The Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i is an affordable robotic pool cleaner made for cleaning above ground pools of various shapes and various pool surfaces. Our Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i review looks at its features and answers a few questions about its performance. We list a few advantages and disadvantages. We then conclude with our thoughts on this Aquabot cleaning robot. Is it a good pool robot, or does it botch the pool cleaning job?
Introduction
The Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i does not need a booster pump or the pool pump to function because it has its own internal pump motor and filter bags. There are no feed hoses to worry about.
This Aquabot robotic pool cleaner has its own power supply that plugs into a GFCI outlet. The GFCI outlet (ground-fault circuit interrupter) might prevent someone from getting a shock if the cable is ever damaged. The floating power cable is 40 feet long and can be untangled with the E-Z swivel attachment.
This above ground pool robot cleans the floor and part of the walls, but it does not clean the waterline of the swimming pool. It mixes the water in the swimming pool at a rate of 80 gallons per minute to make it cleaner and clearer. Daily maintenance is limited to cleaning the filter bags.
Pool Rover S2-40i: List of Features
- 1-year warranty.
- 40-foot floating power cable with E-Z swivel for untangling the cable.
- Catches the dirt in two filter bags of 2-micron fineness.
- Cleans the swimming pool floor and the lower part of the walls.
- Consumes about 150 watts of power.
- Electrical input for Aquabot power supply: 120-volt AC, 60 hertz, GFCI outlet.
- Its wheels do not damage the pool surface.
- Only works with a curved transition from pool floor to pool wall.
- Suitable for fiberglass, concrete, gunite, tile and vinyl pool surfaces.
- Supported above ground pool shapes: kidney, lap, L-shape, oval, rectangle and round.
- The model number is now AJET121i.
- Two timer settings: 1 hour shut-off (small pool) or 2-hour shut-off (larger pool).
- Water mixing capability of 80 gallons per minute.
- Filter is accessed from the top.
Can it be used for inground pools?
Well, it is primarily made for above ground pools, but it might also clean a smaller inground pool. If you look at a large image of the Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i, then you might see the words “Above/InGround” printed on its side beneath the Pool Rover name. This is somewhat confusing since it is usually only promoted for above ground pools. Therefore, it certainly does not have the ability to clean large inground pools.
Does it need the pool pump system to work?
No, the Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i is a self-contained robotic pool cleaner that vacuums and filters independently of the pool pump and pool filter. It has its own internal motor pump as well as its own filter bags.
Its power supply unit is plugged into a GFCI power outlet with a 120VAC/60Hz electrical current. Insert the floating cable plug into the power supply and it is ready to start.
Can it remove algae growing on the floor of the pool?
The Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i can vacuum up algae, but you probably need to treat the pool with chemicals for killing the algae first. When the algae are dead, you can put the robotic pool cleaner to work. It will not remove all the algae, but very few pool cleaners are able to perform that miracle.
Does it have any problems?
A few Aquabot S2-40 owners reported that the pool cleaner stopped working while the pool size selection lights kept flashing. This happened after a few months for some people, while others reported this after a year or two. There seemed to be some unknown problem with either the power supply or the pump motor.
All we can deduce from these reports is that the S2-40 is not as reliable as we wish it to be. However, Aquabot says that the newer S2-40i model has a “new and easy to use power supply”, so the problem might be solved. We do not know.
Pool Rover S2-40i vs. S2-50
The biggest differences between these two robotic pool cleaners are the colors, brushes and price tag. The S2-40i is blue and does not have any brushes.
The S2-50 is yellow and has fixed brushes which stir up dirt and muck. It is probably not as effective as a brush-roller system, but it might be better than no brushes at all.
The Pool Rover S2-50 is also more expensive (check price on Amazon). However, it has a 50-foot cable with E-Z swivel for larger above ground pools.
Interestingly, the S2-40i is stated to be for above ground pools, while the S2-50 is stated to be for both above ground and small inground pools. However, both these pool robots have the words “Above/InGround” printed below the Pool Rover name tag on their bodies.
How To Use The Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i
First, you plug the power supply into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. The GFCI outlet, also referred to as a residual current device (RCD), protects people from getting an electric shock. It basically shuts off if the electric current is not flowing safely and correctly to the pool cleaner, but instead flows into the water or a person due to a damaged cable or some other fault.
