As they say, "The Roomba cleans hard, so you don't have to". The Roomba e5 is a powerful robot vacuum and boasts of having a long battery life, support for app control and voice commands, and best of all – a strong suction. Overall, the Roomba e5 is an ideal vacuum cleaner. The only problem comes when it stops charging.
There are many reasons why your Roomba e5 could stop charging. This article explores all the possible reasons why your Roomba may not be charging, how to know it is not charging and how to reset your Roomba e5 battery. Read on to find out.
Why is Roomba e5 Not Charging?
The Roomba e5 can get very annoying when it stops charging, and you need to use it. Understanding why your Roomba is not charging will help you find a solution to the problem.
Here are possible reasons why it may not be charging;
1. Dirty Electrical Contact Points
As much as the Roomba helps keep your house clean, you also need to keep it clean to help it do its job effectively. As the Roomba cleans, it collects some dust and debris that settle on the charging contacts of the robot and charging station.
Since the charging contacts are located beneath the robot's front bumper, they get dirty easily from coming in contact with the debris being cleaned. With time, an oxide layer forms on the electrical contacts from the accumulating gunk.
For the Roomba to charge successfully, the charging contacts of the robot and those of the charging station need to make a clean connection. Dirty contacts increase resistance in the charging circuits making the Roomba not charge properly. The more the dirt, the greater the resistance in the charging circuit, and with time, it will completely stop charging.
Solution; Clean the contact points using a microfiber cloth. Apply a bit of alcohol if need be. Try to connect again to see if it will charge.
2. Clogged Castor Wheel
You’re Roomba may not be charging due to a clogged caster wheel. The castor wheel gets clogged due to a build-up of hair, gunk, carpet fibers, and other debris in the wheel cavity. This happens especially with pets in the house; pets tend to leave their hairs everywhere, especially on the carpets.
When the castor wheel is clogged, it will stop spinning freely. As the gunk builds up in the wheel cavity, it will push the wheel up. Normally, the castor wheel is situated in between the charging contacts. When pushed up, it can essentially hinder the charging contacts from connecting effectively. Subsequently, the Roomba will not charge.
Solution: This problem is to remove all the debris that may be clogging up the wheels. Pull the wheel cavity apart, and using your fingers, remove all the debris you find. Once this is done, you can reinstall the castor wheel back into the robot.
3. Battery Not placed properly
This is another simple rookie mistake that could lead to your Roomba not charging. For the Roomba to charge, the battery has to be appropriately placed. When the battery shifts in its place, it breaks the connection. When you receive a replacement battery, ensure that it is appropriately placed.
Faulty batteries may also cause being on charging issues. There may also be dirt accumulating in the batteries that cause them to be faulty. To fix this problem, you will need to replace the batteries.
Some new batteries have to be woken up by charging first. The lithium-ion battery must be connected first to a charging station to start working. As long as the battery is placed correctly, it will begin charging.
4. A malfunctioning Dock
Most Roomba robots require a dock to charge effectively. While you can also charge directly to the charging station, it is not always an effective way to clean.
Your Roomba e5 may not be charging because the dock to which it is connected is faulty. A faulty dock will not transfer enough power to charge the Roomba. To check if the problem is with the dock, connect directly to the charging station. If the Roomba starts to charge, you will know that the problem is with the dock.
The solution to this is to replace the dock.
How do I reset my Roomba e5 battery?
The best and more effective solution to fixing a charging problem is to Reset your Roomba robot cleaner. Here are the steps to follow to reset your Roomba e5 battery;
Step 1
Turn off the gadget. This safety precaution should be enforced when handling any type of vacuums. If you want to work on a robot vacuum, the first thing is to turn it off and move it away from its charging dock. If the batteries need replacement, then put new ones in and press the clean button to light it up.
Step 2
Simultaneously press the 'Spot' and 'Dock' buttons placed under the Clean control. Hold the buttons for about ten seconds.
Step 3
Release the buttons at the same time. You will hear the typical Roomba starting sound; this signals that the Roomba is rebooting.
Step 4
Restore the Roomba’s connection by putting it back to the charger. Wait for it to light up green. To confirm whether the Roomba has rebooted, click the CLOCK button. If all the clock settings are clear, the reset has been successful.
Step 5
The final step is to reset the date, time, and all the details you want on your Roomba e5 so it can continue functioning as usual.
How do I know if my Roomba e5 is charging?
Without energy, the Roomba e5 is pretty much useless. It will not perform its job as needed. There are many ways to tell whether your Roomba e5 is charging – here is how;
1. When it displays a charging light.
The Roomba e5 will display a blinking light every 4 seconds to indicate that it is charging. The display light will stay on for about 60 seconds when connected successfully.
If you fail to see this blinking light, press the clean button once. This will help you confirm whether the Roomba is charging or not.
2. When it produces a beeping sound
When the Roomba e5 is charging, you will get a signal in the form of a beeping sound. Different numbers of beeps mean different things;
One beep indicates the battery is not connected.
Two to five beeps mean there is a charging error.
Six beeps mean the battery is too warm, so you might want to disconnect the connection for a while.
Seven blinks can either mean the battery is too hot or too cold.
If you are using a lithium-ion battery, eight beeps would mean that the Roomba can't connect to the battery.
3. When it displays a flashing red light
A flashing red light on your Roomba is called a Pulsing Amber. An amber pulse on your Roomba e5 can mean one of two things. A slow and steady amber pulse means that the battery is low, but the Roomba is slowly charging. Give it some time, and it will be fully charged, and you can put it to use.
When it is fully charged, it will display a green light. It takes about 2 hours for your Roomba to charge fully, but this time can vary depending on the battery’s health condition.
The second amber pulse flashes much faster. This is a notification that the Roomba has gone into a 16hour refresh charge. This is a part of the unit's maintenance, so do not interfere with it.
How to maintain your Roomba e5 battery
To prolong your battery life, give it an extensive first charge. Preferably, chare it all night before using it.
Roomba batteries should not be left uncharged for an extended period. They are meant to be charged and discharged frequently. When the battery is left without charge for a long time, it becomes degraded. If you plan on leaving for a while and the Roomba will stay without use, ensure you charge it fully first before storing it away.
If used properly, the Roomba e5 battery can last up to 2 years. The good news is that the batteries are not very expensive should you need new ones. Make sure to buy from reliable brands, preferably those recommended by your manufacturer. If you use a battery that is not compatible with your Roomba, you can risk damaging your robot.
It is perfectly normal for your Roomba e5 to have a 16-hour charge cycle after being disconnected from its base. This should not be a cause for alarm – it is actually part of the unit’s maintenance.
Wrap-Up
Your Roomba vacuum cleaner also needs to be shown care for it to serve you better. Ensure you clean your Roomba regularly to avoid dirt or debris clogging the wheels and forming an oxide layer on the electrical contacts.
Generally, the Roomba robot vacuums are easy to use and well-engineered to do their job. Do your part to ensure they continue working seamlessly.