Topic: Several problems with new PleoRB (Read 9456 times)

Ellrose · « **on:** February 05, 2011, 02:52:24 AM »

Hi,
It looks as though my baby pleo (Hymie) has disclocated his neck? He seems unable to lift his neck up anymore and there is a lot of 'clunking' when he trys to look around.

I'm not sure what I should do? He's been well looked after - not dropped, not treated harshly - very pampered actually. Also I'm having real problems with the 'noon' battery - I have set this before and 'Hymie' worked (however I've never got more than 30mins per battery charge). He started to beep twice over and over yesterday and I thought the noon battery may be going flat. I've inserted the noon battery correctly right side up with the two little metal bits touching the top, the longer one underneath (check); I've waited for him to turn on before setting the noon time with a paper clip (check); I've tried three new batteries (check). Should it be this complicated???

Also the skin became rubbed in first two battery cycles - is this normal? I've got him wearing his cloak now, but is the quality of the paint really that bad that it wears after two cycles?

I'm starting to wonder if anyone tested these robots prior to distribution? They'd have to wouldn't they? I love my little pleo, but this is getting frustrating.

Hymie is still in his socialization phase.

If anyone can give me some advice I'd be very grateful! I've left a message on the Pleo World site about my problems.
Regards,
Ellrose

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2011, 04:18:09 AM »

Is it possible for you to provide a video of the problem? It is difficult to offer advice without seeing the problem. Sometimes jammed necks do occur, they usually resolve themselves after a while. If the neck is loose and floppy then it is a major concern.

If you are only getting 30 minutes from the battery there may be a problem with it, what happens if, after it turns green, you take it out of the charger and then put it straight back on charge again? You may need to do that more than once.

The clock problem is interesting, not sure what could be wrong there. You've tried all the recommended steps I could suggest, perhaps the tabs aren't making contact properly.

Sadly the skin wear does appear to be a common problem, please read the threads under the Pleo problems section about possible causes and solutions.

kat · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2011, 06:57:19 AM »

I agree with everything IMR said. A video would definitely help to see just what the neck problem is. You could try pressing the rest button. This has helped me in the past when I have had a stuck neck on one of my guys.
For the clock battery you could try lifting the long metal strip up a little and bending the 2 small ones down a little to make sure there is good contact with the battery. I can't think what else to suggest.
As for the paint wear it does seem to be common and quite normal. Some of the new rb's have been lucky and seem to not be showing much paint wear at all but most of them have had paint loss with in the first few plays. Both of mine lost paint in the first few minutes of the first battery cycle. But only a little. I try to keep them clothed as this helps to protect the paint. I also use pledge on their skin, suggested in the manual, which I think also helps protect the skin.

MariaOcean · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2011, 06:32:55 PM »

To get a good long life battery . before using the new battery, charge it for 24 hours. The secound battery run you can return back to normal

Ellrose · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2011, 06:47:57 PM »

Hi, many thanks for taking the time to reply. I've just spent another hour trying to reset the clock button. I've tried lifting the long metal strip and bending the 2 small ones. I've tried 3 different batteries also. Yes, they're in the right way up. I then put the 'big' battery in, turn Hymie on, wait until he starts wiggling, reset the clock battery with a paperclip. This seems to register with one beep, but then the horrible Beep-beep - 8 second pause - beep-beep cycle starts all over again. arrrrggghhhh! Is there something very simple I am overlooking? I am a newbie and may be doing something really stupid?

The two small contacts seem very, very small, is this normal?

I'll try and use pledge on the skin to see if this helps as I've noticed the skin in Hymie's 'armpits' is also wearing.

I'll try and get hold of a camera this week - however because I can't get past the clock battery stage I can't get Hymie to do anything at the moment - he just keeps beeping.

Do you think poor little Hymie is a bit of a lemon? I hope not, he's very cute. Maybe he's a 'Friday' dinosaur - you know what they say about cars made on a Friday - everyone just wants to knock off early, so they don't finish the cars off properly!

Thanks again for your advice.

kat · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:11:09 PM »

Try putting the clock battery in but not worrying about pressing the setting it button with the paper clip. See if that makes a difference. The clock should be automatically set as noon being the time you put the battery in , I think? So maybe this will work for you. It could be a software issue being triggered by pressing the rest button for the clock? Just a thought.
I would email Innvo about it and see what they say if you can't get it to work.
Kat

Ellrose · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:51:58 PM »

Thanks Kat, I just tried your suggestion, still no luck. This is really starting to drive me nuts! When you say to email Innvo, do you mean leaving a message on the Pleo World site 'support request' page? Or is there another email I should try? Thanks again for your help.

kat · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:57:40 PM »

Leave a message on the pleoworld customer support page but you could also try emailing to
customerservice@innvolabs.com
This is the email address I have been using in my dealings with customer support at Innvo and have found them to be very helpful.
Best of luck and let us know how you go.
Kat

Ellrose · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2011, 08:32:40 PM »

Thanks Kat, I've sent a very long email to customer support @ innvolabs and left messages on the customer support page. I'm hoping someone will get back to me. It's very disappointing to have experienced so many problems when I've only had my PleoRB for a few weeks.

latrine · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2011, 08:55:52 PM »

I really hope you have some luck... I'm so sorry.. it stinks to be so excited and then so let down..

