Finding Navigation Settings in Your Manual
Cycle and pattern settings sit under different names in different manuals. Start with your exact model name, then use the contents page. Don't borrow instructions from another model.
Words to look for
Makers use their own labels. These are common ones, taken from Maytronics pages. Yours may differ.
| Look for | What it usually means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning mode | Which surfaces get cleaned and how long the cycle runs | 1 |
| Specialty modes | Shorter cycles, such as waterline-only or wall-only | 1 |
| Weekly timer | An automatic schedule for the week ahead | 2 |
Maytronics gives a wide span for cycle length, from 1.5 to 4 hours, and ties it to pool size and the mode picked.1 If the manual lists cycle times, compare them with your pool size.
Delay timers
Wikipedia calls the delay timer an important feature for many pools. Many switch off circulation pumps overnight so particles can settle. After a couple of hours, the cleaner begins its cycle, set to finish before the pumps come back on.3
Look for "delay", "timer" or "schedule" in your manual. Names differ, and not every model has one.
Printed manual versus app
Some models are set from the power supply. Others use an app. Maytronics says its app lets you set cleaning cycles for weekly, daily or specific times. It also notes that features in the app vary by model.2
That last point is why a friend's settings screen may look nothing like yours.
Where to look first
- The contents page, under headings like operation, cleaning modes or timer.
- The specifications page, for what the robot cleans.
- The troubleshooting page, if the pattern seems wrong.
- The maker's support site, if the paper manual is missing. Search by exact model name.
If the manual is missing
Search the maker's support site by exact model name. The model name is usually on the robot or its power supply. Save the manual to your phone so it's handy at the pool.
A safety reminder
Settings are for the robot only. Take the robot out only as your manual says, and never run it with anyone in the pool. Power supply placement near water is a manual matter, too. Follow your own model's instructions.
Reading the specification list
The spec page often tells you more about navigation than the marketing does. Check which surfaces the model cleans. A floor-only model leaves walls and the waterline to you, as Maytronics describes it.1 Write down what yours covers.
Look for step coverage, too. Maytronics suggests choosing a model that lists it if your pool has steps or a ledge.1
Don't guess. If the manual is silent, say so when you contact the maker. It's their job to answer.
Why a pattern looks the way it does is explained on the patterns comparison page.
Notes and sources
- What Is a Robotic Pool Cleaner?, Maytronics
- MyDolphin Plus App, Maytronics
- Automated pool cleaner, Wikipedia
Keep reading
How Pool Robots Find Their WayA robotic pool cleaner starts with no map. Here's how it turns at walls, covers the floor and decides where to go next.
Random and Planned Cleaning Patterns ComparedWhy a pool robot zigzags in one pool and runs neat lines in another, and what each pattern suits.
Gyroscopes and Sensors in Pool Robots ExplainedWhat a gyroscope, an accelerometer and bump sensors do inside a pool robot, in plain words, and what each one can't do.