Some owners have been experiencing some issues such as their Dolphin Active 30i turning off after 30-60 seconds, but why does it do this? Furthermore, what can you do about these problems? We have possible reasons and what you can do to fix it, read on to find out.
Why Does My Dolphin Active 30i Turn Off After 30-60 Seconds?
The issue of having your Dolphin Active 20 or the premium 30i turning off after you have started the pool cleaning robot is more common than you may think. Many owners of the aquatic cleaning robot have had the same issue with their robots.
You will likely turn on the device and then it will usually only go about two to three feet before turning off. This is certainly less than ideal since you want to be able to turn on the Dolphin Active 30i and go about your business until it is finished cleaning your pool; not deal with figuring out what is wrong with the pool cleaning robot.
With that said, it is important to get to the bottom of the issue so that you are not wasting your time with other feasible problems and you can get the rather pricey robot back to what it is supposed to be doing.
Now, what has to be the most common cause of this issue is that there is debris blocking the impeller, which will stop the aquatic cleaning robot from running properly. Luckily, there are some simple fixes for such an issue.
However, as previously mentioned, you will want to be able to say for sure what the problem is before you attempt fixing the said issue with your Dolphin Active 20 or 30i.
There have even been reports of new owners of the Dolphin Active 30i having issues such as after purchasing a brand new pool cleaning robot, they have turned on the device and put it in the pool; only to have it run properly for 20 to 30 minutes.
After that, the Dolphin Active 30i will sometimes turn off and have a red ring on the power supply. In this scenario, you may check the pool cleaning robot’s components such as the cleaning basket, and impeller, or even see if something is in the way of the tracks.
All of this may render no signs of issues, so you will likely turn the Dolphin Active 30i back on, yet the aquatic cleaning robot will only run for about 20 to 30 seconds before turning off again with the red ring appearing on the power supply once again.
While it is unlikely, it is also possible that you may have purchased a defective unit. It would not be the first or the last time someone has received a defective pool cleaning robot.
1. Debris Blocking The Impeller
One of the most common reasons why your Dolphin Active 20 or 30i is turning on for only 20 to 30 seconds to only power down, is that the impeller is being blocked by something.
Now, luckily, all of the pool cleaning robots made by Maytronics are quite similar in their build, which means if you can take apart a Dolphin Active 20 then you can definitely take apart a Dolphin Active 30i.
Considering that most marina shops will charge you around $150 (US) just to take apart the Dolphin Active 30i and repair it, you will likely be relieved to hear that you can carry out this task on your own.
Since you have likely already spent a pretty penny on just the Dolphin Active 30i, you do not need to dig the hole any deeper with repair costs.
Fix – Take Dolphin Apart and Clear The Obstruction
If you believe that the cause of your Dolphin 20, 30i, or 60, only turning on for 20 to 30 seconds at a time before turning off again is due to the impeller being blocked by something that is jammed up in there, you can luckily fix this yourself and save some dough at the same time.
The first thing you will want to do is turn off the Dolphin Active 30i and unplug the power supply cord. After you have turned off the Dolphin Active 30i and have also unplugged the power supply cord, you should be able to easily open the top of the device and take out the large cartridge that sits inside of the pool cleaning robot.
For this next part, you will need a screwdriver in order to remove a couple of screws. Now, you can use the screwdriver to remove the two screws that are located at both sides of the device towards the back of the robot (nearby the handle).
Next, you should carefully push the cord inwards while removing the cover that you just unscrewed, since the power cord is held tightly by a securing rubber washer, which prevents water from getting into the robot.
Now, you should see a small black cover towards the center back of the device, which you can remove by simply pulling it up and out. Underneath this small cover, you will find the impeller on your Dolphin Active 30i.
The impeller is where you will see any debris or objects that could be blocking its flow; therefore, the pool cleaning robot will stop functioning.
This means you will have to be able to reach the impeller but it is blocked by another black plastic piece, which you can remove by unclamping the clips at the top of and at the bottom of the piece by pressing in on the clamps and then pull it upwards.
Now you should have no problem reaching in with your fingers and cleaning out any debris or objects that are jammed inside of the impeller. This can be a somewhat dirty task so you can also wear cleaning gloves if you are not fond of getting your hands dirty.
Make sure to clear out all of the dirt, debris, and otherwise from the entire impeller, which includes also clearing the bottom of the impeller.
Keep in mind that the impeller is essentially a tube with a fan and the fan draws in all of the dirt, debris, and otherwise that the Dolphin Active 30i gathers from the bottom of your pool.
With this in mind, it is quite common for the impeller to become jammed up with gunk and debris.
2. Brushes Have Worn Down
You likely already know that your Dolphin Active 30i uses bristle brushes on the bottom to stir up dirt and debris that have settled on the bottom of your pool.
While these brushes are very useful they can also begin to wear down and the bristles of the brushes can actually start to break off, which can then be sucked up and even become jammed in the motor or the impeller.
This will certainly lead to the Dolphin Active 30i stopping working properly, which could also result in the device only running for 20 to 30 seconds and then shutting down since there has been an error detected in its function.
Fix – Check The Brushes and Asses Possible Damage
As previously depicted, the brushes on your Dolphin Active 30i, 20, and 60 can become worn down and this can lead to the pool cleaning robot attempting to suck up the bristles that have detached.
This can spell trouble since these bristles can get caught up in not just the impeller but also in the motor itself. The motor on your Dolphin Active 30i is what keeps it moving and functioning properly, you can visualize it as being the heart of the machine.
So, when detached bristles get caught up in the motor it can hinder the function of the robot. This can certainly result in the robot going for a few feet and then stopping since it has detected an issue in the system.
When there is an issue with the motor in your Dolphin Active 30i it is best to take it to a professional that might be able to repair the motor.
The repair costs could be on the expensive side but it will likely be more affordable than purchasing an entirely new Dolphin Active 30i. You can take it to a marina shop for these repairs and they can also help you determine if this is genuinely the source of the problem.
It would be wise to check if you have a warranty for your Dolphin Active 30i, as this could possibly be covered by the warranty.
3. Faulty Unit
It is possible that you have simply purchased a faulty Dolphin Active 30i, which means it was doomed from the start.
This is a real bummer, especially when considering how much one of these little robots is but you can take it back to the marina store you bought it from and get a replacement unit.
If you purchased your Dolphin Active 30i online, then you can also either get a refund or a replacement robot.
Fix – Get a Refund or a Replacement
If you believe that your Dolphin Active 30i pool cleaning robot was faulty from the start, then you can most likely either get a refund or a replacement at the marina store you purchased it at or you can contact Maytronics and see how they can help you.
If you purchased your aquatic robot directly from their site, then they will almost certainly either refund you or send you a brand-new replacement.
You will, of course, have to likely send back the faulty unit. Check your warranty to make sure that such a situation is indeed covered.
The Dolphin Active 30i is an incredible little pool-cleaning robot but as incredible as they are, they are still susceptible to issues. With that said, they are incredibly good when they do actually work properly.
