The Maytronics Dolphin DX3 is an advanced robotic pool cleaner that’s quite affordable when you consider the quality of the product and the cost of competitive robotic pool cleaners like the Polaris 9550.
If you don’t already own a robotic pool cleaner then you should really question how much you value your time. The Dolphin DX3 is just a tool that will free up your time so you can do more interesting with your time than vacuum and clean your pool on a hot summer day.
Dolphin Pool Cleaners | DX3 | Primal X3
Almost everyone has a pool but does everyone have a pool cleaner? Today’s world no longer uses the manual method of cleaning the pool. The pool cleaners of today are revolutionized and will remind you a lot of underwater vacuums. These underwater vacuums are called ‘Automated Pool Cleaners.’
Like a vacuum, these pool cleaners pick up dust and debris from the pool floor. The difference however lies in the fact that these cleaners function underwater. They also move around on their own accord. This why they have earned the nick name ‘Creepy-Crawly’.
TYPES OF AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANERS
Automatic pool cleaners can be divided into three main types:
- Suction side
- Pressure side
- Robotic
Suction Side Pool Cleaners
The reason why these pool cleaners are called ‘Suction’ pool cleaners is because they rely on the suction of the machine to draw in water and make them move. The device uses the pools filtration system. This makes it extremely economic and useful. The suction pulls debris and dirt into the cleaner’s skimmer basket and the pool filtration system.
Most of the Suction side pool cleaners are attached to the pool filtration system by using a 1.5 inch hose. Since they move around the base of the swimming pool, these pool cleaners pick up far more debris than the filtration system does.
The downside to these pool cleaners is that they move on a random path. They do not move systematically and hence they may leave parts of the pool unclean. Since they are attached to the pool filtration system, a requirement to clean the filters arises more often.
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
Unlike the previous set of pool cleaners, the Pressure side pool cleaners use pressure to move about and to remove the dirt and debris. These cleaners do not use the pool’s filtration system. They have their own filter bag which is attached to them. This means that the filter system and the skimmer bag do not get full.
These devices however can’t scrub the floor and walls. They merely pick up the debris that get dislodged by the pressure that is directed on the ground. This is why it is necessary to scrub the sides of the pool to keep the algae away.
Polaris 280 | Pressure Side Pool Cleaner Example
Robotic Pool Cleaners
This is the latest innovation in the pool cleaning technology. Robotic pool cleaners do the entire job for you and you don’t have to worry about a thing. They handle all kinds of debris whether big or small and get the job done quickly and efficiently.
These cleaners function independently from the pool’s filtration system. They come equipped with two motors. One motor is used to remove the contaminants and debris from the pool and the second motor is used to draw the water into the filtration bag.
These devices use either batteries or an electric source of power to operate. Their navigation is controlled with sensors. As soon as the device touches an object, it changes direction. The Robotic cleaners also know how to map the area of the pool. This helps ensure that the device gets full coverage and there isn’t a speck of debris that doesn’t get covered.
Dolphin Nautilus | One of the most popular Robotic Pool Cleaners
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING AN AUTOMATED POOL CLEANER
Buying any kind of gadget requires a lot of consideration. Here are a few factors that you should keep in mind when choosing an automated pool cleaner for your pool.
- Size of the pool: Your primary concern should always be size. Each cleaner comes equipped with its own set of instructions. The instructions will tell you if it can handle the size of your pool or not.
- Size of the debris: Large debris like twigs and leaves cannot be removed by Suction side pool cleaners. If your pool accumulates this kind of debris then you should think of getting a Pressure side pool cleaner or a robotic pool cleaner.
- What do the experts recommend? : When it comes to things that require expert advice go to an expert. Most companies provide a free evaluation of your pool. This will help you understand which device is best suited for you.
- Choose value over price: A pool cleaner is something that is going to be with you for a very long time. That’s why it is wise to evaluate the quality of the device that you are buying. Not everything that is expensive is good and not everything that is cheap is bad either. Evaluate the reviews and see what the world thinks of the device before buying it. Make sure you take the maintenance costs and the warranty into consideration too!
Maytronics | The Company
Maytronics has always been famous for its pool cleaners. In fact, it advertises its pool cleaners under the tag line called ‘the Dolphin experience’. This experience claims to provide you with amazing energy efficiency. How efficient is efficient? Well Dolphin pool cleaners can clean your pool in under 3 hours and the cost that you will incur is only 15 cents!
To fully understand how the Dolphin experience works, let us take a look at two of Maytronics most popular pool cleaners.
Maytronics Dolphin DX3 | Robotic Pool Cleaner
Features:
- Weekly timer – preset cleaning cycles throughout the week.
- Patented swivel cable helps prevent tangling .
- Incredibly efficient – costs less than 15 cents to clean the pool.
