iRobot Roomba 500 Series User manual

www.irobot.com
500 Series

Congratulations on your purchase of the iRobot 530 Vacuum Cleaner.
Please note that the instruction manual is an international version and
covers many other models and countries.
The model you have purchased is a 530.
The power adaptor supplied is for 230-240v AC 50Hz ONLY, this is
suitable for use in Australia and New Zealand.
Replacement lters and brushes along with the maintenance modules are
available online at www.roomba.com.au or by phoning 1800 427 842.

Dear iRobot Roomba owner,
Welcome to the world of iRobot! As an owner of an iRobot
Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot, you join a world-wide
community of people who enjoy more free time. Roomba cleans
routinely, so you don’t have to. Now you can spend your time on
more enjoyable and important tasks.
The Roomba 500 series is the 5th generation of our award-
winning iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot. In developing
this newest version, we incorporated feedback and suggestions
from Roomba owners across the globe to make this robot more
efcient and easier to use than its predecessors.
• Many advancements are made to our products based on
suggestions and feedback from home robot owners like you.
To share your feedback, stories or ask questions about your
new home robot, please visit our Service and Support site at
www.irobot.com.
• We encourage you to register your robot, either online or by
mail. As a registered home robot owner, you’ll receive information
and updates personalized to your robot and you can save helpful
tips and product information in your account. To register online,
go to www.irobot.com.
Thank you for joining the iRobot community. We look forward
to your valued input as we continue to deliver groundbreaking
products to change and improve your world.
On behalf of the entire iRobot team,
Colin Angle
Co-Founder and CEO
iRobot Corporation

4iRobot Roomba 500 Series
Important Tips
Roomba contains electronic parts. Do NOT submerge Roomba or spray it
with water. Clean with a dry cloth only.
Before you use Roomba the
rst time, you need to activate
Roomba by removing the battery
pull tab.
Remove battery tab
Turning Roomba on and off
•Roomba does not have a power button.
•To turn Roomba ON, press CLEAN once.
•To start a cleaning cycle, press CLEAN again. Roomba will start a
cleaning cycle.
•To pause Roomba, press CLEAN while Roomba is cleaning.
•To turn Roomba OFF, press and hold the CLEAN button until
Roomba’s lights turn OFF.
For Best Performance
•Use the Virtual Walls® or Virtual Wall® Lighthouses ™ to keep
Roomba cleaning where you want it.
•Empty Roomba’s bin and clean its lter after every 3 uses.
•Roomba® is very effective at picking up hair. Remove and clean
Roomba’s brushes after every 3 uses.
Voice Demonstration
•To start the voice demonstration, push and hold the DOCK/
DEMO button.
•To abort the voice demonstration, press and hold the CLEAN button
until the robot shuts down.
•Roomba® features a voice demonstration to walk you through
using Roomba.
Battery Life
•To extend the battery life, iRobot recommends always storing Roomba
plugged in.

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Table of Contents
Anatomy...................................................................................... 6
Cleaning Pattern........................................................................ 7
Cleaning System........................................................................ 8
Cleaning Modes......................................................................... 9
Battery Storage and Charging..........................................10 - 11
Virtual Walls®..........................................................................12
Virtual Wall® Lighthouses™...........................................13 -- 15
Scheduling Roomba ....................................................... 16 -- 17
Home Base®........................................................................... 18
Wireless Command Center..................................................... 19
Maintenance............................................................................ 20
Replaceable Modules..............................................................21
Troubleshooting ..............................................................22 -- 23
iRobot Customer Care............................................................. 24
Important Safety Instructions................................................. 25

6iRobot Roomba 500 Series
iRobot Roomba Anatomy
Spot
Cleaning
Button
Clean/Power
Button
Dock/Demo
Button
Dirt Detect™
Virtual Wall
Sensor
Bin Release Battery Charger
Socket
Handle
Flexible
Brush
Cliff Sensor
Openings
Edge-Cleaning
Side Brush
Dirt Detect
Sensor
Contact
Points for
Home Base
Replaceable
Squeegee
Brush Guard Release Tabs
(yellow)
Brush
Bearings
Brush
Guard
Removable
Caster Wheel Brush
Caps
Buttons and Lights
Bottom View
Buttons and Lights
(Models 510 - 545) (Models 550 and above)
Scheduling
interface
Main
Brush

