think the Robot's Cable is long enough for the Creek! - LOL!!
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07-27-2017, 10:35 AM
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Once in a while when I come across a non-gun product that supersedes my expectations and standards I like to post about them. Today, it is RARE that products live up to their hype.
For those who may not already have figured it out I am a VERY PICKY and VERY EXACTING person. To impress me takes quite a bit! As Humphrey Bogart said in "The Caine Mutiny" - "excellence is standard and expected on by boat - Standard is substandard on the Caine".
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07-27-2017, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief38
I don't think the Robot's Cable is long enough for the Creek! - LOL!!
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As someone who use to clean pools as a kid, I truly appreciated your post. That machine is amazing.
It's funny that in looking at my herpetology guide that there is a turtle that performs almost each function of your robot. You have alge eaters, bottom filter feeders, "scrubber" feeders carrion eaters, etc. All to keep mother nature's streams clean. Interesting comparison.
I guess you could get the chlorine out and fill you pool with turtles, but your guests may not all be country folks and enjoy swimming in the cement pond with a bunch of critters!
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07-27-2017, 10:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6518John
As someone who use to clean pools as a kid, I truly appreciated your post. That machine is amazing.
It's funny that in looking at my herpetology guide that there is a turtle that performs almost each function of your robot. You have alge eaters, bottom filter feeders, "scrubber" feeders carrion eaters, etc. All to keep mother nature's streams clean. Interesting comparison.
I guess you could get the chlorine out and fill you pool with turtles, but your guests may not all be country folks and enjoy swimming in the cement pond with a bunch of critters!
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The one exception is your Turtle will eventually dump it's "debris collecting cartridge" back on to the bottom - LOL!!
PS - No more Chlorine . I have had a "Salt Pool" with a Chlorine Generator for 6 years now. While it does make Chlorine it is of a different type that does not bleach out the liner, won't
burn eyes, mess up the Wife's hair, or have the caustic effect regular Calcium Chloride tabs have. It's all computerized and I don't even have to Shock it anymore - but that's a different post -
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07-27-2017, 11:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ditrina
YIKES..
And I thought my MX-8 was cool.. , that's wild...
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ditrina, with the food you make, the pool could be filled with lilly pads and toads and it wouldn't matter.
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07-27-2017, 11:12 AM
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I think I would be apprehensive, with that 110 volt power cord.
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07-27-2017, 11:17 AM
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The Dolphin Unit works on low voltage (12 or 24 volts) DC current. AC is only connected into the Unit's control computer on the Caddy and there it is converted to DC and stepped down. The Pool is also plugged into a UL Ground Fault Interrupter outlet and the Pool is also properly grounded to UL code spec's.
The blue cord you see that attaches to the Robot itself is low voltage DC. The wires inside are much thinner than the blue cable is. They make the blue cable out of a synthetic rubber so it contains air and floats and that is why it is so thick - NOT to carry large gauge wire.
Last edited by chief38; 07-27-2017 at 11:22 AM.
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07-27-2017, 07:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief38
I am a VERY PICKY and VERY EXACTING person.
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Hope you're very happy together
Seriously, pools are fun for all except the guy that does the cleaning.
Just remember, the bottom of the pool is no place for the North Africa campaign reenactment!
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07-27-2017, 07:27 PM
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That's pretty cool.
Out here we just jump in the local river.
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08-01-2017, 01:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snubbyfan
That's pretty cool.
Out here we just jump in the local river.
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SOMETIMES I wish I had a local river to jump into! Beach traffic on the weekends is horrendous and I refuse to sit in it!! Most of the time the pool is great, but sometimes I just want to fill the damned thing in! Between the expense of covers, liners, maintenance, repairs, salt system etc. I could probably just join a Beach Club and not have to do anything. On the other hand, it is really nice to have the family over and be able to relax in the privacy of our own yard ........
Anyway, I am ecstatic over the Dolphin's performance and I finally got around to snapping a picture.
Last edited by chief38; 08-01-2017 at 01:52 PM.
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08-01-2017, 02:08 PM
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I thought everyone in Flordia had at least one car or truck up on blocks in the backyard? I mean, what do you do for spare parts for your driver?
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08-01-2017, 02:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6518John
I thought everyone in Flordia had at least one car or truck up on blocks in the backyard? I mean, what do you do for spare parts for your driver?
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They're in the Shed of course - LO!!
NOT Florida though......
Last edited by chief38; 08-01-2017 at 04:52 PM.
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08-01-2017, 03:00 PM
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Ain't that pool missing an alligator or two?
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08-01-2017, 03:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom S.
Ain't that pool missing an alligator or two?
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I had a few but now they're holsters, belts and boots - kidding of course.
It's protected by my brave Golden Retriever, Cody - seen in the background "watering" my flower bed
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08-01-2017, 03:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief38
SOMETIMES I wish I had a local river to jump into! Beach traffic on the weekends is horrendous and I refuse to sit in it!! Most of the time the pool is great, but sometimes I just want to fill the damned thing in! Between the expense of covers, liners, maintenance, repairs, salt system etc. I could probably just join a Beach Club and not have to do anything. On the other hand, it is really nice to have the family over and be able to relax in the privacy of our own yard ........
Anyway, I am ecstatic over the Dolphin's performance and I finally got around to snapping a picture.
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That ash tray in the foreground caught my attention. Looks like a nice place to enjoy a cigar and an adult beverage.
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08-01-2017, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief38
.... sometimes I just want to fill the damned thing in!
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That's how I felt after the kids got homes with pools of their own.
Looks beautiful back there though. Just needs a smokin hot grill and an ice cold beverage.
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08-01-2017, 03:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwheelzip
That's how I felt after the kids got homes with pools of their own.
Looks beautiful back there though. Just needs a smokin hot grill and an ice cold beverage.
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It's there - just out of the picture
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08-01-2017, 03:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snubbyfan
That ash tray in the foreground caught my attention. Looks like a nice place to enjoy a cigar and an adult beverage.
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Yes Sir - gonna be used this Thursday again - It was a gift from one of my Cigar Crony's that I helped restore a Motorcycle for. He bought one of my old Harley's (in immaculate condition at the time) and since he has been in Afghanistan for 3 years now, he has sort of let it go. It was rusted, crusted and busted and in a world of hurt. Along with another Cigar/Shooting/Motorcycle friend we spent days and days working on it in my garage. We did this just before he landed back here for a one month visit with his family and was so taken back by what we did he bought us each that ash tray and a box of stogies to go with it. They even started up a cigar Club in Afghanistan and here is the hat he gave me!
Last edited by chief38; 08-01-2017 at 03:44 PM.
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