I have an S300 named Wall-E that is about 18 months old. Only goes in the pool when I need to run it. The blue cable between Wall-E and power supply is constantly gummy and is starting to break down and dissolve into little blue bits. I just contacted Maytronics support about it. I have seen a post on this where it seems to be a known issue. Is there a cable that doesn’t do this or will last longer?
Dolphin gummy and dissolving cable
- Thread starter texaschris
- Start date
Flying Tivo
TFP Guide
- Jan 24, 2017
- 3,100
- Pool Size
- 7500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Its a consequence of Chlorine, no harm. Mine is almost 4 years old and still going. I do have a spare cable, but will wait until its completely done.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,678
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You have to use the OEM cables from Dolphin. They should give you a replacement under warranty.
I actually think they changed something in the sourcing of these cables. My old Dolphin cable was 5 years old before I abandoned robot cleaners and the cable wasn’t gummy but white and chalky. The cable was still functional but it would shed a little bit. I wonder if the source of these cables changed the formulation of the rubber insulation and it’s reacting differently now
I actually think they changed something in the sourcing of these cables. My old Dolphin cable was 5 years old before I abandoned robot cleaners and the cable wasn’t gummy but white and chalky. The cable was still functional but it would shed a little bit. I wonder if the source of these cables changed the formulation of the rubber insulation and it’s reacting differently now
Flying Tivo
TFP Guide
- Jan 24, 2017
- 3,100
- Pool Size
- 7500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Mine went from normal to Gummy to white chalky. The new one i got looks and feels exactly the same. my .02
- May 23, 2015
- 25,678
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Mine never got gummy. Just went from the intense blue color to faded blue and then chalky.
It’s a very thick blue rubber insulation so even if a little bit rubs off, the insulation will hold up.
It could also be UV and heat causing it to breakdown. Are you storing it off in the shade? Are you practicing good “cord management” and letting it dry out in the sun a bit after use?
Whenever I pulled my Dolphin out, I always pulled the cord completely straight and let it sit in the sun for an hour or so to dry out and warm up (to help keep it the curl out of it). I would then roll the cord back up to avoid any twists. I also had the caddy so rolling the cord into a big loop was easy to store on the caddy.
It’s a very thick blue rubber insulation so even if a little bit rubs off, the insulation will hold up.
It could also be UV and heat causing it to breakdown. Are you storing it off in the shade? Are you practicing good “cord management” and letting it dry out in the sun a bit after use?
Whenever I pulled my Dolphin out, I always pulled the cord completely straight and let it sit in the sun for an hour or so to dry out and warm up (to help keep it the curl out of it). I would then roll the cord back up to avoid any twists. I also had the caddy so rolling the cord into a big loop was easy to store on the caddy.
Yeah, I let it sit in the sun with the dolphin over one of my deck drains to let it and the cord dry out before I put it on the caddy with the cord looped up. It is stored in the shade.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,974
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Mine gets gummy if left in the water alot so i loop the excess up on the deck when it’s done working. After a few hours in the sun it’s back to normal. I try to leave the bot out for a couple hours when it’s time to clean it’s basket too if I know I will be around to return it to the pool before it’s next scheduled mission.