- In-store repairable right at your local Dolphin retailer.
The Maytonics Dolphin DX3, like all other Maytronics products provides the owner with a reliable and a cost effective experience. Understanding how the device works is the first step towards knowing whether the device is suited for your pool and for you.
Let’s take a look at the Maytronics Dolphin DX3 and everything that it has to offer.
The Mapping Software:
This intelligent device simplifies pool cleaning on so many levels. It comes with a pre-installed software. This software enables it to examine the entire pool and map it. Once this is done it starts scrubbing and vacuuming the pool floor and tiles.
The Swivel Cable:
The Dolphin DX3 comes equipped with a swivel cable which allows it to pivot around at any point. This helps to ensure that it can move freely and it doesn’t get stuck at any corner. The cable is around 60 feet in length and enables the device to cover the length and breadth of large pools.
The swivel cable also helps to ensure that the wire doesn’t get tangled. This is another advantage that the Dolphin DX3 has over other devices which face this problem.
Cycle time:
The cycle time is approximately 3 hours. By this it means that the device will complete cleaning your entire pool within this time frame.
The Filter
The device comes with its own filtration line. Unlike the pressure side pool cleaners and the suction side pool cleaners, the Dolphin DX3 does not attach itself to the pool’s filtration system. This means that the load that is put on the pools filtration system is reduced.
Another interesting fact that you should note is that the water is cycled through two separate filtration systems. One is the original pool filtration system and the other is the filtration system of the Dolphin DX3. This means that the quality of the water in your pool will improve significantly.
A fine porosity filter bag is used in this device. This enables the filtration to catch debris that are very small in size.
The Indicator Light
This interesting feature is a boon to all owners. The usual tendency is to forget to empty and clean the filter bag. This means that since the filter bag is full, the pool cleaner won’t be able to capture any more debris. This is why the perceived quality of the cleaning reduces.
The Dolphin DX3 comes equipped with an indicator light. This indicator light comes on when the filter is full and needs cleaning. It is a great visual reminder and it helps ensure that the device continues to function optimally.
Suction Rate
The suction rate of the device is set at 4,233 gallons per hour. This may sound very technical but the meaning behind that statement is very simple. It means that 4,233 gallons of water cycle through the filtration system every hour. This makes the Dolphin DX3 extremely efficient.
Weight
The weight of the device is only 18.75 pounds. This makes the Dolphin DX3 easy to carry and maneuver. Not only is it easy to carry, it also makes the device easy to lift out of the pool.
Cautionary Advice That You Should Pay Heed To
Like all good companies, Maytronics too offers some cautionary advice when they sell you their product. It is wise to know about this advice even before you buy the product. Let’s take a look at what they say.
- One of the primary warnings that Maytronics emphasizes on is the use of the originally supplied power supply. Never try to substitute this with any kind of other power supply.
- Along with this, they also say that the Dolphin DX3 should be used in an electrical outlet that is protected by a ground fault interrupter (or an earth leakage interrupter). What this means is that the device needs to be grounded well to ensure that there is no leakage of current. Since we are dealing with a device that runs on electricity but is immersed in water, any leakage of current could be potentially fatal. That is why they also add another warning that says that the power supply must be kept out of water at all times.
- The instructions for the power supply include that the power supply should be kept at least 3 meters or 10 feet away from the edge of the pool. This will ensure that the Dolphin DX3 power supply does not get accidentally knocked into the pool as that could cause hazardous consequences.
- Ensure that no one enters the pool when the cleaner is on. This helps to reduce any potential mishaps. Another important point to note is that the device should always be unplugged from the power source before servicing.
Maytronics Dolphin Primal X3 | Robotic Pool Cleaner
View the online MANUAL on the Maytronics site.
The Dolphin Primal X3 is a device that has a number of added features that are not present in the Dolphin DX3. Though the Dolphin DX3 comes well equipped, it is the Dolphin Primal X3 that doesn’t fail to make you gasp in surprise. It has all the features of the Dolphin DX3 and even some more.
The Dolphin Primal X3, like all other devices in the Dolphin series, is energy efficient. It’s a device that cleans the pool without any added hustle or worries.
Let’s take a look at the features that set it apart from the other models.
The Cleaning Process
The Dolphin Primal X3 has an interesting feature. When you first place the device into the pool, it scans the pool. It then determines the pool’s shape and even its dimensions. With this data available, the device now proceeds to plan the most efficient cleaning route. This is how Maytronics ensures that the device is energy efficient.
The cleaning process is done by two kinds of filters called the fine filter and the ultra-fine filter. The fine filter picks up larger debris while the ultra-fine filter catches all the small debris that escape from the fine filter. This is an effective way of ensuring that the debris are removed from the pool.
