Electric pool cleaners

Electric pool cleaners are the right technical choice for pools with à carrelage because they use self-powered traction motors and PVC or PVA brushes that loosen debris from the grout without relying on the main pump.

Unlike a suction-powered unit such as the Zodiac MX8 automatic pool cleaner, which requires a minimum flow rate from the filtration system to move around, an electric robot has its own suction pump, rated at approximately 15 to 18 m³/h, and cartridge filters that prevent the sand filter bed from becoming clogged.

The filter basket or cartridge should be emptied and pressure-washed immediately after each cycle.

To maintain consistent suction performance and protect the motor, follow this maintenance routine:

• Remove the basket through the top hatch without tipping over the unit to prevent spills.
• Rinse the mesh filters with a hose until dust, algae, and fine organic debris have been removed.
• Inspect the upper turbine monthly to check that no hair or fibers are tangled around the shaft.

Operating submerged cleaning robots is completely safe thanks to their galvanic isolation system and low-voltage transformer power supply.

The control box converts the household 230 V AC supply into an output current of less than 30 V DC before sending it to the floating cable. This threshold eliminates any risk of electric shock in the water while complying with pool electrical safety standards. The transformer should simply be placed at a preventive minimum distance of 3.5 meters from the pool edge to prevent the control unit from accidentally falling in.

The technical choice depends on the surface roughness, the lifting motor’s power, and how much time the user wants to spend on supplementary manual brushing.

Models designed exclusively for the floor are ideal for above-ground pools or pools with flat bottoms, where the walls barely accumulate biofilm. In contrast, robots with tracked drive systems and vertical-climbing algorithms climb up to the surface to remove grease and dust deposited at the waterline, reducing the use of shock-treatment chemicals.

The sealed swivel joint is the mechanical component that absorbs the robot's continuous rotations and prevents the cable from becoming deformed.

When navigating curved pools or pools with Roman steps, the device makes successive turns to recalculate its route. Models with a swivel have a sealed 360-degree rotary connector that turns freely along the 15- to 18-meter floating cable. This ensures that the unit covers up to 72 square meters of water surface without reducing its effective range or stopping because of cable kinks.

A pool-cleaning robot uses between 100 and 180 W per cycle, compared with the 750 to 1100 W typically required by a standard 1 hp filtration pump.

Because it operates independently of the suction pipe, it avoids running the pump in the equipment shed for 3 hours to clean the pool. If you already have a membrane-driven hydraulic cleaner such as the Zodiac T5 Duo automatic pool cleaner, switching to an electric system substantially reduces energy consumption per m³ treated and extends the service life of the sand bed.

Robot intake flaps can handle medium-sized leaves, but in the event of a heavy leaf fall, it is a good idea to prepare the circuit or install auxiliary accessories.

The lower suction inlet has a calibrated passage width for gravel and insects. When there is a heavy buildup of pine needles or hard branches, it is advisable to remove the larger debris with a manual pole or add pre-suction filters to the setup, such as the Zodiac Cyclonic™ Leaf Catcher leaf pre-filter, protecting the turbine from unexpected mechanical blockages.