Caiman Ambrogio L300 Installation and operation manual

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I
In ns st ta al ll la at ti io on n C Co ou ur rs se e
V
V. . 2 20 01 10 0
L
La aw wn n M Mo ow we er r R Ro ob bo ot t
Installation ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
To remind before the installation ................................................................................................................... 7
Robot Programming ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Upgrade and Connection – Mother Board ................................................................................................... 12
Display Board Connection (200Z04600A) ..................................................................................................12
Robot Software Update ................................................................................................................................ 13
Service Menu................................................................................................................................................ 16
Service Menu - (Release November 2009) .............................................................................................. 16
Service Menu: “Statistics”........................................................................................................................ 17
Service Menu: “Test Motors”................................................................................................................... 17
Service Menu “Battery Type” .................................................................................................................. 18
Service Menu “Test Tilt” ......................................................................................................................... 18
Service Menu “Test Bump” ..................................................................................................................... 18
Service Menu “Blackout”......................................................................................................................... 18
Service Menu “Border Blade”.................................................................................................................. 19
Errors displayed by the robot and related causes ......................................................................................... 20
Meaning of the leds during the starting up.......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Meaning of the leds while the robot is working................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Summary sheet ......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Advanced problems...................................................................................................................................... 26
01
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2010

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Installation
Preliminary Remarks
Maximum Covering suggested We must check the maximum Sm suggested for each model, also on the base
of the installed batteries. However it is a good rule not to exaggerate and
keep in mind that on more complicated gardens, with different separated
areas the Sm covered by the robot are reduced.
Maximum slope: 27°
This is the maximum slope achieved by the robot.
Remember that the main problem is the slope because when the robot
reaches the cable it is not able to come back. In order to improve the
performance of the robot, it is useful to set the spiked wheels on the machine
if possible.
Before starting the installation we suggest you to have a test on a slide. In the
user’s menu, set out the option Border “NO”, set the robot on a slide, let it
feel a bump on the body and test that it doesn’t slide while reversing or
changing direction.
Secondary Areas Management. The robot manages the main area and three secondary areas as well
(according to models). With “secondary area” we mean a part of the garden
connected to the main one thanks to a narrow passage and which can hardly
be reached by chance. Saying if the passage is large or narrow for the robot
depends on the primary area dimension.
Recharge of the robot First of all put the robot in charge. At the end of the installation, it will be
useful in order to test the correct operating.
Arranging the garden
It is necessary to inform the customer about how to prepare the garden
before the installation. The most common problems are small holes, small
toys, stones, or all the objects that the robot can not recognize as an obstacle
and that consequently might pass under the covering and be hit by the blade.
Watering System Pay attention to the watering system! It is necessary to understand where the
irrigators are and place the recharging base in a safe part of the garden, far
from the irrigator that might wet the robot and especially the display side.
Recharging Base
It is maybe the most difficult decision to
take. The recharging base must be
positioned according to some exact rules.
The recharging base must be positioned
on a:
- Plan area
- Firm ground
- In the widest area (if there is a
big difference of square meters)
Better but not compulsory.
- Not nearby an irrigator
- Before the recharging base
there must be 2 mt of straight perimeter cable
- Not nearby an electric gate because of interferences
The recharging base must be well fixed to the ground and it is
necessary to pay attention to the entrance step. There must not
be any step. The problem can be solved by clearing away the
grass surface or by putting an artificial grass mat in front of the
recharging base, which makes easier for the robot to enter the
station.
Transformer The Transformer must be placed according to the following rules:

