A8 Light Help Guide

[redstalker]

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!

Where is the best place to buy these

 

[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!

Where is the best place to buy these

I bought them directly from China. I know some retailers that sell the light down here in South Florida, but I don't see them listed online.
I bought my lights on AliExpress.

 

[reefnz]

The app on has Timezone +12 , that's why I am having issues as New Zealand is +13

 

[Sidius]

Has anyone else had an issue updating the time zone after the recent time change to move ahead an hour?

The App asks me to update the time zone, the time seems to change but the lights still don't come on (it's past the set point time to come on in the morning).. When I exit and go back into the light, its reverted back to the time being an hour behind (though the time zone is set to my correct time zone for Pacific time) and it once against asks me if I want to update the time zone.

 

[penfold2]

Has anyone else had an issue updating the time zone after the recent time change to move ahead an hour?

The App asks me to update the time zone, the time seems to change but the lights still don't come on (it's past the set point time to come on in the morning).. When I exit and go back into the light, its reverted back to the time being an hour behind (though the time zone is set to my correct time zone for Pacific time) and it once against asks me if I want to update the time zone.

I changed my time zone and then hit "save device," and it's been keeping time since.

Are you sure you have the correct time zone? UTC does not account for daylight savings, so your UTC time zone will change twice a year. Type it into google (UTC-5 in my case), click on one of the links, and verify that it matches your current time.

 

[Sidius]

I'll have a look.. thank you for the tip

To confuse (or perhaps simplify?) things even more, my local Canadian Province has now adopted a permanent time zone so we will no longer have daylight savings time changes every year.

PS - Updating my time zone to UTC-7 worked

 

[Sidius]

Another issue that perhaps some of the folks out there can assist with (I posted this in another thread but nobody has responded).

I am having an issue where one of my A8 Pro II Max lights just doesn't come on randomly in the morning. It will be fine for a week or longer then all of a sudden, one of the lights just doesn't come on in the morning (but the other light still does). It's always the same light in the pair and they are sync'd/grouped.

The only fix that I have found so far, is to turn the light from "Auto" to "Manual" and then back to "Auto" again. It resumes its schedule alongside the other light. As mentioned, the two lights are synced so when I do this, both lights go to manual and back to auto. It will then be fine for another week or so (sometimes 2 weeks) and then suddenly the same light will randomly just not come on in the morning again... repeating the process.

 

[jphilip813]

Well mine was working fine for a while and in the last two weeks...Stopped connecting online...and does anyone have the APP to download again...I have the manual...but the QR code doesnt work anymore..I am trying to reinstall the app on Android

 

[mewgar24]

First of thank you for creating the manual! I finally got my new A8 yesterday and trying to set it up is a pain. Now I get to add my device successfully. I also have my own custom presets.

Current Version: 3.21.23
My issue:

1. there are no Timezone under [My]
2. when i got to the device, my time is ALWAYS wrong and so I have to update the time again and again just so I can save the device and select my preset.

After exiting the application. My light will turn on again, I am writing this at 3:50am so I am expecting the light to be off. Why would it not save my settings? I am so lost

Key notes: my modem only has 1 ssid and supports both 5 and 2.4 with password having special character. The device has been added to the app successfully so i don't think it matters anymore. Its just my app will not keep my settings

 

[mewgar24]

So I think I fixed my issue.

Problem: Cannot add a device.
Solution: make sure to put the RIGHT wifi password.

Problem: Lights will keep turning on and reverting back to a Time I didn't set.
Solution: Make sure you are on the right time zone. Version 3.1.23 defaults to UTC+8 (China). To change, on the top right, click the hamburger (three lines) > TimeZoneSet > then change to your Time Zone.

 

[mewgar24]

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.

So I spoke with the customer support. The reason why my time will not sync and calibrate is because i put UTC+5 NOT UTC-5 which is totally opposite. Now, it seems to work now. I was just being dumb.

 

[jphilip813]

So I spoke with the customer support. The reason why my time will not sync and calibrate is because i put UTC+5 NOT UTC-5 which is totally opposite. Now, it seems to work now. I was just being dumb.

I sent them an email earlier today, still waiting on a response. How do they respond or what method did to get a hold of them? Mine still won't reconnect via WiFi...i had to go directly to the light...as a temp. solution.

 

[mewgar24]

I am having serious issues with this light. So I get the timezone setup correctly and everything, my settings has been saved to the device or so i thought. My issues.

