Strange action

[Radjack]

Today the bot came out of his house, (at his start time) drove across the yard and started following the perimeter wire around and back into his house... He read "search charge" as he drove around the yard.
WTH...
I am not sure why he did that?
Usually he would come out cut the yard and head home like usual. I dont think i have changed anything in the programming so i am not sure why his actions have changed.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks

[shep874]

Radjack  check out my post on batteries.  your problem  could be the bump switches.  I am going to put my old batteries in today to see if they are indeed good and did not need to be replaced..  We really need away to check the life left in these batteries.  Hope some of you hi-tech guys will come up with one..

[Radjack]

It better not be...he is brand new!
I pulled him out right afterwards and restarted him and he cut the grass fine, it seems like he only does it at the beginning of his start time.
His batteries are obviously ok because he spent 2+ hours cutting.
I was hoping it was something i did in the programming or something.
I will watch him again today to see what happens.
Thanks

[Radjack]

Update...
He came out this morning liek nothing was wrong and simply did like usual and cut the grass...Now i am really confused!
What would make him head to the charger like that sometimes but not other times?

[Radjack]

Wow i watched him do it again today...There must be something in the programming to cause him to do this...
I am not sure what the Bot does in certain cases but there has to be a reason he does this. (only once and a while)

ACTION - "Today the bot came out of his house, (at his start time) drove across the yard and started following the perimeter wire around and back into his house... He read "search charge" as he drove around the yard."

[jzawacki]

Not fun, but can you check the battery voltage prior to starting?  Maybe it's making bad connections and not charging the battery.  Then, leaving, realizing the battery is dead, and driving back home.  Then, on the days it does make good contact, it charges fine and runs fine?

Just guessing.

[RobotLady]

Is it the Evolution, LB32XX model or LB3500 model?  Just wondering if the adaptive feature is kicking in.  Is your lawn very well mowed when it happens?   Although I thought it was supposed to stay in the charger; maybe they had a bug in one of the software versions that makes it come out and then head straight back.

[toolbelt]

Also check for when he is scheduled to come back out.  You may want to make a chart of all of the values displayed while he is in the charger both before and after he returns.  Do this until he does one of his 'returns'.  Did you try restarting him after he got back into the charger.  Shutdown/restart.  Since it's still time to mow he should back out and start over again.  Check that the recharger nuts are tight. 

[jzawacki]

Check that the recharger nuts are tight.

And in the holes of the cover.  I've noticed that if I'm not paying attention, a nut might rest on the top of the cover and not make good contact.

[Radjack]

 - It is a brand new 2150, 60 hours run time
 - Nuts are tight.
 - Charging should be fine...Battery seems like it charges up and reads 2900+ before he heads out each time and is usually 2880 or so by the time he makes it back after his Lap of the yard to start charging again. Plus I have manually ran him for hours right after this happens, so the battery has lots of juice left.
 - I will try the restart next time i see him do it.

I watched for a little bit this morning and he did it again. He is fully charged (2950 or so) backs out and right after his blade starts the display reads search charger. He goes around the yard and back in the charger. I have a big yard so that takes awhile. When he got back, he starting charging up again. I didnt have time to watch until he was fully charged so i manually started him in closed area for a few hours and headed for work.
I thought of a possibility though. I pull him out of the charger to clean him and I usually push him back in once i am done. (I leave him on while i do this) Does he get confused when i manually remove him from charger while on?
Could this be part of the issue? I am going to try and turn him off before removing him from charger when i do this and see if that changes anything.
Thanks for all the ideas guys....Keep em coming.

[toolbelt]

You really shouldn't have to clean him unless you have the new safety ring attached.  It loads up with cut grass real quick.  A lot of the folks have removed that ring, me included....

Have you opened him up to make sure grass clippings are not against the circuit board.  Blow out the insides real good before buttoning him up.  While you have him opened up check all of the connectors, make sure they are not loose.  Be careful while doing this so you don't create more problems.  Don't forget the battery connections.

[Radjack]

ya i do have that safety ring ...which i will be removing today....It gets too bunged up too quick with that thing on. This was the reason i have been cleaning it so often.
Last time i was inside, he was clean as a whistle, i will take a look again today when i get home for connections etc.

**update**
I powered him down, pulled him out of the house then took the safety ring off and cleaned him last night. I then powered him up and pressed "charge" for him to find his own way into his house. (Rather than simply pushing him in manually)
This AM he came out like a happy camper and went straight to work.
I will continue to monitor him, and will continue to follow that procedure for removing him/putting him back in the charger.

[Radjack]

Wow he is doing it again...
I have no idea why...
Support will be getting a call this week because this is driving me nuts!
I sure hope they have a clue what is going on.

[RobotLady]

You should follow him and read the battery voltage right after he comes out.  It's the four digit number on the display.  If it appears normal, then hit pause immediately after it comes out, take the covers off, prop the handlebar up on something, hold meter probes on the battery terminals (not the recharging nuts) have someone press start for you and watch what the battery voltage does on the meter.  If you bought from us, call me.  Otherwise contact your dealer and ask for help.  

[Radjack]

I will try this when i get home...
The battery does read normally (2850-2950), and if i stop him then run him manually, he does run for hours, therefore the battery is actually charged.
I will also be callin kyodo..