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- Place it in an area protected from water.
- Better to put it indoors.
- If it is placed outside, please put it in a ventilated box and not
exposed to sun or water.
- It would be better to put it in a refreshed area.
- It must be outside the garden and not inside it.
- It must be at least 2-3 meters from the recharging base.
- The cable connecting the transformer to the recharging base must
not be twisted, but it has to be spread so as not to create any
magnetic field.
- Do not shorten the cable.
- Do not lengthen the cable.
How to install the perimeter cable
After deciding where to place the recharging base it is possible to install the
perimeter cable. To install it, it is necessary follow some rules:
- For the first times, we suggest installing the perimeter cable on the
ground rather than burying it. After some weeks, it will be soaked
up by the ground. (The first weeks the blade has to be about 5 cm
higher than the usual). Once become more experts, the best
installation is the one made with the Wire layer machine.
- Start with the black connector. Follow the cable-trace on the
recharging base and come out with the cable from the rear side of
the base.
- It is suggested to leave a cable store for possible future
modifications in front of the base and behind it (to create this store
it is necessary to make a flowerbed and leave cable intermingled
with the cable delimiting the surface)
- Work in a clockwise direction
- Remember to position properly the
fast returns to the base or “Arrows”
(see next paragraph).
- When there is a flowerbed the
installation has to be made
anticlockwise. If you make a mistake,
the robot feels the flowerbed before reaching the cable.
- If there are two flowerbeds close to each other, you shall lay the
cable passing from one to the other.
- Respect the following distances:
oSidewalk at the same grass
height : 0-5Cm
oWall 35 Cm
oHedge 35 Cm
oSwimming pool, Hole,
Precipice 80 Cm
- As far as possible, all the bents must
not be done like a 90° angle.
- Every connection must be made with proper material like the 3M
self stretching tape “scotch 23”.
- It is suggested to leave a cable store for possible future
modifications in front of the base and behind it (to create this store
it is necessary to make a flowerbed and leave cable intermingled
with the cable delimiting the surface).
- in front of the base, the cable must be positioned straight for the
total length of 2 meters.
- The extra cable must not be left gathered.
- At the end of the installation it is necessary to connect the going in
of the cable to the red connector.
- The maximum cable length is 600mt +- 20%. By means of the
“Border Powered” it can reach 1000mt+-20%.

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- Leave the robot at least 1 meter away from the point where the
robot makes the signal synchronization (when it comes out of the
base it turn with an angle of 90°)
Quick Return “Arrows”
Arrows measures.
Model: Ambrogio L300
Model: Ambrogio L200
The quick return or “Arrow” is a perimeter cable symbol recognized by the
robot in order to come back quickly to the recharging base. There are many
advantages:
- The robot goes back to the recharging base earlier, so there is a
lower consumption of batteries.
- The robot goes back earlier to the recharging base and resumes
quickly mowing the lawn again.
- There are fewer traces on the ground.
The first picture aside shows the installation without arrows, the second one
shows the installation with arrows. As you can see the route made by the
robot is shorter. We recommend to position the arrows as shown in the
second picture.
An arrow is often put shortly after the recharging base because, if the robot
fails to enter the base, it returns quickly to recharge again.
Remember that the robot recognizes consequently a maximum of three
arrows each working cycle.
IMPORTANT!!!!!. Never put an arrow in the return way otherwise the
robot never comes back to the recharging base.
IMPORTANT!!!!. Once the installation is completed and the perimeter cable
is connected, check that the transformer and the transmitter are working
properly.
Transmitter Led Explanation:
Flashing Yellow : Border Ok.
Steady Green : Interrupted or not connected border
Steady red : Robot is charging. Signal is not transmitted
Switched off Led : Not connected Battery Charger, Faulty fuse in the
transmitter, Faulty Transmitter
Battery Charger Led Explanation:
Steady Green : Working Battery charger
Steady red : Working Battery Charger with batteries in fast charge.
Off : Switched off or faulty Battery Charger.
IMPORTANT!!!!!. The measures are approximate. Sometimes and
especially in case of sliding, it is recommended to increase the measure with
some more cms. It would be helpful to test the correct recognition with not
completely charged batteries and therefore in the same conditions occurring
while the robot is normally working.