Problem 1: when it is about to ramp in the morning. it will do its thing then after an hour or so, it will be dark, there is still light. Then i checked the app. it is in a Beijing timezone at 9pm! It will ask me to update the time again which i would, then it will correct itself.

Problem 2: Around 11-12ish at noon. It will turn itself off. After checking the app. It is back to Beijing time again 12 midnight. So i have to resync the device again just to turn it on.

I mean, it has been a pain for a great light to have a faulty app like this. Anyone have thoughts on how to fix this inconsistent timezone changes i will buy you a beer??

It seems like it is not saving my settings to the actual device.

 

[jphilip813]

I am having serious issues with this light. So I get the timezone setup correctly and everything, my settings has been saved to the device or so i thought. My issues.

Problem 1: when it is about to ramp in the morning. it will do its thing then after an hour or so, it will be dark, there is still light. Then i checked the app. it is in a Beijing timezone at 9pm! It will ask me to update the time again which i would, then it will correct itself.

Problem 2: Around 11-12ish at noon. It will turn itself off. After checking the app. It is back to Beijing time again 12 midnight. So i have to resync the device again just to turn it on.

I mean, it has been a pain for a great light to have a faulty app like this. Anyone have thoughts on how to fix this inconsistent timezone changes i will buy you a beer??

It seems like it is not saving my settings to the actual device.

Hey, I don't drink beer...lol but what i ended up doing is one ensure you have the most update app version 3.1.23 as of today. Second I gave up on trying to get it back online...i use the Direct Device feature and program it that way by each hour and ensure that the time zone is sync with your current time zone. Since I am in mountain time zone, I selected UTC -6. Once I lay out my entire light schedule from 0900-11pm...save it and let it do it's thing. The down side is you will have that flashing led at the top, and you are not on the wifi option...but it ramps up and down as loaded...atleasr it worked for me. But ensure you are logged into the light from the beginning (Aixxxxxxx).

 

[mewgar24]

Hey, I don't drink beer...lol but what i ended up doing is one ensure you have the most update app version 3.1.23 as of today. Second I gave up on trying to get it back online...i use the Direct Device feature and program it that way by each hour and ensure that the time zone is sync with your current time zone. Since I am in mountain time zone, I selected UTC -6. Once I lay out my entire light schedule from 0900-11pm...save it and let it do it's thing. The down side is you will have that flashing led at the top, and you are not on the wifi option...but it ramps up and down as loaded...atleasr it worked for me. But ensure you are logged into the light from the beginning (Aixxxxxxx).

I have been wondering about that direct device! I don't mind reprogramming it. I just dont want it hit the china server and keep recalibrating the timezone. i do have the version you mentioned. This is a less than a week old light. It is amazing, i just hate to see it go.

 

[mewgar24]

Hey, I don't drink beer...lol but what i ended up doing is one ensure you have the most update app version 3.1.23 as of today. Second I gave up on trying to get it back online...i use the Direct Device feature and program it that way by each hour and ensure that the time zone is sync with your current time zone. Since I am in mountain time zone, I selected UTC -6. Once I lay out my entire light schedule from 0900-11pm...save it and let it do it's thing. The down side is you will have that flashing led at the top, and you are not on the wifi option...but it ramps up and down as loaded...atleasr it worked for me. But ensure you are logged into the light from the beginning (Aixxxxxxx).

How do you sync your timezone when you are on direct? Using direct requires you to have the wifi connected to the light, if so, you wont be able to connect to the internet to get the correct timezone. My application is already set to utc-5 yet regardless of my efforts it stays in utc+8 beijing. If i try to change the timezone under the top right corner settings, it will just say "requesting" and get stuck, meaning it cannot find a connection

 

[Sidius]

So I spoke with the customer support. The reason why my time will not sync and calibrate is because i put UTC+5 NOT UTC-5 which is totally opposite. Now, it seems to work now. I was just being dumb.

How do you contact customer support?

I tried contacting the vendor I purchased the lights from on AliExpress but unfortunately it looks like they have closed up shop. They have not answered any messages and they currently have nothing for sale. Contacting AliExpress customer support got me nowhere as well since I'm past the return/refund window.

 

[Sidius]

Also, has anyone tried a firmware update on any of their devices?

I recently went on vacation and when I got back, I saw that the same light failed to come on at the set time in the morning again.. I have no idea if that light was off for my entire vacation or not and cooincidentally an acros directly under it is starting to lose tissue.

It looks like there's a firmware update available for the lights (different than a software update) but it warns that updating the firmware comes with risks.