iRobot Roomba 510 User manual

www.irobot.com
500 Series

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
efficient 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 using Roomba the first
time, you need to activate Roomba
by removing the battery pull tab.
You should also charge the battery
overnight for best results. Remove battery pull tab
For Best Performance
• Remove and clean Roomba’s brushes after every use.
• Empty Roomba’s bin and clean its lter after every use.
• Use the Virtual Walls® or Virtual Wall® Lighthouses™ to keep Roomba
cleaning where you want it.
• Use your Roomba frequently.
Battery Life
• To extend the battery life, iRobot recommends always storing Roomba
plugged in.
Voice Demonstration
• Roomba® features a voice demonstration to walk you through using
Roomba.
• To start the voice demonstration, make sure the CLEAN light is illuminated
and then press and hold the DOCK/DEMO button. On model 510, press
and release “demo.”
• To exit the voice demonstration, press and hold the CLEAN button until the
robot shuts down.
Turning Roomba on and off
• Roomba does not have a power button.
• To turn Roomba ON, press CLEAN once. You will hear a beep
and the CLEAN button will light.
• 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.
• To resume the cleaning cycle, press CLEAN again.

For more detailed information, visit: www.irobot.com 5
Table of Contents
iRobot Roomba 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 - 22
Troubleshooting....................................................... 23
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................... 24
Replaceable Modules .............................................. 25
iRobot Customer Care ............................................. 26
Important Safety Instructions ................................... 27

6iRobot Roomba 500 Series
iRobot Roomba Anatomy
Spot Cleaning Button
Clean/Power
Button
Dock/Demo
Button
Dirt Detect™
Infrared Sensor
Bin Release
Button Battery Charger
Socket
Handle
Flexible
Brush
Cliff Sensor
Openings
Edge-Cleaning
Side Brush
Dirt Detect
Sensor
Left Wheel
Module
Right Wheel
Module
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
Troubleshooting Light
Troubleshooting
Light

For more detailed information, visit: www.irobot.com 7
Cleaning Pattern
Roomba is a robot that cleans floors differently than the way most people
clean their floors. Roomba uses its robot intelligence to efficiently clean the
whole floor, 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
crisscrosses 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 25 minutes to clean an average room and
will pass over the same area of the floor multiple times to ensure total
floor coverage.
TIP: For most efficient cleaning, clear your floor of clutter and use a Virtual Wall
to confine 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 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 three-stage cleaning system.
Floor Surfaces
Roomba works on wood, carpet, tile, vinyl, and linoleum, and adjusts
automatically to different floor types.
Roomba automatically senses stairs and other cliffs. Roomba might stall
when confronting rounded edges and might slide over particularly slippery
surfaces. Extremely dark-colored oors may contribute to Roomba’s sensors
working less effectively.
Anti-tangle system
Roomba won’t get stuck on cords, carpet fringe or tassels. When Roomba
senses it has picked up a cord or tassel, it will automatically stop its main
brushes or side brush and try to escape. Roomba may make a clicking noise
when anti-tangle is activated.
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 fine particles, dirt, and
hair. The filter traps dust and
small particles.
Filter

For more detailed information, visit: www.irobot.com 9
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 three feet in diameter and then spiral back
to where it started, intensely cleaning a localized area.
Scheduled Cleaning Mode (Models 550 and above)
When a future cleaning time is programmed, Roomba enters Scheduled
Cleaning Mode. When scheduled to clean, Roomba will occasionally flash
its next cleaning time to remind you of its schedule. At the specied time,
Roomba leaves its Home Base, cleans, and then returns to the Home Base to
recharge when it’s done.

10 iRobot Roomba 500 Series
Battery Storage and Charging
TIP: For best performance, charge Roomba’s battery overnight before using
Roomba for the first time. Always leave the battery inside Roomba with
Roomba plugged in or on the Home Base.
Roomba is powered by a 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
If Roomba has been left off the Home Base/charger for an extended period,
Roomba will initiate a special 16-hour charge cycle. This extensive charge
refreshes Roomba’s battery and extends the battery life. While charging,
Roomba’s Clean light button will pulse quickly. Note: For best results, do not
interrupt this Refresh Charge.