AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[Saltfishlover]

Yup, I have the x30 blue and have same issues. I just accept that is the price of cheaper lol

 

[ebolatli]

After connecting the device to wifi, update the time. When the device enters the day cycle, use a time-delayed device and let the device receive power 3 minutes after the power comes back, this will solve your problem.

 

[Dibi]

It is working here! How about you guys?

 

[OscarHaglund]

So turns out the lights are pretty terrible.
I have had mine for 5 months or so and 75% of the blue leds are gone and about 30% of the blue2 leds are gone. This is across 4 lights. They are in a canopy but its very well ventilated with 4 200mm computer fans sucking out air.

Blue2

Blue1

 

[VDC]

So turns out the lights are pretty terrible.
I have had mine for 5 months or so and 75% of the blue leds are gone and about 30% of the blue2 leds are gone. This is across 4 lights. They are in a canopy but its very well ventilated with 4 200mm computer fans sucking out air.

Blue2

Blue1

they have warranty, they will send a new panel out.

Mine have been working perfect but have them in the open and they are to strong to run higher than 40%.

 

[Dibi]

Someone have a picture side by side ? A8 versus real radion :?

 

[Saltfishlover]

Are these the A8 or x30 blue?

 

[ebolatli]

So turns out the lights are pretty terrible.
I have had mine for 5 months or so and 75% of the blue leds are gone and about 30% of the blue2 leds are gone. This is across 4 lights. They are in a canopy but its very well ventilated with 4 200mm computer fans sucking out air.

Blue2

Blue1

The main reason for the failure was that there was no thermal paste under the LED plate. My first job was to check the thermal paste and apply it under it, thus helping the LEDs to cool properly.

 

[bradreef]

The main reason for the failure was that there was no thermal paste under the LED plate. My first job was to check the thermal paste and apply it under it, thus helping the LEDs to cool properly.

Video to show how?

 

[hcker99 Verified Sponsor]

So I have 6 lights all in the group "All". When I click on any of the lights i get this message. I can only control the lights by connecting directly to them.


Anyone run into this before?

 

[VDC]

Control each light separately or you will have issues

 

[Saltfishlover]

The main reason for the failure was that there was no thermal paste under the LED plate. My first job was to check the thermal paste and apply it under it, thus helping the LEDs to cool properly.

I have not added thermal paste. Is that for sure something that is needed?

 

[Jonreefer]

I have not added thermal paste. Is that for sure something that is needed?

it will help alot to transfer the heat from the panel to the heatsink and for the fan to cool the heatsink and pull as much heat away from the LED board to help the LED last alot longer. If you wanna know how just watch some videos on thermal paste on a CPU.

 

[disaster999]

The main reason for the failure was that there was no thermal paste under the LED plate. My first job was to check the thermal paste and apply it under it, thus helping the LEDs to cool properly.

Not necessarily, I have 2 lights running at 80% for a few months before lowering down to 50%. No thermal paste, no issues. Still going strong

 

[Saltfishlover]

Does it get smeared on the entire plate?

 

[disaster999]

Does it get smeared on the entire plate?

Just where the plate touches the heat sink should be fine. Dont use too much. Just a thin layer is fine.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Well here is my 6 month review.

I have had the light running on my sps only tank (6 months old) since January of this year. I bought it for $250 USD shipped with a North American power supply. It is as close to a radion as you will ever see. The fans are the same, the lens cover is the same, the housing is near identical with the main difference being the cord runs through the back of this light. The LED count, color and type is the same. I have dissembled my radion G5s to compare components and the only striking difference is the radions run a 10 channel system controlling all colors of leds while the A8 runs 6 and the radion uses Bluetooth connectivity while the A8 uses wifi (will touch more on this).

I currently have the light running beside two g5 XR30 blues and 95% of people would not be able to tell the difference. The color blends perfectly and the par is actually slightly higher than that produced by the radions. The A8 runs a warmer color overall and more closely resembles the pro version of the radion but with minor tweaks in color you can produce the “radion blue” look with very similar par results. With the light set to full intensity I was pushing well over 800 par in the upper parts of the tank. I currently have it set to about 75% blue channels and 20-30% whites and reds and am achieving 600+ par at the top 6” and 150-250 on the bottom 24” down.

Upon first setup I initially struggled with programming the light as it is in Chinese and the English app was not functional at the time. With the help of Google translate and some back and fourth with the supplier I managed to get the Chinese app working while they made improvements to the English app (which is now fully functional). After setup I took the time to create a manual for the light that I provided to the supplier with illustrations on how to program the Chinese app if you only know English. Feel free to reach out and I will provide the document.

As for the connection. I have found it more reliable than the radions Mobius. I have come home many times to my radions being out of schedule, changing times, and only running red/green/individual channels. In all my time with the A8 I only lost connectivity twice. The first time the power went out and the light was running 1h behind schedule until I opened the app and set to current time. The other time the light must have completely lost connectivity and reset to the default 5% on all channels until I reconnected.

Now does it grow coral? Absolutely and oddly enough all my most vivid pieces are underneath the A8.

I have been so impressed with this light that I put my radion G5s up for sale. I figured for the price I sell my G5s for I can purchase about 10 of these lights as they give a discount on 10 units. In all aspects I see that as a win.

I would love to have this document.

 

[ebolatli]

Not necessarily, I have 2 lights running at 80% for a few months before lowering down to 50%. No thermal paste, no issues. Still going strong

You are wrong about this, if there is no thermal paste under the plate, your LEDs will not have a long life.

 

[OscarHaglund]

they have warranty, they will send a new panel out.

Mine have been working perfect but have them in the open and they are to strong to run higher than 40%.

I bought mine in china so thats going to be tricky

 

[VDC]

You are wrong about this, if there is no thermal paste under the plate, your LEDs will not have a long life.

Is there a diy on how to fix this?