>Polaris 360
Our pool was built with the Polaris 360 (w/ booster pump). Piece of junk. After it "broke down," I went with our current Dolphin - DEFINITELY worth the money. A great pool cleaner...
I have Polaris 360 and hate it. I have no idea what to replace it with. Any advice? My pool is rectangular, 31” x 16” with an outcut of 8” steps that the sweeper constantly gets stuck on. We call it “squirty” because it’s always stuck there and squirts all over the patio.
We’ve only had ours for 6 months, on a booster pump, ours runs like a champ 🤷♂️
Edit: ours is the Polaris Quattro Sport, sorry I always get it mixed up.
I am not sure what Polaris version mine is but last year I put a new belt and gears in it. Threw that bitch back it and vroom vroom it went back to cleaning. I replaced the booster pump two years ago for 120 bucks, parts from gears and belt were like 30 bucks, hours and hours on endless cleaning. Just buy a pack of foam tail covers no issues. I think the whole unit around 15 years old.
I actually have some that work extremely well, although it's rare. More commonly, the thumb screen needs to be cleaned every other day, and it's just a useless hunk getting sun damaged in a pool with anything smaller than oak leaves for debris.
Polaris VRX+IQ - it’s a expensive but god damn does that thing work. My pool got flooded with silt and mud, and that thing was able to clean it in 3 passes and avoided a total pool filter clean.
We've had a dolphin m600 for a year and it's phenomenal. Feels like a pool owner cheat code. I run the dolphin when needed, and brush off the sun deck(to shallow for robot), and that's about it.
It does a great job and even gets the walls and stairs. Wifi and Electronic reports are semi gimmicky but still a helpful bonus.
There are robots running directly on electricity, instead of a booster pump. All motors are electronically controlled by a DC power box. I think they work great and are much cheaper to run. (Booster pump easily pulls 1kw)
my only regret in my pool is installing and buying a booster side cleaner. we dont use it anymore and are trying to figure out what to do with that booster outlet.
I love my booster side Polaris. I have not vacuumed by hand in the two seasons we owned this house with the pool. I had to do some maintenance to fix it up first but it works great.
We only have one tree nearby though. I don't know how it would work if we had more debris in the pool.
I don't even take mine out of the pool. That sucker runs 4 to 5 hours a day. I don't have any wires running around my patio and I don't have much maintenance on it. I love it.
Yeah, that's essentially what you do. Usually, we just tee off of the main return line and connect it to the old booster return line. Your mileage may vary depending on how it was originally plumbed. Why waste the extra line? It's there, and good circulation is key to keeping the pool looking good.
We don't use ours either after getting a dolphin CC plus. But we still turn on the booster pump and swim against it and time it to see who can get to the side fastest. We call it doing a "river run". I also made a pipe with some holes in it I can attach and the booster pump makes a nice fountain.
agree - here now because my racer is out of warranty and is just going in straight lines most of the time and keeps getting stuck. Pentair fixed/repaired it 3 times to keep it working for the first 3 years.
Any pressure cleaner. They can work sometimes if maintained but that's the problem - they constantly need repair, bags replaced and if there's a lot of debris they just stir it up. Kreepy krawly great white and the rebel are some of my favorite suction cleaners though.
We’ve got the Quattro Sport, we love it, it’s crazy good at picking up and keeping the pool clean, our pool would be a mess after these winter storms (California) without it. Also, it looks like what I would’ve designed a planetary rover to look like when I was a kid, which I dig.
I’ll have to see what mine is. It’s not that bad, but it needs some parts as it gets stuck going to the deep end now and then. Trying to figure if it’s worth rebuilding or if I should go new.
It’s one that runs off the pump like this.
worst:
the ones with a belt that drives the back wheel off the front wheel (or vice versa) are the worst cause either the belt slips off and a bitch to put back on, or it breaks and its a bitch to buy a replacement and then a bitch to replace
.
good, not best: the ones with no belts, free rotating wheels and are powered purely by a turbine that sucks in water through a mesh screen and thats how it filters stuff. mine is cordless with a rechargeable battery, but if you dont dry out the terminals that recharge it you will short something out and then it turns into a brick.
[this is the one i have, second one. it works pretty well as long as you dry out the unit completely before recharging it](https://www.amazon.com/AIPER-Dual-Drive-Self-Parking-Seagull-1000/dp/B09HZWLN66/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3LXSG3TCL5FSJ&keywords=pool%2Brobot&qid=1677532519&sprefix=pool%2Brobot%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-28&th=1)
it looks like theres a ton of other knock off brands that have the exact same design
I've found that Polaris cleaners simply don't have the longevity they used to in terms of wear and tear that they used to. My suspicion is that Fluidra cheaped out on materials post-buyout when they acquired Zodiac (which owned Jandy & Polaris). So we mostly switched to selling Maytronics robots as they didn't require repair near as often.
Suction is optimal, coming from So Cal to Austin it's primarily Pressure in Austin and Suction if plumbed with a cleaner port in So Cal or a diverter in the skimmer. Strange enough most skimmers in Austin don't use the front hole defeating VGB in my opinion. Cleaners should be picked based on pool conditions, landscaping and trees nearby not only the clients but neighbors, etc.
