Roomba i7 Docking Problems
Roomba i7 is the latest model of vacuum robot by the iRobot corporation. The i7 can do the cleaning job by itself. This robot sets you free from the hassle of cleaning tasks. All you just command the gadget and your job will be done.
However, the function of this robot is to clean the floor and make it free of dust and debris automatically and returns to the charging hub after completing its job.
But sometimes, the machine gets a problem after finishing the command bestowed upon it. For example, it fails to find the charging hub, does not get charged, or even stops taking orders.
These are minor problems, and they are discussed in detail with their solutions in this guideline.
Reasons Behind Roomba Docking Problems
The reasons for malfunctioning the robot are many. It does not do the task precisely due to sensors getting dirty, the instrument that makes virtual walls, gadgets’ position, etc. They are described in detail below-
Virtual Wall
The Roomba does not return to its home as it gets obstacles from the virtual wall. The Roomba i7 comes with an extra device that makes an ending point by creating a wall or a circle for the vacuum robot not to cross the border.
It helps the robot not to get damaged by hitting the furniture or dropping itself from the stairs. In addition, if this device is set near the home base, it will prevent the robot from going home and driving aimlessly until its battery runs out.
Always set the virtual-wall-making unit far from the central device and confirm the distance should be 8 feet between the two instruments.
Home Base Placement
If you do not place the home base on a plain surface and the area is cramped enough, it is hard for the robot to dock on the home base.
The charging unit of the robot is to be set in an open and parallel place, having a gap of at least 1.5 meters on two sides and 4 meters on the front. Allocate the machine that required conditions and make sure there should be no sign of furniture near the unit.
Do not position the whole unit close to the stairs because the risk of falling down may happen. If you do not find a suitable place to set the robot and are compelled to put it near the staircase, keep a distance of at least 4 meters from the end line.
Sensors
Sensors in the Roomba and the charging unit may get dirty, and the docking problem may happen.
Generally, the Roomba iRobot vacuum machine locates the charging point with the help of a sensor and comes back to it to get charged or dump waste.
The machine’s function is to hover around in search of dust and debris and clean them properly. Unfortunately, while doing its duty, the sensor of the device gets close contact with the soot and becomes dirty.
The same thing happens to the power hub. The sensor of the hub will make close contact with dirt when the robot vacuum comes to empty the bin.
You need to clean the sensors of the charging unit and the robot to wipe out the dust from them and solve the docking problem. Use melamine foam or a magic eraser to polish sensors once a week.
After polishing the sensor, the same problem still happens; the sensor is damaged and needs replacement.
Wi-Fi Connection
Your Roomba robot is connected to your smartphone through wifi, so you can control it using an iRobot Home App. For example, you can command the machine to come out from the charging port to clean or stop working in the middle of the job and return to the base.
If the machine is unwilling to take orders from you, check for your home’s wifi coverage of your home. Disconnecting and resetting the connection is the practical step to resolving the issue.
Check The Base Power Connection
Why is the Roomba i7 not charging? Or why does the charging unit fail to send signals to the robot? This problem happens if the power cord is not set accurately to the outlet or the outlet is not confined to its task.
A circuit breaker is also an issue for malfunctioning the machine.
The charging section of the robot should be continuously powered on in the outlet. If the unit is not powered up, check the cord is correctly set to the outlet. If you do not find the cord properly inserted, unplug it and insert it again.
You can check the validity of the outlet by attaching another device to it or setting the machine to another outlet. If the device gets power, the outlet is damaged, which needs to change.
Again, when you do not find a sign of green light after powering up the robot that is continuously blinking after a gap of 4 seconds or stops blinking after 4 seconds, then the possible issue is a mechanical issue happening in the charging hub.
Make sure the circuit breaker is not switched off. Otherwise, it will not pass the power to the outlet.
Sunlight
Sunlight can be the villain when you find the machine is unable to find the home base. Though it sounds irrelevant, the fact is true. The sun’s rays prevent the signals the charging unit sends to the robot vacuum, and the robot struggles to find out the exact location of the home.
So, set the whole unit to a position where it does not get the sun’s rays directly on it if you want to eliminate the docking problem.
Taking Roomba To the Other Room
Roomba i7 surveys the targeted room and stores the map of the room in memory after completing the survey. Moreover, the sensor works best when the machine and the plugged unit are in the same room.
Moving the machine from one confined room to another will fail to get a signal from the charging hub and get stuck using the pre-loaded map in a new area.
The solution is always to set the whole device in the same room. If you move the vacuum robot to another room, and it does not get a signal after returning to the same place, then position the machine against the hub and press the dock button, maintaining a 6 feet distance to get to the port automatically.
Remove Foreign Things On The Way
The machine will not go to the hub to charge or dump the soot that it has collected if it gets an obstacle on its way. Foreign things like soaks, plastics, etc., make a wall in the machine’s way, and as a result, it does not get home.
Erase foreign things on the way to the instrument if you find them.
Reset
You should go for a factory reset if the docking problem is not solved. This factory reset will remove all the data you have set to the Roomba i7, like time, language, cleaning preferences, account, and app data, and make the robot set to the default mode again.
You can do it in two ways- one is iRobot Home App, and the other is pressing the machine’s switch. All saved data will be erased if you use the app to give the gadget factory mode, whereas data will not hamper while using the device button to reset.
Factory Reset Using iRobot Home App
These are the followings to reset the device using the app-
- First, ensure that the gadget and your smartphone are connected to the same wifi network.
- Then go to the sittings of the iRobot Home App to find remove/ factory reset.
Factory Reset Using the Robot’s Button
If you want to make a factory reset by pressing the button, you can do it. Press the clean button for 20 seconds, and then remove the finger. You will see a white light circling the button, which means the resetting function is completed.
In both cases, the factory reset procedure takes 1.5 minutes to complete.
Final Word
Roomba i7 is an autonomous smart divide that helps you do the cleaning of the surface. You do not have to charge or place it back after using it. But you should only keep an eye on the power connection, virtual wall-creating tool, or hub’s position to eliminate the docking problem.
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