A8 Light Help Guide

[racsoh]

Hi everyone,

I had a bit of free time and put together a small (though not fully complete) guide on how to get your A8 Light connected, along with some helpful tips to get your lighting schedule set up correctly.

Just a quick note—this guide is based on my personal experience using the AIPAI app on Android, so things might vary slightly depending on your setup.

Disclaimer: Please use the guide at your own discretion and risk.

Hope it helps someone out there!

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[TTipsyDragon]

Hi everyone,

I had a bit of free time and put together a small (though not fully complete) guide on how to get your A8 Light connected, along with some helpful tips to get your lighting schedule set up correctly.

Just a quick note—this guide is based on my personal experience using the AIPAI app on Android, so things might vary slightly depending on your setup.

Disclaimer: Please use the guide at your own discretion and risk.

Hope it helps someone out there!

Has anyone compared this to xr30s par readings? It looks like they stole everything besides the firmware on the bt chip because they had to make their own app to control it

 

[Urban_Epiphyte]

I have a Google Pixel and while the app says my phone has successfully linked to the light directly, the light does not show up in my devices. I also can't connect the light to my wifi (it says "connection failed" every time).

My partner is able to control the light from his iphone by connecting to it directly, but it still fails to connect to the wifi.

The Android app also doesn't show the option to change the time zone for me, though it does in the Apple app.

Is anyone else having these issues? I just got the light and will reach out to the seller for help but it seems like the problem is probably with the app.

 

[penfold2]

I have a Google Pixel and while the app says my phone has successfully linked to the light directly, the light does not show up in my devices. I also can't connect the light to my wifi (it says "connection failed" every time).

My partner is able to control the light from his iphone by connecting to it directly, but it still fails to connect to the wifi.

The Android app also doesn't show the option to change the time zone for me, though it does in the Apple app.

Is anyone else having these issues? I just got the light and will reach out to the seller for help but it seems like the problem is probably with the app.

First of all, you should have a time zone option, although I've heard someone else claim that it was missing in the newest 2.5.9 version of the app. I haven't been able to update to 2.5.9 because I get an install error, and others have claimed the same, so I'm waiting for a new update. Here's the previous 2.3.26 Android version that I'm currently using on my Pixel if you care to try it. It does have a time zone option for me.

As for connecting the light, you should ideally use a 2.4g only network, no 5g. Most routers should have the option to create a new SSID with whichever radio bands you choose. I use a 2.4g only SSID for all my aquarium devices and smart plugs. Also, the SSID name and password should contain no special characters, just letters and numbers (lower and upper case are fine). My light would not connect until I removed the special characters from my password.

 

[Urban_Epiphyte]

Thanks, I downloaded that version of the app and the time zone option is showing up. I'm also prompted to "direct link to current device" and I'm able to control the light (somewhat).

The buttons continue blinking the entire time though, and no matter what I do, the light will not save under "my devices" or anything, and if I back out of the light controls I have to completely close the app and refresh my connection to the light's wifi signal in order to get the prompt to control the light when I go back into the app.

So the fact that it won't save to my devices seems like the primary issue at this point. But I'm also not able to connect it to my wifi still (on the 2.4g signal). I even tried using an older router and that still did not work.

Any thoughts on how to get the light to save or show up in "my devices"?

 

[penfold2]

Here's the steps I take to reconnect my light:

1. Delete the light from the app if it's still there but disconnected.
2. Hold the middle button on the light for several seconds until it shuts off and restarts, cycling through all the colors. This puts it into pairing mode.
3. Tap the + button in the app. App will prompt to connect to light wifi.
4. Connect to light wifi and go back to app.
5. Select your 2.4g SSID if it is not automatically detected, and enter the password. Make sure it's the correct password for that SSID if you're using different passwords.
6. Light will connect and prompt you to switch your phone back to your home wifi network.
7. Once you're back on home wifi you can tap on the light in the app and change settings.

It sounds like you're having trouble with step 5? Have you verified that your SSID is 2.4g only and that there are no special characters in your SSID or password? What happens after entering your wifi password?

 

[Urban_Epiphyte]

Yes, stuck on step 5, it will load for a while and then say "scan failed". If I switch my phone to connect to my 2.4g wifi signal it will say "wifi error - go to check the wifi information".

I could live with the light not being connected to wifi if I could control it directly, but the light will not save to "my devices" or show up anywhere in the app besides an initial pop up asking me if I want to "direct link to current device". Here's a screen recording to show what I mean.

 

[Sidius]

I'm having trouble with the App for the A8 Pro Max Gen II lights failing to update. Has anyone else run into this problem?

When I launch the app, it prompts me to update to the latest version (3.0.3) but always fails with the following error.. "App update not installed as package appears to be invalid."

I seem to be stuck on version 2.3.26

I'd love some help or tips if anyone can suggest a fix.

Thank you!

