One of the things you might find a bit confusing when you’ve just got a new Roomba vacuum is “how to tell if a Roomba is charging.“
If your Roomba isn’t brand new, you may have noticed that the light blinks abnormally while charging or that it no longer turns on.
Either way, you are not very conversant with what each charging light signifies or your vacuum is faulty.
That being said, let’s delve into how to tell if a Roomba is charging and the different troubleshooting tips you should follow if your Roomba isn’t charging.
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How to Tell if a Roomba is charging
Roomba robot vacuum cleaners are easy to operate because they are powered by a rechargeable battery.
Coupled with that, it can run for 2 hours and endure more than 400 charges.
When the battery runs out, all you have to do is recharge it for the next use.
But if you don’t know when the Roomba is charging or what each light signifies, you won’t be able to figure out how to tell if a Roomba is charging or not.
If you are using any of the later models, the chattering light won’t show until you press the clean button once. However, for the former models, this might be different.
Due to that, we will be breaking down what each charging light signifies on all available models of the Roomba vacuum cleaner.
| ROOMBA MODEL | What each light Signifies |
| 500 | Amber Pulse: No battery & charging Red: Low battery Amber: Partially charged Green: Fully charged Quick Amber Pulse: 16 hours refresh charge |
| 600 | Amber Pulse: No battery & charging Red: Low battery Amber: Partially charged Green: Fully charged Quick Amber Pulse: 16 hours refresh charge light pulses during the charging process |
| 700 | Red: No battery Red: Low battery Amber Pulse: Charging Green: Fully charged Quick Amber Pulse: 16 hours refresh charge light displays 60s during the charging process |
| 800 | Red: No battery Red: Low battery Amber Pulse: Charging Green: Fully charged Quick Amber Pulse: 16 hours refresh chargeLight displays 60s during the charging process |
| 900 | Red: No battery Red: Low battery Amber Pulse: Charging Green: Fully charged Quick Amber Pulse: 16 hours refresh chargeLight displays 60s during the charging process |
| i7 & i7+ | Red: No battery Amber Pulse: Low battery Blinking white: Charging White: Fully charged Swirling white: Software updateLight displays during the charging process |
| i3 & i3+ | Red: No battery Amber Pulse: Low battery Blinking white: Charging White: Fully charged Swirling white: Software update |
How to Tell if a Roomba i7+ is Charging
The charging patterns of the different Roomba models are not usually the same. However, there are some similarities between them.
If you are using a Roomba i7+ and you cannot wrap your head around what its charging light means or how to tell if the Roomba i7 is charging we recommend you follow the guide belo.
- If your i7+ model has a low battery, it will display an amber pulse light.
- If your i7+ model displays a red light, it means the battery is empty.
- If your i7 shows a blinking white light, it is charging.
- A white light indicates your Roomba is fully charged.
However, if you can see a swirling white light, it means the software update light displays during the charging process.
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How can I tell if my Roomba J7 is Charging?
Just as I mentioned above, if you have a Roomba J7 model and you can’t wrap your head around what each of the charging lights signifies or you can’t tell if it is charging, here are some guides for you.
- Green means it’s charged fully.
- Amber means the battery is partially discharged.
- Pulsing amber means the vacuum is charging.
- Red means it’s nearly discharged.
- Flashing red means the energy is running out.
Roomba Charging Light Turns Off
You shouldn’t be concerned if your Roomba charging light goes out because different models of Roomba behave differently while charging.
For instance, if you are using the Roomba 500 or 600 line, the light will pulse every four seconds.
For Roomba 700, 800, and 900 models, the light will be on for the first 60 seconds and go off.
However, if you are using an i3 series when it is charging there is no visible light, but an i7 displays light while it is charging.
So, if you’re asking this question, make sure the model is supposed to show correctly while charging before declaring it faulty.
How Long does it take the Roomba to Charge the First Time?
When you’ve just gotten your Roomba vacuum and you come online to search, does it take long for the Roomba to charge, you will see 2 hours, But your Roomba isn’t filled up even after charging it for 2 hours, so where does the problem come from?
This is it. When you get your vacuum. It is most likely that the battery has not been charged for a while. Coupled with that, it is expected for a newly unboxed or out-of-box Roomba to have some power in it.
That being said, you are not advised to use it; instead, wait until you’ve connected the battery and waited for about 12 hours. Also, the battery has to be full before you start using it.
Does the Roomba’s Charging Light Stay on?
When it comes to Roomba models, every model works differently. For some models, the light stays on while it is charging, while the others do not come on while it is charging.
Here is a clearer description of this for different models.
- For the Roomba 500 or 600 model, the light will pulse every four seconds.
- For the Roomba 700, 800, and 900 models, the lights will be on for the first 60 seconds.
- For the i3 model, there’s no light when it’s charging.
- For the Roomba i7 model, the light will be on when it is charging.
What to do when the Roomba is not Charging
The Roomba works solely on battery. If the batteries are not charged, they won’t work. So charging your Roomba becomes a necessity, but if you are faced with a situation where your Roomba isn’t charging, what should you do about it?
Here are the different things you can do to troubleshoot it.
Clean the Contact Points
Dirt and debris accumulate and become entangled on the contact points after each vacuuming operation.
To avoid this constant buildup, wipe these contact areas regularly with a microfiber cloth; if necessary, apply alcohol.
After cleaning, plug it back in to test whether it charges.
Check the Power Outlet
In rare circumstances, your power outlet may not be producing enough power to charge your Roomba vacuum.
If you’re not sure, you can try another power outlet or use another electrical gadget in the same outlet to be sure.
The Charging Point is Clogged with Dust
Dirt is lodged in the dock station contact points all the time, and if it collects too much, it might block these ports.
This can prevent the vacuum from charging. However, you may avoid this by cleaning the docking station with alcohol or a damp cloth.
Adjust the Battery Position
In rare cases, you may find that your roommate does not charge right away.
If that is the case, the batteries may be shifted from their original location during delivery. So you don’t have to fret.
All you have to do is put the batteries back into their container, and after that, check to see if your Roomba vacuum charges properly.
Purchase a New Battery
If your Roomba batteries are faulty or have passed their shelf life, they may stop working correctly.
If that is the case, you may need to acquire a replacement, but don’t worry because replacement batteries are reasonably priced and simple to replace.
You can get it from Amazon or the official iRobot website.
To replace it, follow the steps below
- Simply detach the battery compartment.
- Remove any accumulated filth.
- Screw the container back on and insert the new battery.
Conclusion
By now, you should have been able to figure out the answer to “how to tell if a Roomba is charging” and what to do if your Roomba’s batteries cease to charge.
If yours isn’t giving you any positive response, you should contact Roomba customer support for assistance.