Next, you can lay out the cable so that it is nice and straight. Go to the power supply, lift the flap on the power supply outlet and plug the floating power cable into the power supply.
Grab the Aquabot robotic pool cleaner by the handle and put it in the pool. You can turn it upside down so that the trapped air bubbles can escape. Let it sink to the bottom.
It is now safe to turn on the power supply by pressing the on/off button. You also need to set the timer, so press the selection button to select a timer setting for a small pool (1 hour shut-off) or a large pool (2-hour shut-off). The timer will shut it off automatically. Let the Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i clean the swimming pool while you go make yourself a nice cup of tea, or coffee, or a fruit smoothie.
Before you remove the Aquabot S2-40i from the swimming pool, please turn off the power supply by pressing the on/off power button. Also, disconnect the cable from the power supply before removing the robotic pool cleaner from the water.
You may pull the cleaner towards the edge of the pool with the power cable, using the E-Z swivel attachment to untangle the cable. The E-Z swivel (it probably means easy-swivel) can be used to straighten out a twisted cable.
Reach down, grab the handle and lift out the Aquabot robotic pool cleaner, pausing for a few moments to let excess water drain out of it. This would be a good time to open up the Aquabot S2-40i and to clean its filter bags.
How To Clean the Filter Bags
Unlock the tabs on the sides of the Aquabot robotic pool cleaner and remove the top cover. Gently pull on the elastic band that stretches around the suction ports and remove the filter bags. Next, pull the tabs to open up the bags. Turn the bags inside out and use a garden hose with a spray nozzle to clean the filter bags thoroughly.
Troubleshooting Tips
The obvious thing to do is to see if the unit somehow crawled out of the water like some robotic fish-ancestor. If it did, push it back in. It still needs to do some cleaning. If that is not the problem, check the filter bags or the propeller for obstructions. Remember to follow the correct procedure for removing the robotic pool cleaner from the swimming pool before shooting its trouble. After finding and fixing the issue, press the power button once to restart the robotic pool cleaner.
You can use the E-Z swivel to put the cable back on the straight and narrow. Not only that, but you may also change the set-up of the axle. You do this by using the pins near the wheels to lock the axle in a slightly different diagonal position. This has the effect of making the Aquabot robotic pool cleaner turn tighter or wider. Reverse the diagonal setting of the axle so that the pool cleaner turns the other way in order to untangle the pool cable as it cleans.
Check the filter bags. Are they clean? If not, then clean the filter bags. You might also adjust the height of the suction ports that are located on the bottom of the unit. Loosen the suction port screws with a Philips head screwdriver, pull the ports lower, and then tighten the screws again. However, the suction ports are usually set to its lowest position at the factory, but make sure whether the suction ports are really set to its lowest position for maximum suction power.
It might be stuck on some obstacle or object, which you need to remove. Another reason might be that the suction ports are set too low. Adjust the Aquabot Pool Rover’s suction ports so that they are a little farther away from the pool bottom.
Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i: Pros And Cons
- Affordable robotic cleaner that cleans almost as well as more expensive units.
- No hoses or fittings because it has internal pump and filter bags.
- Powerful action that vacuums dirt and leaves out of the pool.
- Filter bags collect a lot of dirt and needs rinsing after every cleaning cycle.
- It does not clean the waterline of the swimming pool.
- It does not climb and clean pool walls that join the floor at sharp right angles.
- No brushes for scrubbing the pool surface.
- Plastic adjusting pins might break after regular use.
Verdict: Aquabot or Aquabotched?
The Pool Rover S2-40i basically does what it was built to do: clean an above ground pool on its own, so you do not have to do it by hand. Put it in the pool, turn it on, leave it alone to clean, and it will shut itself off. When you come back, take it out, clean the filter bags and store it away for next time. It cleans your pool and saves you time and money.
The Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i is neither a perfect pool cleaner nor a complete dud, when it comes to cleaning an above ground swimming pool. It is easier to use than a pressure-side or suction-side pool cleaner, yet its list price is in the same affordable price range (check price on Amazon).
You might also read my review of the Aquabot Pool Rover Hybrid robotic pool cleaner.