The Vertical Challenge
The biggest challenge that almost all pool cleaners face is the vertical walls. In fact, even stairs can be a formidable foe. Maytronics has solved this problem with the introduction of the Dolphin Primal X3.
The Dolphin Primal X3 can climb walls by using its high suction power. It even has two brushes (one at the front and one at the back) which help it clean the wall to perfection. It does get into a little trouble when cleaning steps but on the grand scale of things, the Dolphin Primal X3 does a much better job than most other pool cleaners in the market.
The Weekly Timer
The weekly timer is a new addition into the spectrum of features that Maytronics offers. You can set the time and the days at which you want the device to clean the pool and the device will do it on its own. This program saves a lot of time and effort.
Unlike the Dolphin DX3, this device can be left in the pool for almost a week. Once the week is up, you can remove it and empty the filters.
The Time Cycle And Suction Rate
Since the Dolphin Primal X3 has an advanced scanning software, it can map the fastest and most efficient way to clean the pool. The efficiency of the device can be seen when you make a note of the time it requires to clean a pool. Maytronics states that the Dolphin Primal X3 has a 2.5 hours cycle time. That is half an hour less than that of the Dolphin DX3.
The suction rate of this device is 4,233 gallons per hour. This is the same as the suction rate of the Dolphin DX3.
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS | Dolphin Pool Cleaner
Now that we have seen the features of both the Dolphin DX3 and The Dolphin Primal X3, we can understand how each device is different from the other. There are a basic set of instructions that are common to both the devices. These instructions help the owner understand how the device is operated.
How Do You Place The Device In The Pool?
The first question that comes to mind is, how do you place the device into the pool?
While some people will have their own innovative solutions, Maytronics has a protocol in place to answer this question.
Step 1: If the pool cleaner has brushes which have sponges at the base then you need to ensure that the sponges are dipped in water first. Once that is done, squeeze the water out of the sponge. It helps the sponge absorb water faster. This step is particularly useful if you are using a new device or if the device hasn’t been used in a while.
Step 2: Release the pool cleaner once the sponge is soaked. The device will begin to float to the bottom of the pool.
Step 3: The next step involves the inspection of the floating cable. Ensure that there are no obstructions and that the cable is not tangled. Ensure that you have placed enough of floating cable so that the pool cleaner can reach all corners of the pool.
Step 4: Now turn the power on. The pool cleaner will start its cleaning cycle.
How Do You Remove The Device From The Pool?
Once the entire cleaning cycle is complete, the pool owner is usually faced with another hurdle. How does he/she get the pool cleaner out of the water? Maytronics has a simple four step protocol in place to do just that.
Here is the step by step procedure that Maytronics provides.
Step 1: The first step is simple and yet is very important. Switch of the power source and turn off the device.
Step 2: Use the floating cable to pull the pool cleaner towards you and to the edge of the pool. Do not pull upwards.
Step 3: Grab the handle of the pool cleaner and use it to lift the device out of the water.
Step 4: Place the pool cleaner on the ground. Allow the water to drain out before storing the device.
REMEMBER: Never ever try to pull the pool cleaner out of the pool by using the chord.
This places a lot of stress on the cord and the internal wiring could snap or short circuit. An even worse possibility is if the wiring comes undone. This would mean that the live wire is exposed to the water in the pool. This would pose a great risk to the person who is in contact with the water. This is a safety instruction that should never be ignored!
The simple four step practice aids the pool owners when putting/ removing the pool cleaner in the pool. It also aids in ensuring that safety is maintained at all times.
How Do You Clean The Filter Cartridges?
Another important thing that every owner needs to know is how to clean the filter cartridges. This is a relatively easy job. All you need to do is remember that you should never allow the filter cartridges to dry out before you clean them.
Step 1: Unplug the device before you start. This will ensure that you aren’t in any danger of getting a shock. Remember that the device will still be wet so do not forget step one at all costs.
Step 2: Turn the pool cleaner upside down. Now open the bottom lid and remove the filter cartridges. Remove the clips that are present and remove the filters.
Step 3: Use a hose to clean the filters.
Step 4: Insert the filters back and ensure that the plastic backing faces outside. Now insert the cartridge back into the pool cleaner.
The Maytronics Dolphin experience has changed the way that the world looks at pool cleaners. They have reduced the workload involved in maintaining a pool and have made it an enjoyable task. Choosing between the Dolphin DX3 and the Dolphin Primal X3 is a simple task if you know what you need and what you want. While the Dolphin Primal X3 has a number of additional features, you shouldn’t underestimate the cleaning abilities of the Dolphin DX3.
Each Dolphin device has its own charm and its own abilities. An evaluation of your pool will narrow down your options. It is easier to make your choice when you have all the facts on the table.
