Read the dock and robot separately
- If your dock has a power indicator and it stays dark, check its outlet and power switch first.
- If the dock has power but the robot does not respond, clean the contacts and redock it.
- If charging starts but stops, check the contact position again. If it reaches full charge but runs for much less time, record the runtime before asking about a battery.
- Stop using a robot or dock that is damaged, leaking, unusually hot or smoking.
A robot sitting on its dock may have a power problem, a poor contact or a battery that runs down after charging. We’d check the outlet and charging contacts before buying a part, because those checks tell you whether charging starts at all. After you redock it, check the robot’s charging response as well as any dock light.
| What you see | Check next | If you need service, ask about |
|---|---|---|
| The dock’s power indicator stays dark | Try a working outlet and check the dock switch, if it has one. | The dock or its power supply if the indicator stays dark. |
| The dock has power, but the robot does not respond | Check the robot switch, if present, then clean and line up the charging contacts. | The robot and dock together if a clean redock gets no response. |
| Charging starts, then stops | Check whether the pads still meet the dock contacts and watch the robot’s indication. | The interrupted charge and the light pattern you observed. |
| The robot charges when placed on the dock but does not return to it | Look for objects or cords on its route and check whether the dock moved. | The return-to-dock problem before erasing a map. |
| The robot reaches full charge but runs for much less time | Record the cleaning mode and runtime on its next run. | A battery check using those observations. |
The dock has power but the robot does not respond
Use the first check even if the dock has no power indicator. On an RV1000AE, use the switch and docking steps below. For another Shark, search by model number (opens in a new tab) for its control and charging-light instructions.
- Check that the dock is plugged into a working outlet and, if it has a power switch, that the switch is on. On the RV1000AE, the green base power light comes on when the base is plugged in and switched on. If it stays dark, try another working outlet. A light that comes on gives you a reason to continue with the robot checks. If it still stays dark, ask Shark support about the dock or power supply. For a dock without a power indicator, verify the outlet and continue to the robot’s charging response after cleaning and redocking. Do not use a damaged outlet or keep resetting a tripped circuit.
- If your robot has a power switch, turn it on for charging. On the RV1000AE, both the robot and base switches must be on. Look for a charging response after both are on. If charging continues normally, skip cleaning and watch for your model’s full-charge indication. Before lifting the robot or cleaning the contacts, switch the robot off, then switch off and unplug the dock. Keep your fingers clear of the bumper gap as you lift the robot.
- Wipe visible dust from the robot’s charging pads and the dock’s contacts with a dry cloth. Keep liquids and sprays away from them. Once the contacts are clean and dry, set the robot back on the dock. The next check is whether it responds when the pads meet the contacts.
- Line up the robot’s pads with the dock’s contacts without forcing it down. Once it is seated, reconnect and switch on the dock. If the robot has a power switch, turn it back on too. Then check the charging indication for your exact model. If you get no response after a careful clean and redock, contact Shark support and describe what happened at the outlet, switches and contacts.
- If charging begins, leave the robot docked until its model-specific full-charge indication appears. If charging stops or makes little progress, check the contact position once more and tell Shark support what you observed. Note whether the response appeared immediately after redocking or only briefly; that gives support a more precise account of the interrupted charge.
A dark dock and an unresponsive robot call for different questions. If a dock with a power light stays dark at a working outlet after its switch is on, tell support that the base never showed power and ask whether the dock or power supply needs attention. If the dock shows power, finish the robot switch and contact checks before asking about a battery. For a dock without a power light, use the robot’s response after redocking to continue the same sequence.
Check the charging response on your model
Use your robot’s charging indication after you seat it on the dock. The light pattern below applies to the RV1000AE.
On the RV1000AE with its self-empty base, the robot’s battery light flashes blue and the base’s blue light pulses while charging. Both are steady when charging is complete. To check the RV1000AE docking setup, make sure the robot’s charging pads touch the base contacts. For another model, use its own charging indication before deciding that a dock light is faulty.
Watch for a change after you clean and redock the robot. A charging response that begins and then stops sends you back to the contact position. Seat it once more and check whether the response continues. If it stops again, note which light changed and when, then give that sequence and both model numbers to Shark support. If the robot reaches its full-charge indication instead, judge the battery question by what happens on its next run.
It charges by hand but does not return to the dock
If the robot charges when you place it on the dock, check for objects or loose cords along its route back and whether the dock has moved. Leave stair protection in place, and do not test a return trip near an unprotected drop. Tell Shark support if it still cannot dock itself before erasing a map.
Keep the two results separate when you describe the problem: manual placement starts charging, but the robot does not make it back on its own. That tells support why you checked the route and dock position, and why a charging part is not the first thing you are asking to replace.
It charges, then runs for much less time
First confirm that the robot reached its full-charge indication. If runtime is still short, note the cleaning mode, how long it ran and whether the change was gradual or sudden. That gives Shark support a clearer starting point for checking the battery.
Match the service question to the result you saw. If the dock’s power light stayed dark at a working outlet, ask about the dock and power supply. If the dock powered on but a clean, correctly seated robot never responded, describe both units and the redocking check. If the robot showed a full charge and then ran for much less time, ask for a battery assessment and give the mode and runtime. These observations help you request the relevant part or service instead of ordering from the symptom alone.
Ask Shark support (opens in a new tab) to check your full robot and dock model numbers before you order a battery, base or power supply. Ask for a quote for the exact part or service and what that quote includes. One US AV2610WA listing has a one-year limited warranty; check the terms for your own model and purchase before paying for a replacement. Leave internal charging repairs and damaged batteries to service.
Questions that come up while checking the charge
What should I write down if charging starts and stops?
Record the full robot and dock model numbers, which lights responded, and whether the response ended while the robot was still seated. Tell support that you cleaned and redocked it and whether a second seating changed the result.
Which result points me toward a battery question?
A full-charge indication followed by much shorter runtime is the result to report. Give support the cleaning mode, how long the robot ran and whether the change was gradual or sudden.
Should I erase the map if the robot charges only when I place it on the dock?
Check the route for objects or cords and check whether the dock moved. If it still cannot return, describe the difference between manual charging and automatic docking to Shark support before erasing the map.
What if my dock has no power light?
Check the outlet and any power switch, then use the robot’s charging response after cleaning and redocking. Tell support that your dock has no indicator so they know which result you were able to observe.
What should I ask before buying a replacement?
Give Shark support the full robot and dock model numbers. Ask which battery, base or power supply fits, what the quote includes, and whether the warranty terms for your model and purchase apply. Use a charger approved for your model.
Check the result on its next run
After the robot shows a full charge, run it in your usual cleaning mode and note how long it runs. If the charge or runtime falls short again, you’ll have the model number, light pattern and runtime ready for the service conversation.
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