Ellrose · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2011, 10:18:47 PM »

Thanks, Lat, I'll be fine.

Question: should I try the 'reset' button, or will this send 'Hymie' back to the hatching phase?

Thanks

kat · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2011, 10:38:46 PM »

You can safely try the reset button. It wont take you back to hatching it just resets the pleos computer system to it's last save point. The pleo saves every time you switch it off. It is worth a try.

Crewella · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2011, 11:05:55 PM »

Can't add anything of use to the thread, other than the hope that you get it sorted!

I would just like to add that the new li-poly batteries work in a completely different way to the old nickel metal hydride green ones. Tricks that worked with the old batteries may shorten the life of the new ones, from what I've read, li-poly batteries do not like to be over charged!

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2011, 11:17:13 PM »

While that is true Crewella, sometimes reseating them once or twice seems to fix them. I have to do that with my egg charger occasionally, I guess it doesn't quite connect properly since the batteries are quite loose.

Crewella · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2011, 11:19:37 PM »

Indeed IMR, you're quite right - I'm just a bit wary of encouraging that without a proper explanation?

The egg-charger batteries specifically warn against charging for longer than 8 hours. ( I think it's 8 - can't find the darned box!)

PWOKristy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2011, 01:11:28 AM »

Yes 8 hours Crewella.

Crewella · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2011, 09:35:06 AM »

Thank you, PWOKristy!

Ellrose · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:44:51 PM »

No response yet from Pleo World, still can't get the clock battery to work.

scaledandtailed · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:00:27 AM »

Apology’s if you’ve already answered this but When you turn him on and go to press the clock battery do you wait until he makes a giggle and starts wiggling around before inserting the paperclip into the pinhole and pressing down?
It’s just that I noticed when I was first trying to set my battery that if I pressed the pinhole before pleo started moving it would just constantly beep as though I hadn’t inserted the battery properly and I had to turn him off and redo the process.
Sorry I can’t be of more help
Scaly

Ellrose · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:30:37 AM »

Hi Scaly,
Thanks for your help. When I turn him on, he doesn't really wiggle, just moves a little bit, then I insert the paperclip into the pinhole - then the dreaded beeping starts again. It's got me baffled!

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2011, 01:51:35 AM »

I assume that you have already tried the reset button a few times. I think your Pleo has a software problem

Until Innvo finally get their act together and start answering some emails I don't think there's much more you can try

There is, as yet, no software to reset the RB's.

Ellrose · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2011, 04:45:53 PM »

Hi IMR, yep, I've tried the reset button several times. I still have had no response from Innvo, so I don't think there's much more I can do other than warn people about the RB problems and pathetic level of customer service. It's very disappointing.

Superperson · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2011, 02:00:22 PM »

im sorry to hear your having such problems.
i hope they emailed you back because this isnt your fault its theres. i would have though the Rbs fixed all there problems. i hope they will fix it.

latrine · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2011, 11:09:25 AM »

Any news yet?? I am also awaiting news on my RB who is broken.. I'm calling them on Monday if I don't get an email tomorrow. Been waiting a long time

Also, if you can get a video with sound to link to your email to innvo, the engineers like to see that... that's why they said they wanted so many videos sent.

And, I always leave my batteries in the holders to charge when I go to bed... that's a lot longer than 8 hours.. I've had days where I haven't been home and it stayed in the entire day.. egg chargers and RB ones.. I didn't notice a problem but maybe I'm just giving it a shorter life? I've got 2 ugobe egg chargers 3 green ones, 3 RB ones.. no problems with any of them aside from the normal overheating time in the PleoRB.. I've never had a ugobe stop because of overheating , if they even do that, and the battery isn't as hot when it comes out of them, compared to the searing hot RB batteries..

Also, when the batteries are finally picked up after being in the charger for god knows how long.. they are never hot or even a bit warm... I always thought the charger just stopped when they were charged.. I know the computer will suck the juice out of a battery if something is plugged into it for charging and it goes over the amount of time...

- Sarah

PWOKristy · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2011, 12:51:27 PM »

Yeah, I believe you are shortening the battery of your Ugobe Pleo batteries.

Bob the Pleo Forums

Author Topic: Several problems with new PleoRB (Read 9456 times)