Roomba Battery Replacement

The intelligence of the Roomba vacuum lies in the complex electronics and algorithms to chart optimal cleaning routines but the heart of the Roomba is like all other electronic devices, its power source.

Roomba runs on batteries and on a new set of batteries, Roomba should run at least an hour before dying in action or making a successful run back to the charging dock to refill its juices.

Since Roomba is so automated, most people will rarely be home while Roomba is in operation except for the initial acquaintance phase where new Roomba owners go gaga over the new family member and marvel over every knock and turn the new "pet" performs. However, Roomba battery life is limited. After putting in months of conscientious work, it is inevitable that Roomba's battery no longer holds as much a charge when new or discharges much more quickly than expected.

The first sure signs of Roomba's battery failing is that it begins to get stranded at weird locations when it had been able to return to the charging dock previously. This arises as Roomba's intelligent circuitry fails to appreciate the failure of the battery as it performs more and more erratically.

Many people have tried to "revive" the Roomba battery by performing things like deep discharge but realistically speaking, if the Roomba had been running daily for more than a year, it is most likely easier to just proceed with getting a battery replacement.

Getting a replacement battery is most easily achieved by seeking out a local Roomba parallel importer and paying around $80 for a compatible battery. An original iRobot battery is not really necessary as the premium paid for it does not accord a much longer battery operating life. Another alternative is to ship a battery back to Singapore since there are many USA based stores that offer Roomba batteries at good prices, however, after factoring in the shipping costs as well as an uncertainty over whether batteries, commonly listed as prohibited shipping items, will be shipped successfully, the costs savings are not significant enough for the extra efforts needed.