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Secondary Area
The secondary area is a part of the garden connected to the main garden by
a narrow passage that is hard to be achieved by chance. Saying if the passage
is big or small for the robot depends on the primary area dimension.
Obviously the secondary area must be at the same level of the primary area
(without steps).
The robot can manage up to three secondary areas (the primary and three
secondary areas).
The minimum passage is 70 cm from cable to cable. So the passage that you
need is 1 meter and 40 cm wide. It is better to increase the distance if the
passage is very long. On the contrary, if the passage is shorter than 2 meters,
we can venture some centimeters less.
During the programming it is necessary to set in the robot the dimensions of
the secondary areas with percentage in relation to the lawn and to the best
way for the robot to reach them faster (clockwise/anticlockwise), and
obviously in relation to the meters the machine has to follow the cable in
order to reach the secondary area.
Closed secondary area
The secondary area is a part of the garden separated from the main area but
connected to it with the going in and out of cable.
The robot must be carried to the closed area by hand and it must be taken
again to the primary area to recharge its batteries.
These solutions do not fit big gardens because the management will be
difficult.
In fact the robot cannot fulfill the charging cycle completely and the
mulching effect is not completely successful because it is highly probable that
the customer won’t punctually move the machine from one area to the other
or may forget to do it.
In order to tell the robot that it is working in a closed area, it is necessary to
switch it on in the closed area. Push "Enter" to enter programming mode.
Scroll voices up to "WORK MODE". Set "NO PERIMETER" and
set Robot working minutes.
From this moment on the robot knows that it is in a closed area and that
when it finishes working it must not look for the recharging base but has to
stop.
Installation without perimeter It’s possible to let the robot work even without a border. We do not suggest
this option. It is normally used for demonstrations only or for small gardens
situated near the main lawn and completely delimited by fences (even the
flowerbeds).
Installation of neighboring perimeters
Situation : 1 – Solution “A”
Situation 1: (Same owner with 2 different and separated gardens not
accessible to the same robot)
- In these situations there are 2 different solutions.
- Solution “A”. Have only one installation of the garden 1 and 2 by
linkin
g
the 2
g
ardens to
g
ether. The rechar
g
in
g
base in
g
arden no 1

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Situation 1 – Solution “B” and Situation 2
Situation : 3
is connected as usual. The recharging base in garden no 2 is placed
on the border wire without connecting the cable to the black and
red connector.
ATTENTION!!!. Robot transmitter “1” must have the DIP-
SWITCH 1 ON, to transmit even when robot 1 is in its recharging
base
Advantages:
oNo change must be done with the robots you have.
oIn case of failure of the robot in garden no 1, the robot no 2
can be taken to garden 1 and there put at work.
Disadvantages
oThe length of the border wire can be excessive. Please keep
in mind the limit is 600MT, beyond that limit the (48V)
signal amplifier is required.
oIf the border wire is interrupted both the robots stop.
oAn extra battery charger can be necessary. The one given as
equipment is used to supply the signal transmitter, the other
one charges the batteries of the robot.
- Solution “B”. Have two normal and different installations
Advantages:
oIf the border wire is interrupted only one robot stops.
oThere are no problems in finding a passage to connect the 2
gardens.
Disadvantages
oThe B channel (receiver + transmitter) must be installed in
the robot no. 2
oIn case of failure of one robot, the other one cannot be used
to mow the zone 1 as well.
Situation 3: (Installation of Ambrogio when in the closest garden there is a
robot by another manufacturer installed).
1. AMBROGIO ROBOT :
a-) If possible leave the dip-switch 1 on OFF (signal stop while the
robot is in recharging base)
b-) Activate on transmitter a channel different from the one used in
the other robot and install the relative channel receiver, that must
be selected on the robot menu as well.
d-) Leave a distance of 60-90 Cm between the two gardens. If the
robot of the adjacent garden is a old generation Ambrogio with
“Standard” or “RX” signal, it is necessary to leave a distance of
120Cm.
2. FRIENDLY:
a-) If possible leave the dip-switch 1 on OFF (signal stop while robot
is in its recharging base)
b-) Activate Channel “C” on transmitter and install C receiver on
the robot menu as well.
c-) If possible, reduce the power of our transmitter mofifying the
Dip-Switch.
d-) Leave a distance of 120Cm between two gardens.
3. AUTOMOWER:
a-) If possible leave the dip-switch 1 on OFF (signal stop while the
robot is in recharging base)
b-) Activate Channel “A” on transmitter and install A receiver on
the robot menu as well.
c-) If possible, reduce the power of our transmitter modifying the
Dip-Switch.
d-) Leave a distance of 120Cm between the two gardens

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To remind before the installation
You have to keep in mind that :
Before the installation : Have You cut the garden before the installation, especially the edges?
Is there a socket preferably in the widest area?
How wide is the garden? check the model specification and the batteries
provided
During the installation Put the robot into charge on “PAUSE” modality.
Check the slides, by trying the robot with the option No Border.
Secondary areas. We manage the main area and three secondary areas.
(according to models)
Decide where to install the recharging base
- “Preferred” Widest area but not compulsory.
- Socket
- Flat area
- Water system
Check the water systems position.
At the end of the installation Settle the rain sensor
Test how the robot follows the border cable
• (With the key– Switch the blade off)
Test the recognition of the arrows.
●(With not too charged batteries)
●With the key “CHARGE” you simulate low batteries.
Program the working times of the Robot. (Pay attention to the working times
of the irrigators).
Inform the customer that he has to set out a password.
Leave the blade at 5-6 Cm and inform the customer that he has to lower it
when the border cable has been absorbed.
Hooked wheels (if the model robot allows this). It would be helpful not to
install them until the border cable has been absorbed by the ground.

