Charging issues with the Robot Vacuum

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Within the last 2 months I started having an issue where the vacuum will return to charge after cleaning and it will not make a connection and eventually shut off. The connectors are clean and I’ve gone so far as to wipe them down just before it goes back to charging and that seems to have no effect.

I’ve watched it return to charge a few times and I’ve noticed that the vacuum will back up and the connectors will touch but it will continue to push backwards so much that it pushes the charging port back and it angles up so it looses connection. Then it will move away from the charging port to try again and it does the same thing over and over again. The only way I can get it to connect is when it goes back and starts turning is to put my foot in front of it against the vacuum so it doesn’t go anywhere, then it stops and starts charging right away.

Other times I’ve watched it try and try again only to stop on the charger but turn enough so there is no contact whatsoever and start to go into standby mode. When that happens all I need to do is turn it so there is contact and it starts charging just fine.

A while back when I first got the vacuum (2ish years ago) it would not connect to the charger at all. I figured that was because of the carpet (there is carpet everywhere except the small strip that is the kitchen with no room for the vacuum to sit) and I put a thin piece of clear acrylic under it and attached the charging port to it with double-sided tape, that worked just fine. But in the last two months the vacuum has decided to be extra stubborn and will not make a connection with the charging port about 80% of the time.

I am wondering if there any tricks or modifications that anyone has done to the charging port so that it will be easier for it to make a connection.

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I noticed the same exact behavior with both of my Wyze Robot Vacuums— after making connection with the charging terminals, the vacuum would continue to creep backward until the force lifts the charging station to the point where it breaks contact and stops charging.

While the real solution is likely a firmware update that stops the backward motion once the charging circuit is energized, I solved this by designing and 3D printing a wall standoff that snugly fits around the top of the charging station and makes contact with the wall, preventing it from tilting upward. It works great for my charging station on the hardwood floor and, with some finagling, the one in my carpeted office.

The issue with most rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting is that the carpet is installed with a tack strip around the room’s perimeter that makes the carpet higher for the inch or so off the sheetrock wall or base moulding, resulting in a wonky height difference between the vacuum and charging station.

Anyway, I can upload the 3D model to somewhere like thingiverse for you to print if you’re interested.

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This is a cool idea! :+1:

If you decide to do that, then please feel welcome to also post in Tips & Tricks with a 3d-printing tag and share links to your model there!

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Thanks— done:

For posterity: