Getting Started With the Maytronics Advanced 115
The Maytronics Advanced 115 is a robotic pool cleaner from their Dolphin line, designed for above-ground and small inground pools up to around 33 feet. It's not the most complicated unit they make, but it has enough electronics and firmware quirks that a lot of people hit the same problems on day one. I've had a few of these in service over the years, and the manual isn't as helpful as it should be for the stuff that actually goes wrong. Here's what you need to know. The unit runs on a tracked drive system with a dual-filter basket layout — one for leaves and debris, one finer filter for smaller particles. The cable length on the standard Advanced 115 is typically 65 feet, which covers most residential pools without needing an extension. The brush type is a combination of soft scrub brushes and a rotating impeller. It's adequate for routine maintenance cleaning, but don't expect it to remove algae stains or heavy buildup on its own.
Maytronics Advanced 115 Manual Navigation and Common Settings
When you pull the manual up, the first thing you'll want to look at is the cleaning cycle selection. The Advanced 115 gives you three modes: floor-only, floor-and-walls, and walls-and-floor. The difference between the last two matters more than the manual makes it sound. In floor-and-walls mode, the cleaner uses a climbing algorithm that engages the upper track when it detects the pool wall. If your pool has a rough or textured finish, that algorithm can cause the unit to get stuck partway up the wall. I've seen this with concrete and aggregate finishes specifically. The workaround is switching to floor-only mode if you're dealing with a rough surface, then doing the walls by hand or with a separate wall climber. The filter maintenance schedule in the manual says to rinse the filters every two weeks. That's optimistic for a pool under mature trees. In practice, I'd say rinse them every week during fall and every two weeks in summer when there's less organic debris. If you skip this, the cleaning performance degrades noticeably after about three cycles. The pump motor doesn't fail from running dirty filters — it just loses suction pressure and leaves streaks on the floor.
Actual Troubleshooting That the Manual Doesn't Cover Well
The most common issue I've encountered with the Advanced 115 involves the drive cable getting tangled around the track assembly. This isn't a design flaw per se, but it happens frequently enough that I've developed a routine for it. If your unit starts making a grinding noise and the tracks stop moving forward, stop the cycle immediately. Unplug it, remove the top cover, and check the cable routing near the rear drive housing. The cable can slip out of its guide channel when the unit encounters a step or ledge on the pool floor. A quick fix is to reroute the cable through the guide and reseat the track assembly. This took me maybe five minutes the first time I dealt with it. After that, it's a two-minute job. Another thing the manual glosses over is the error code system. The Advanced 115 has a small LED indicator on the control box that flashes in patterns. Flash one long and two short usually means the current sensor is detecting an abnormal draw — almost always a track jam or cable obstruction. Three short flashes points to a temperature sensor issue, which can happen if the unit runs too long in very hot water or if the internal thermistor gets coated with scale. A quick clean of the sensor probe with a soft brush and some white vinegar usually resolves the three-flash error without needing a replacement part. I should mention the smart connectivity features. The Advanced 115 supports Wi-Fi pairing through the Maytronics app. The manual describes this as straightforward, but I found the initial pairing process to be finicky. The unit needs to be within about 10 feet of your router during setup, and the app sometimes fails to recognize the device on the first attempt. If that happens, power the unit off for 30 seconds and try again. Also, if you have a dual-band router, make sure the app connects to the 2.4GHz band — the cleaner doesn't support 5GHz networks, and the app won't tell you this clearly.
Get the Full Details
Filter Replacement and Parts Sourcing
The filters are replaceable and not expensive — usually around $15 to $20 per pair. The part numbers are listed in the manual, but they're not always consistent across regions. If you're in the US, the standard filter part number is something like MAFC115 or similar. Check the label on the existing filter before ordering. Generic third-party filters exist on Amazon and eBay, but the filtration quality isn't quite the same. I've run both, and the OEM filters catch finer particles without sacrificing flow rate. The generics tend to clog faster and reduce cleaning effectiveness after about a month of regular use. The drive belts are another wear item. The manual doesn't emphasize this enough — the belts on the Advanced 115 typically last between 18 and 24 months with regular use. If you notice the tracks slipping or losing traction on the pool floor, especially on slopes, it's probably time to replace them. The belt replacement is a moderate DIY job. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver and possibly a small socket set. The trick is keeping track of the belt routing diagram, which is printed on the inside of the top cover. Take a photo before you open anything up.
Seasonal Storage and Winterization
If you live in a climate where the pool goes offline for winter, the manual tells you to store the unit indoors. That's correct but incomplete. Before you put it away, run a rinse cycle with clean water and let it dry completely — I mean completely. Moisture trapped inside the housing is what kills these units over time, not the cold itself. Store it in a dry place, and if you're in a humid area, toss a desiccant packet in the storage bag with it. The control box is sealed, but the cable entry point can let in moisture if the boot isn't seated properly. When you pull it out in spring, inspect the cable for cracks or brittleness. UV exposure degrades the cable sheathing over time. If you see any cracking along the length of the cable, especially near the connectors, replace it before putting the unit back in the water. A frayed cable is a safety hazard and can cause the unit to stop mid-cycle if the internal wires break. Replacement cables run about $40 to $50 and are worth the investment rather than risking damage to the main drive module.
What This Unit Can't Do
Be clear about the limitations. The Advanced 115 is not designed for above-average pool depths. If your pool has a deep end deeper than 8 feet, this unit won't climb those walls reliably. It's rated for standard-depth pools. It also struggles with steep transitions between shallow and deep ends — the track system can tip or get hung up on the step. For pools with complex shapes, the cleaning pattern will have more missed spots than you'd get with a simpler rectangular pool. I'd recommend the larger Dolphin models if your pool is over 30 feet or has significant depth variation. The Advanced 115 is fine for a straightforward 20-by-40 foot pool with a gentle slope. It won't handle heavy algae events. If your pool has a green tint or visible algae growth, run a shock treatment and brush the walls first, then let the Advanced 115 do its maintenance cycle afterward. Trying to use it as a cleanup tool for an algae bloom will just clog the filters repeatedly and leave the pool looking worse by the end of the cycle. The manual itself is available on the Maytronics website under the support or downloads section. Search for the Advanced 115 model number and you should find the PDF. It's the best reference you'll get for error codes and part numbers. The app version has the same information but with some diagrams that are slightly easier to follow. Either format works — it's the same content.