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Robot Programming
Programming and other.
Explanation of the keys
“ON” : To switch the robot on. “OFF “: To switch the robot off.
“STOP-EMERGENCY“ : It is needed to switch the robot off in case of
emergency. We must use this key in case of emergency and when we need to
work on the cutting motor. In order to restart the robot, we must press it
once again. The emergency Led will switch off . Then it is possible to switch
it on again by pressing on the key ON.
“PAUSE”: To put the robot in Pause mode or to resume working.
“CHARGE”: To make the robot come out while is in the recharging base. To
let it enter the recharging base while working.
“-“: To change the values during the programming. To turn off the blade
while the robot is working.
“+ “: To change the values during the programming. To turn the blade on
while the robot is working.
“ENTER”: To confirm the choice during the programming. To activate the
spiral while the robot is working.
Programming Menu
To enter the programming menu, it is necessary to put the robot in “PAUSE” and push “ENTER”. The menu consists in menus and under
menus. With the key “+” and “-“ you can scroll the menu entries or change
the value displayed. With the “ENTER” key, you can select the entry, enter
the under menu or confirm the displayed value.
Here below only the most correct parameters for a proper functioning are
listed:
- Working days: For every working day, it is possible to show with
“1” if the robot must work and with “0” if not. The robot must
work every day or every other day to exploit the mulching effect.
- Working hours : It is possible to plan two working hours to make
the robot come out. Always remember that in order to charge the
batteries the robot needs from 3.5 to 4 hours. So between the
working time 1 and the working time 2 this break will be necessary.
- Secondary area 1 _ Dimension % : it allows to set out the dimension
of the secondary area in relation with the entire surface.
o20% Indicates a very very small area.
o30% Indicates an area which is approximately ¼ of the
whole garden.
o50% Indicates an area, which is approximately the half of
the whole garden.
o80% Indicates a secondary area which is bigger than the
primary area.
o100%. Every time the robot goes out of the docking station,
it will follow the border cable to mow the secondary area.
- Secondary area 1_Direction: it indicates the fastest direction to
follow in order to reach the secondary area. The direction can be
both clockwise and anticlockwise. Coming out the recharging base,
the robot will follow the cable according to the settled direction in
order to cut in the secondary area.
- Secondary area 1_Distance: it allows to set out the distance (in
meters) the robot needs to reach the secondary area, following the
perimeter cable. It is recommended to measure the distance on the
half of the secondary area, so that you can be sure that the robot
will be in the secondary area when it starts mowing.

