Buying a pool cleaner is a smart and economical choice compared to the ongoing costs of hiring a pool maintenance company. After producing a few generations of robot pool cleaners over the years, Smorobot kept improving their products and making them better. The Tank C1 is a new robot that promises robust performance, intelligent cleaning patterns, and user-friendly features. Here’s an in-depth look at this product.
Box Contents & Setup
Upon unboxing the Smorobot Tank C1, you’ll find everything you need to get started with efficient pool cleaning. The package includes the Tank C1 robot cleaner, a user manual, a charging cable, and a retrieval hook to lift the cleaner out of your pool. It has a built-in ergonomic handle, so you can carry and store it easily.
Easy Operation & Cleaning Modes
I’m really impressed with the Smorobot as it doesn’t require complicated setup process like other products. It is ready to use out of the box and you just need to fully charge the battery before first use. Just make sure to tighten the charging cap and turn off your pool filter before submerging the cleaner in the pool.
First, you place the C1 on level ground, use a switch on the front to choose a cleaning mode. It offers Standard (S) and Floor Only (F) mode. In Standard mode, the Tank C1 cleans both the pool floor and walls, utilizing its powerful suction and ultra-scrubbing brush wheels to remove debris, grime, and organic stains from every surface, including the waterline. This comprehensive mode ensures a thorough cleaning session. On the other hand, the Floor mode focuses the cleaning power exclusively on the pool floor, efficiently collecting dirt, leaves, and algae that have settled at the bottom. This mode is ideal for quick clean-ups when wall cleaning is not necessary.
Once the LED indicator on the front flashes yellow, you can start holding the cleaner in water for a few seconds and then releasing it so that it drops to the pool floor. The robot will start cleaning after a few minutes of self-testing.
Performance
The Tank C1 stands out with its exceptional suction power. With a 7,800mAh high-performance battery and triple smart motors, this pool vacuum delivers a robust 3,300GPH suction power. This allows it to handle large debris effortlessly. Whether it’s dust, fallen leaves, sand, stones, or algae, the Tank C1 can manage it all.
The Tank C1 features a V-POWER climbing pattern combined with powerful reverse thrust, climbable rolling brushes, and anti-skid treads. This combination enables the cleaner to adapt well to multiple pool finishes, including pebble, tiles, concrete, fiberglass, mosaic, or vinyl liner. Its streamlined movement allows it to break the surface of the water and clean places up to 10cm above the waterline. This capability ensures that the walls and waterline are thoroughly cleaned, removing organic stains, grit, and algae effectively.
The Tank C1’s scrubbing brush wheels are designed to detach dirt from the pool surface and pass it to the suction inlet. These independently operated brush wheels work together to clean the most stubborn dirt, grime, and stains. The brushes are stiff enough to provide effective scrubbing action without being overly abrasive.
It also features high-precision sensors and an AI path-planning algorithm to detect the underwater environment of the entire pool, then autonomously map the most efficient route for cleaning. This intelligent path planning improves cleaning efficiency by 50%, ensuring that the entire pool is cleaned quickly.
In real-world use, the Tank C1 has proven to be highly effective. It can climb walls and clean the waterline efficiently. The device handles irregular pool shapes well, adjusting its cleaning pattern as needed. The powerful suction ensures that even large debris and fine particles are picked up, keeping the pool clean and reducing the load on the pool’s filtration system.
In my test, the robot can run continuously for 2-3 hours on a single charge, covering up to 2,500 square feet. This extended battery life reduces interruptions and allows the cleaner to handle larger pools or multiple cleaning sessions without frequent recharging. I also appreciate the quiet operation and the convenience of being cordless, eliminating the risk of tangling cords. Therefore, I can even use the pool while the robot is in operation.
Another nice feature is the automatic parking capability. When the battery is low or after completing a cleaning cycle, the robot parks near the pool wall, making it easy to retrieve without getting wet. Then, you can use the included hook, attach it to a pool pole to retrieve the robot.
Maintenance is straightforward with the Tank C1. The filter basket is easily accessible and can be cleaned after each use by pressing a latch to open the compartment and remove debris.
Conclusion
Pros
- Easy to use: It can start cleaning right out of the box.
- Compact and lightweight: Easy to carry and place in the pool
- Suitable for all shapes of inground pools
- Large basket
Cons
- Sometimes it may wander around
The Smorobot Tank C1 is a decent pool cleaner that combines powerful suction, intelligent navigation, and user-friendly features. As the cost for each pool cleaning visit is around $150 in my area, buying the robot is much more affordable, even when you use it for just one summer. I’ve tested it for a few weeks and it has been working great so far. If there is any issue in the future, I will update this post to keep you informed.
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