 

[jgonz]

I'm having trouble with the App for the A8 Pro Max Gen II lights failing to update. Has anyone else run into this problem?

When I launch the app, it prompts me to update to the latest version (3.0.3) but always fails with the following error.. "App update not installed as package appears to be invalid."

I seem to be stuck on version 2.3.26

I'd love some help or tips if anyone can suggest a fix.

Thank you!

Same problem... does any one know how to download the new app version ?

 

[penfold2]

I'm having trouble with the App for the A8 Pro Max Gen II lights failing to update. Has anyone else run into this problem?

When I launch the app, it prompts me to update to the latest version (3.0.3) but always fails with the following error.. "App update not installed as package appears to be invalid."

I seem to be stuck on version 2.3.26

I'd love some help or tips if anyone can suggest a fix.

Thank you!

Same problem... does any one know how to download the new app version ?

As far as I know everyone is having this problem (with the Android version at least). It seems to be a bug. I think we just need to wait for the next update. 2.3.26 still seems to work fine for me.

 

[racsoh]

Me as well. I just reached out to the vendor and provided all the information I have. The app fails to update to the latest one.

 

[racsoh]

Yes, stuck on step 5, it will load for a while and then say "scan failed". If I switch my phone to connect to my 2.4g wifi signal it will say "wifi error - go to check the wifi information".

I could live with the light not being connected to wifi if I could control it directly, but the light will not save to "my devices" or show up anywhere in the app besides an initial pop up asking me if I want to "direct link to current device". Here's a screen recording to show what I mean.

Skip the direct link to device part. Just click now and continue adding the light through WiFi.

 

[racsoh]

As far as I know everyone is having this problem (with the Android version at least). It seems to be a bug. I think we just need to wait for the next update. 2.3.26 still seems to work fine for me.

Hi - Uploaded a new version of the guide. Here you go:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a8-light-help-guide-version-2.1132876/

 

[racsoh]

I'm having trouble with the App for the A8 Pro Max Gen II lights failing to update. Has anyone else run into this problem?

When I launch the app, it prompts me to update to the latest version (3.0.3) but always fails with the following error.. "App update not installed as package appears to be invalid."

I seem to be stuck on version 2.3.26

I'd love some help or tips if anyone can suggest a fix.

Thank you!

Hi - Uploaded a new version of the guide. Here you go:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a8-light-help-guide-version-2.1132876/

 

[penfold2]

Hi - Uploaded a new version of the guide. Here you go:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a8-light-help-guide-version-2.1132876/

Thank you! Just updated to 3.0.7. That was so incredibly helpful and professionally done. They need to hire you.

 

[racsoh]

Hi - Uploaded a new version of the guide. Here you go:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a8-light-help-guide-version-2.1132876/

Thank you! Just updated to 3.0.7. That was so incredibly helpful and professionally done. They need to hire you.

LOL. Thanks. I'm glad it helped!

 

[SaltyinNJ]

Your guide has been incredibly helpful. I just got my light the other day and I can connect to my WiFi and get the light added in the app using my IPhone.

But, I cannot figure out how to get it to run a preset schedule or modified schedule. I can adjust the light manually no problem and even adjust the light intensity within the preset schedule but once I click “Save Device” it does not run the schedule. Is there another step I am missing? Can I just swipe exit the app after getting that or do I need to do something else?

I did adjust the time zone to UTC-4 (NJ) but it does seem to ask me every time I enter the app. Maybe something to do with that?

I would appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks

 

[AJQ69]

Hi everyone,

I had a bit of free time and put together a small (though not fully complete) guide on how to get your A8 Light connected, along with some helpful tips to get your lighting schedule set up correctly.

Just a quick note—this guide is based on my personal experience using the AIPAI app on Android, so things might vary slightly depending on your setup.

Disclaimer: Please use the guide at your own discretion and risk.

Hope it helps someone out there!

Thanks

 

[racsoh]

Your guide has been incredibly helpful. I just got my light the other day and I can connect to my WiFi and get the light added in the app using my IPhone.

But, I cannot figure out how to get it to run a preset schedule or modified schedule. I can adjust the light manually no problem and even adjust the light intensity within the preset schedule but once I click “Save Device” it does not run the schedule. Is there another step I am missing? Can I just swipe exit the app after getting that or do I need to do something else?

I did adjust the time zone to UTC-4 (NJ) but it does seem to ask me every time I enter the app. Maybe something to do with that?

I would appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks

Hi. Sometimes when you set the time zone it will not show it correctly right away, at least it happens on Android that way.
What I do in that case is, first set the correct time zone, then tap the time at the top and once it asks if I want to set the correct time I tap yes, then I tap on save device.

After that I press back to take me to the main screen where the devices are listed and then I tap in the same light to open it, and check if the time is correct. It usually works fine on Android, but I have never tried it on an iPhone.