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- Secondary area 2: This is like the previous options but for the area
number 2
- Secondary area 3: This is like the previous options but for the area
number 3
Work and Programming example of the
secondary area.
Examples of programming the work-cycles.
Model: Ambrogio L300
Sq. mts. time 1 time 2
0400Sq mts 10:00 - 11:30
0800Sq mts 10:00 - 13:00
1200Sq mts 10:00 - 14:00
2000Sq mts 10:00 - 13:00 17:00 - 20:00
3000Sq mts 09:00 - 13:00 17:00 - 21:00
4000Sq mts 08:00 – 13:00 17:00 - 22:30 (4 Lithium Batteries)
5000Sq mts 07:00 – 13:00 17:00 - 23:00 (4Lithium Batteries)
Model : Ambrogio L200
Mq time 1 time 2
0200Mq 10:00 - 11:00
0500Mq 10:00 - 12:00
0900Mq 10:00 - 11:30 16:00 - 17:30
1200Mq 10:00 - 12:00 16:00 - 18:00
1500Mq 10:00 - 12:00 16:00 - 19:00
2000Mq 08:00 - 21:00
2500Mq 08:00 - 22:30
3000Mq 07:00 - 23:30
Secondary Areas.
While configuring the secondary area, you must be very careful in setting
out the percentage-parameter, which is extremely important. The
percentage-parameter represents the dimension of the secondary area in
relation with the whole garden (100%).
Let’s see some examples that show how often the robot mows the secondary
area according to percentage variations.
P=Primary A=Secondary
50% 5 Times every 10 Cycles PAPAPAPAPA
40% 4 Times every 10 Cycles PAPAPPAPAP
30% 3 Times every 10 Cycles PPAPPAPPPA
20% 2 Times every 10 Cycles PPPPAPPPPA
With percentage superior to 50%, we can manage gardens where the
secondary area is bigger than the primary. For example:
80% 8 Times every 10 Cycles AAAAPAAAAP
IMPORTANT!!!. Remember that:
- When there are secondary areas, increase the working times of the
robot.
- Set out very low percentage values for dimensions only when the
area is very small, otherwise the robot will go considerably seldom
in this area to mow the grass.
- Use both the working times in order to lower the times when the
robot mows a secondary area.
Examples of Secondary Areas Configuration
PA = Sq mts Primary Area
SA1= Sq mts Secondary Area 1 SAD1= Secondary Area Dimension 1
SA2= Sq mts Secondary Area 1 SAD2= Secondary Area Dimension 2
PA SA1 SA2 SAD1 SAD2
1000 1000 1000 30% 30%
1000 800 800 30% 30%

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1000 800 200 40% 20%
1000 400 400 20% 20%
In case the primary area, where the recharging base is positioned, is smaller,
please set out the values as follows:
PA SA1 SAD1
1500 2000 60%
1000 2000 70%
500 2000 80%
In case the base is positioned in a closed and very narrow area and you need
to set out the robot for working in the secondary areas, it is possible to settle
the robot as follows:
PA SA1 SA2 SAD1 SAD2
0 2000 1000 70% 30%
Bluetooth Software installation in mobile
phones and Control over the robot
Software Icon on the mobile phone
Robot Search. Function for
activating new robots research and for
combining with them.
Quick Connection to the Robot
already previously combined.
Charge Key. It orders the robot to go
to the recharging base or, in case it is
already in the recharging base, it orders
the robot to come out.
“Configure” Key. It permits to enter
the User’s Programming.
In order to control the robot with your own mobile phone, you need first of
all to have a mobile phone supporting Bluetooth, Java and which permits the
Java applications to control the Bluetooth module. In technical terms, it is
necessary for the mobile to support this function “A midlet can use Bluetooth
(JSR-82)”. To install the software you need to have a PC with Bluetooth.
Download with “LAWN MOWER PROGRAMMER” the last release. Select
“Other”.
A folder will open: 3 short movies are available showing instructions on how
to install the software on the mobile in three different ways (according to the
Bluetooth module available on the PC).
In general the operation consists in selecting the file “BT-Remote-
Control.jar” and then select in the menu FILE->Send to->Bluetooth device.
At this point the procedure changes in relationship with the Bluetooth
module installed on the PC, but in general it consists in searching for the
mobile phone, selecting it, defining a connection password (for instance 1234)
and pressing the button “send”. Follow the instructions appearing on the
mobile. At this point the software has been installed in the mobile phone.
Each model of mobile phone has its own way for saving the received files.
Generally, they are saved in “Received Files, Applications, Collection or
Games”.
After having found and executed the received file, the first time it is
necessary to select the language and combine the phone with your robot.
• Switch the robot on and enter the User’s Menu.
• Select the option Bluetooth. Configuration.
• Select ID on which we want to set up the phone. (It is possible to set
up up to 3 handy phones enabled to drive the robot.) The connection
between robot and handy phone cannot take place contemporarily
with more than one handy phone.
• It begins to count 60 seconds down; the combining operation must
be completed within the 60 seconds, otherwise it is necessary to
repeat the operation.
• On the mobile phone, execute the application “Remote”.
• Select “Robot Search”. At the end of the research a list of the
individuated robots is displayed. Select the robot which we want to
connect to and press the OK key. Automatically the Robot have the
name of “ROBOT”.
• The Robot stops counting down and at this point the combination
has been pursued.
• Press the Pause key on the mobile to check it works properly.
• From now on, in order to connect with the Robot it is sufficient to
select in the mobile the option “fast” for a faster connection.