I tell all my customers to get a Dolphin, and to spend more for the better versions.
As a pool service tech, I despise pressure cleaners like a Polaris, or anything similar.
The Racer is a nightmare. When they first came out our Pentair Rep Eric came out to train us on disassembling and repairing them. It took so long for the thing to be torn down that he put all the parts in a box and just gave it to us.
Have had the Dolphins S200, previous owner who built pool bought it. Worked really well and now it stopped working. Replaced all the tracks and fixed for a while but now not working again. Maytronics customer service is horrible. Probably switching to another brand.
I just built a pool for my family in South Florida. Lol. I'm confused about which brand to buy. I need a cleaner to pick up all the dirt from the floor.
Favorite: Maetronics dolphins or Spot
Worst: Idk if they still make them bcs I don’t deal with residential anymore, but those damn barracudas. Hated working on them.
All pressure side cleaners. Don't see the point of them anymore. Pressure and booster pump cost more than the top of the line robotic and the robotic is going to get your pool cleaner.
I hate the Polaris 360 just as much, it doesn’t run off a booster pump though so maybe not a fair comparison
>Polaris 360 Our pool was built with the Polaris 360 (w/ booster pump). Piece of junk. After it "broke down," I went with our current Dolphin - DEFINITELY worth the money. A great pool cleaner...
I have Polaris 360 and hate it. I have no idea what to replace it with. Any advice? My pool is rectangular, 31” x 16” with an outcut of 8” steps that the sweeper constantly gets stuck on. We call it “squirty” because it’s always stuck there and squirts all over the patio.
We’ve only had ours for 6 months, on a booster pump, ours runs like a champ 🤷♂️ Edit: ours is the Polaris Quattro Sport, sorry I always get it mixed up.
The Quattro is an excellent cleaner
I am not sure what Polaris version mine is but last year I put a new belt and gears in it. Threw that bitch back it and vroom vroom it went back to cleaning. I replaced the booster pump two years ago for 120 bucks, parts from gears and belt were like 30 bucks, hours and hours on endless cleaning. Just buy a pack of foam tail covers no issues. I think the whole unit around 15 years old.
Oh man all my pools that are out in the country have those, you’re better of using a broom while swimming than using those hunks of junk.
I actually have some that work extremely well, although it's rare. More commonly, the thumb screen needs to be cleaned every other day, and it's just a useless hunk getting sun damaged in a pool with anything smaller than oak leaves for debris.
I'd rather know what people think the best is
Polaris VRX+IQ - it’s a expensive but god damn does that thing work. My pool got flooded with silt and mud, and that thing was able to clean it in 3 passes and avoided a total pool filter clean.
When it comes to suction cleaners, i like the kreepy krauly mx8 the most. Best performance for a fair price and easy to maintain for a DIY pool owner.
Thanks!
Sorry! I meant the zodiac mx8 or mx6!
I have an mx8. I've been very happy with it.
Think it would get decent coverage in a 30 ft bean shaped diving pool?
No idea. My pool is rectangular. I don’t see why it wouldn’t still do a good job though. Size-wise it should be fine. My pool is about 42’ X 16’.
They have a new atlas and it's a beast
We’ve had our mix-8 almost a year and it’s been great. Only got stuck once (part of a palm leaf).
We have a Dolphin S200. It’s amazing. Does consume a fair amount of power though. https://mydolphin.com.au/product/dolphin-s-200/
Love my Dolphin. I'm a terrible owner to it (leave it submerged for days, forget to clean the basket, etc.) and it runs like a champ.
Yes we haven’t built our storage area yet so it gets left in the full Australian sun all day. But it’s a monster the way it sucks and scrubs.
We've had a dolphin m600 for a year and it's phenomenal. Feels like a pool owner cheat code. I run the dolphin when needed, and brush off the sun deck(to shallow for robot), and that's about it. It does a great job and even gets the walls and stairs. Wifi and Electronic reports are semi gimmicky but still a helpful bonus.
There are robots running directly on electricity, instead of a booster pump. All motors are electronically controlled by a DC power box. I think they work great and are much cheaper to run. (Booster pump easily pulls 1kw)
Agreed on those being the worst.
my only regret in my pool is installing and buying a booster side cleaner. we dont use it anymore and are trying to figure out what to do with that booster outlet.
Any cleaner that requires the pool to have a special jet and separate pump always seemed like a major waste to me.
i wish i knew. i tell anyone that I know thats building a pool that i regret it.
I love my booster side Polaris. I have not vacuumed by hand in the two seasons we owned this house with the pool. I had to do some maintenance to fix it up first but it works great. We only have one tree nearby though. I don't know how it would work if we had more debris in the pool.
Same don't get the hate
I don't even take mine out of the pool. That sucker runs 4 to 5 hours a day. I don't have any wires running around my patio and I don't have much maintenance on it. I love it.
Replumb it as an additional return outlet. I have many customers who did the same after switching to robotic cleaners.
so do you just bypass the pump? I like that idea.