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Cleaning Pattern
Roomba is a robot that cleans differently than the way most people clean
their oors. Roomba uses its robot intelligence to efciently clean the whole
oor, under and around furniture and along walls.
Roomba calculates the optimal cleaning path as it cleans and determines
when to use its various cleaning behaviors:
Spiraling: Roomba uses
a spiral motion to clean a
concentrated area.
Wall Following: Roomba
uses this technique to clean
the full perimeter of the
room and navigate around
furniture and obstacles.
Room Crossing: Roomba
criss-crosses the room
to ensure full cleaning
coverage.
Dirt Detection: When
Roomba senses dirt, the
blue Dirt Detect™ light is lit
and Roomba cleans more
intensely in that area.
TIP: Roomba takes approximately 45 minutes to clean an average room and
will pass over the same area of the oor multiple times to ensure total
oor coverage.
TIP: For fastest cleaning and best performance, clear your oor of clutter and
use a Virtual Wall to conne Roomba to one room.
Brush
Caps
Cleaning Modes: While cleaning, Roomba automatically calculates the room
size and adjusts its cleaning time appropriately.
Spot Mode: Roomba will spiral approximately 3 feet (1m) in diameter and then
spiral back to where it started, intensely cleaning a localized area.

8iRobot Roomba 500 Series
Cleaning System
Roomba features a patented 3-stage cleaning system.
Floor Surfaces
Roomba works on wood, carpet, tile, vinyl and linoleum, and will automatically
adjust to different oor types.
1
Side brush sweeps
along edge of walls
and into corners.
2
Two counter-
rotating brushes
scoop up dirt,
hair and debris
into the bin.
3
Powerful vacuum picks up the
remaining ne particles, dirt, and
hair. The lter traps dust and
small particles.
Filter

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Cleaning Modes
Roomba will clean based on the cleaning mode you select. Roomba has three
cleaning modes.
Clean Mode (all models)
Roomba automatically calculates the room size and adjusts its cleaning time
appropriately.
Spot Mode (all models)
Roomba will spiral approximately 3 feet (1m) in diameter and then spiral back to
where it started, intensely cleaning a localized area.
Scheduled Cleaning Mode (Models 550 and above)
When a cleaning time is programmed, Roomba enters scheduled cleaning mode.
When Roomba is scheduled to clean, it will occasionally ash its next scheduled
cleaning time to indicate it is scheduled. At the specied time, Roomba leaves
its Home Base, cleans, and then returns to the Home Base to recharge when its
done.
TIP: When using Roomba With Virtual Wall Lighthouses, Roomba will clean
for approximately 35 minutes per room.

10 iRobot Roomba 500 Series
Battery Storage and Charging
TIP: For best performance, always store Roomba’s battery in Roomba
with Roomba plugged in or on the Home Base. Charge Roomba’s battery
overnight for the rst charge.
Roomba is powered by a Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
rechargeable battery. Roomba’s battery can last for hundreds
of cleaning cycles before a replacement is necessary.
Battery Life
To extend the battery life, iRobot recommends always storing Roomba
plugged in. For more details on how to maintain Roomba’s battery life,
visit www.irobot.com.
Tip: If Roomba’s battery is warm, Roomba will wait for the battery to cool down
before beginning a charge cycle.
Tip: For long term storage, iRobot recommends that the battery be fully charged
and then removed from the robot and stored in a cool, dry place.
Cleaning Time
You should fully charge Roomba’s battery before each cleaning cycle. When
fully charged, Roomba’s battery will last for at least one full clean cycle.
16 Hour Refresh Charge
When charging for the rst time, or if Roomba has been left off the charger
for a long time, Roomba will initiate a special 16-hour charge cycle. This
extended charge refreshes Roomba’s battery and extends the life of
the battery. Roomba’s clean light will pulse quickly during the 16 hour
refresh charge.