Empty Roomba

[automationforbreakfa]

Hello,

I cannot find an option to empty the Roomba bin into the docking station.

Is it possible?

[FloatingBoater (James Derrick)]

Hi,

TL;DR: Yes. Vacuum: Send command = evac

The documentation doesn’t mention it…

iRobot Roomba and Braava

but the underlying Python library has the evac command:

• supports self emptying base
  GitHub - NickWaterton/Roomba980-Python: Python program and library to control iRobot Roomba 980 Vacuum Cleaner

The HA vac entity doesn’t mention empty as an action (missing from HA), however Action vacuum.send_command works:

Vacuum

This sequence emptied my i7 on the base:

• Developer tools
• Action = Vacuum: Send command
• Target = my i7
• Command = evac

Personally, my robots self-empty after returning to the base. (FYI, when docked the HOME button empries the bin.)

If this helps, this post!

[automationforbreakfa]

Thank you James! Very helpful.

I now have automations to announce the status of the Roomba over home speakers and pause the robot if a smoke alarm goes off.

May I ask if you have experimented with Roomba ‘fan speed’ at all? Does it increase suction power?

[FloatingBoater (James Derrick)]

Hi,

Do you mean the setting “vacHigh true”? I’ve not tried any vacuum fan speed settings as the robot seems to manage well enough - and the trade off is likely reduced battery life.

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