{
  "$schema": "robofaults-fault-record/v0",
  "kind": "error",
  "brand": "roomba",
  "page_en": "https://robofaults.com/roomba/error-18/",
  "page_es": "https://robofaults.com/es/roomba/error-18/",
  "code": "18",
  "slug": "error-18",
  "device_type": "vacuum",
  "name_en": "Docking problem",
  "name_es": "Problema al volver a la base",
  "badge": "ERR 18",
  "severity": "warn",
  "severity_note_en": "robot finished or gave up away from the dock and will run flat if ignored",
  "severity_note_es": "el robot terminó lejos de la base y se quedará sin batería si lo ignoras",
  "series": [
    "600",
    "e",
    "i",
    "j",
    "s"
  ],
  "tools_en": "melamine foam for the contacts",
  "tools_es": "esponja de melamina para los contactos",
  "time_min": 10,
  "difficulty": "easy",
  "safety": "none",
  "safety_note_en": "",
  "safety_note_es": "",
  "meaning_en": "Error 18 means the robot <b>couldn't get back onto its charging dock</b>. The dock moved or lost power, its contacts are dirty, or clutter blocks the approach. Fix the dock placement and wipe both sets of contacts.",
  "meaning_es": "El error 18 significa que el robot <b>no pudo volver a su base de carga</b>. La base se movió o se quedó sin corriente, los contactos están sucios o hay trastos bloqueando la llegada. Corrige la ubicación de la base y limpia ambos juegos de contactos.",
  "causes": [
    {
      "title_en": "Dock moved or unplugged mid-job",
      "title_es": "Base movida o desenchufada durante la tarea",
      "detail_en": "If the dock shifts even slightly during cleaning, the robot returns to a spot that no longer works.",
      "detail_es": "Si la base se desplaza aunque sea un poco durante la limpieza, el robot vuelve a un punto que ya no sirve.",
      "likelihood": "most_common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Dirty charging contacts",
      "title_es": "Contactos de carga sucios",
      "detail_en": "The robot reaches the dock but never registers a charge, so it reports a docking failure.",
      "detail_es": "El robot llega a la base pero nunca registra carga, así que informa de un fallo de acoplamiento.",
      "likelihood": "common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Blocked approach",
      "title_es": "Acceso bloqueado",
      "detail_en": "Shoes, cables or furniture within the dock's clear zone force the robot to abort its approach.",
      "detail_es": "Zapatos, cables o muebles dentro de la zona libre de la base obligan al robot a abortar la maniobra.",
      "likelihood": "common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Infrared interference near the dock",
      "title_es": "Interferencia infrarroja cerca de la base",
      "detail_en": "A Virtual Wall or second dock within 2.5 m can scramble the docking beam.",
      "detail_es": "Un Virtual Wall u otra base a menos de 2,5 m puede distorsionar el haz de acoplamiento.",
      "likelihood": "uncommon"
    }
  ],
  "steps": [
    {
      "title_en": "Reposition the dock properly",
      "title_es": "Recoloca bien la base",
      "detail_en": "Hard level floor, back against a wall, roughly a meter clear on each side and no stairs within 1.2 m.",
      "detail_es": "Suelo duro y nivelado, respaldo contra la pared, alrededor de un metro libre a cada lado y sin escaleras a menos de 1,2 m."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Wipe the charging contacts",
      "title_es": "Limpia los contactos de carga",
      "detail_en": "Clean the metal strips on both the dock and the robot's underside with lightly dampened melamine foam. Dry before use.",
      "detail_es": "Limpia las tiras metálicas de la base y de los bajos del robot con una esponja de melamina ligeramente humedecida. Seca antes de usar."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Clear the runway",
      "title_es": "Despeja la pista",
      "detail_en": "Remove clutter in front of and around the dock, and move any Virtual Wall at least 2.5 m away.",
      "detail_es": "Retira los trastos delante y alrededor de la base, y aleja cualquier Virtual Wall al menos 2,5 m."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Test a short-range dock",
      "title_es": "Prueba un acoplamiento corto",
      "detail_en": "Place the robot about 1.5 m in front of the dock and send it home from the app. Watch where the approach fails.",
      "detail_es": "Coloca el robot a metro y medio de la base y mándalo a casa desde la app. Observa en qué punto falla la maniobra."
    }
  ],
  "parts": [
    "roomba-home-base-dock",
    "roomba-clean-base-dock-i"
  ],
  "related": [
    "43",
    "46"
  ],
  "related_symptom": "not-docking",
  "sources": [
    {
      "label_en": "iRobot Support — Error 18, all Roomba models",
      "label_es": "Soporte de iRobot — Error 18, todos los modelos Roomba",
      "url": "https://homesupport.irobot.com/s/article/31099",
      "kind": "official"
    },
    {
      "label_en": "iRobot Support — i Series, Error 18",
      "label_es": "Soporte de iRobot — Serie i, error 18",
      "url": "https://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18399",
      "kind": "official"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "official",
  "last_verified": "2026-07-05"
}