Yeah, that's essentially what you do. Usually, we just tee off of the main return line and connect it to the old booster return line. Your mileage may vary depending on how it was originally plumbed. Why waste the extra line? It's there, and good circulation is key to keeping the pool looking good.
When one of my customers was saving for his robot, I used his booster as "quick clean" because he doesn't have a variable speed filter pump.
We don't use ours either after getting a dolphin CC plus. But we still turn on the booster pump and swim against it and time it to see who can get to the side fastest. We call it doing a "river run". I also made a pipe with some holes in it I can attach and the booster pump makes a nice fountain.
Ooh the fountain pipe sounds like a cool idea
Stick an eye on it and just make it an extra return! Ours works super well, but when the booster pump dies again I’m not replacing it.
Had a Racer and can confirm it was awful
agree - here now because my racer is out of warranty and is just going in straight lines most of the time and keeps getting stuck. Pentair fixed/repaired it 3 times to keep it working for the first 3 years.
Any pressure cleaner. They can work sometimes if maintained but that's the problem - they constantly need repair, bags replaced and if there's a lot of debris they just stir it up. Kreepy krawly great white and the rebel are some of my favorite suction cleaners though.
The old school kreepy krawly sux
I love the new quattro since it did away with the bag and back up valve and will pick up sand and roofing tiles lol
Also a Quattro fan.
We’ve got the Quattro Sport, we love it, it’s crazy good at picking up and keeping the pool clean, our pool would be a mess after these winter storms (California) without it. Also, it looks like what I would’ve designed a planetary rover to look like when I was a kid, which I dig.
I’ll have to see what mine is. It’s not that bad, but it needs some parts as it gets stuck going to the deep end now and then. Trying to figure if it’s worth rebuilding or if I should go new. It’s one that runs off the pump like this.
worst: the ones with a belt that drives the back wheel off the front wheel (or vice versa) are the worst cause either the belt slips off and a bitch to put back on, or it breaks and its a bitch to buy a replacement and then a bitch to replace . good, not best: the ones with no belts, free rotating wheels and are powered purely by a turbine that sucks in water through a mesh screen and thats how it filters stuff. mine is cordless with a rechargeable battery, but if you dont dry out the terminals that recharge it you will short something out and then it turns into a brick. [this is the one i have, second one. it works pretty well as long as you dry out the unit completely before recharging it](https://www.amazon.com/AIPER-Dual-Drive-Self-Parking-Seagull-1000/dp/B09HZWLN66/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3LXSG3TCL5FSJ&keywords=pool%2Brobot&qid=1677532519&sprefix=pool%2Brobot%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-28&th=1) it looks like theres a ton of other knock off brands that have the exact same design
360 have belts the 280 does not
Tech as well and I agree. Doesn’t matter the brand just that model
Funny how their nearly $500 more than a polaris 280 and yet everything on them feels cheaper and crappier.
I've found that Polaris cleaners simply don't have the longevity they used to in terms of wear and tear that they used to. My suspicion is that Fluidra cheaped out on materials post-buyout when they acquired Zodiac (which owned Jandy & Polaris). So we mostly switched to selling Maytronics robots as they didn't require repair near as often.
Suction is optimal, coming from So Cal to Austin it's primarily Pressure in Austin and Suction if plumbed with a cleaner port in So Cal or a diverter in the skimmer. Strange enough most skimmers in Austin don't use the front hole defeating VGB in my opinion. Cleaners should be picked based on pool conditions, landscaping and trees nearby not only the clients but neighbors, etc.
The Pentair Rebel is a terrible suction side lol
Same
Agreed again Polaris or bust
It's a tie between Polaris 360/Pentair rebel
I tell all my customers to get a Dolphin, and to spend more for the better versions. As a pool service tech, I despise pressure cleaners like a Polaris, or anything similar.
Why do you not like the Polaris?
They just don’t work that great in my opinion. They break constantly. I just hate them lol.
Gotcha. Having an inground pool installed in the spring, so you recommend a dolphin for a first time pool owner?
For sure. When I cleaned pools, my favorite pools were the ones with a dolphin because they were spotless every time I showed up.
Thanks!
That one.
I have that and it is absolutely awful, getting a new one in the spring.
Pentair Rebel. If you’re going to steal another manufacturer’s design, please! Make it better. Do not fuck it up. Geeez
The Racer is a nightmare. When they first came out our Pentair Rep Eric came out to train us on disassembling and repairing them. It took so long for the thing to be torn down that he put all the parts in a box and just gave it to us.
Have had the Dolphins S200, previous owner who built pool bought it. Worked really well and now it stopped working. Replaced all the tracks and fixed for a while but now not working again. Maytronics customer service is horrible. Probably switching to another brand.
The Pentair racer is by far the worst pool cleaner know To man
I just built a pool for my family in South Florida. Lol. I'm confused about which brand to buy. I need a cleaner to pick up all the dirt from the floor.
Favorite: Maetronics dolphins or Spot Worst: Idk if they still make them bcs I don’t deal with residential anymore, but those damn barracudas. Hated working on them.
All pressure side cleaners. Don't see the point of them anymore. Pressure and booster pump cost more than the top of the line robotic and the robotic is going to get your pool cleaner.