AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[Hooz]

Yes, I put a little thermal paste, which likely caused the problem. I thought it was fairly straight forward and followed a previous video that was posted.
This also happened to someone else and they suggested buying a new board. In hindsight I probably woudn't add the thermal paste... I did contact support and I'm waiting to hear back.

Ah. Gotcha. I was wondering why you ordered (paid for) parts for new lights, but that makes sense.

Are people having an issue with overheating? Why are people pre-emptively taking them apart to apply paste? I've seen a few others say they did the same and had the same outcome.

 

[savoyard]

did you make sure you used a non conductive paste. also that was way to much in that video. a few pea size drops and just pressed to the heatsink would have been more than enough. your not buttering bread

I used this one. It says Non-Electrical Conductive. But yeah I agree that it just needed a few pea size drops. I used a lot less than the video, but still probably too much.

 

[Jonreefer]

this is cheaper and would have been plenty
Amazon product ASIN B0795DP124Other stuff says non conductive so atleast it didnt short anything with that

 

[RoanokeReef]

It's probably the bending of the ribbon cable that attaches the buttons to the LEDs or the pins since everything besides the buttons / wifi working but replacing the board fixes it, not the paste itself.

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

Does anyone have one of the A8se II lights yet? Seems to be the same light (A8se) but with 8 channels of control instead of 6. Is that right?

I got 10 of the normal A8SE lights and they have 8 channels of control. I think whoever is selling them as A8SE II is trying to squeeze more money out of you. I also question most suppliers stating Cree LEDs and charging more.

 

[sith114]

I got 10 of the normal A8SE lights and they have 8 channels of control. I think whoever is selling them as A8SE II is trying to squeeze more money out of you. I also question most suppliers stating Cree LEDs and charging more.

Show us photo of label that you got on lamp.
I bought mine in Novemver and they send me a8se II max when i bought a8se on auction.


Does anyone knows is radion X Kit the same as a8se X Kit?

 

[psidriven]

i just got my a8pro and it didn't come with the meanwell the seller promised. seller said the meanwells had issues so they weren't sent. sounds sketchy so does anyone have comparison photos of a8se vs a8pro so i can confirm i got the right light?

 

[$hing$hong]

I got 10 of the normal A8SE lights and they have 8 channels of control. I think whoever is selling them as A8SE II is trying to squeeze more money out of you. I also question most suppliers stating Cree LEDs and charging more.

My A8SE only has 6 channels:
White
Blue
Red
Green
Blue 2 (deep blue)
purple

 

[lukas_gr]

In October I bought 4 A8s lamps, unfortunately after less than 3 months the light blue channels in two lamps stopped working. The LEDs barely light up after looking closely. I contacted the seller from Alibaba, unfortunately they are causing big problems, because they claim that this lamp is no longer produced and they do not have parts, and shipping to China is not very profitable. Maybe one of you has already had such a case and knows how to fix it? Were the LEDs or the motherboard broken?

 

[oreo54]

In October I bought 4 A8s lamps, unfortunately after less than 3 months the light blue channels in two lamps stopped working. The LEDs barely light up after looking closely. I contacted the seller from Alibaba, unfortunately they are causing big problems, because they claim that this lamp is no longer produced and they do not have parts, and shipping to China is not very profitable. Maybe one of you has already had such a case and knows how to fix it? Were the LEDs or the motherboard broken?

@_AV

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

Show us photo of label that you got on lamp.
I bought mine in Novemver and they send me a8se II max when i bought a8se on auction.


Does anyone knows is radion X Kit the same as a8se X Kit?

O dang you are correct they sent me A8SE II max lights so that's why Im getting 8 channels they sold them just as the normal A8SE lights so thats a win. well if anyone wants the link of the guy I got my lights from let me know

Also I did get the x mounts and they are the same size as the radion x mounts however the Chinese kits do not have the special lip that slides on the radion light rail if you are wanting to mount them that way

 

[sith114]

O dang you are correct they sent me A8SE II max lights so that's why Im getting 8 channels they sold them just as the normal A8SE lights so thats a win. well if anyone wants the link of the guy I got my lights from let me know

Also I did get the x mounts and they are the same size as the radion x mounts however the Chinese kits do not have the special lip that slides on the radion light rail if you are wanting to mount them that way

Heh i got the same supprise in November ;) Also i got another when i got my 2ed one and it was normal a8se :D
No i'm waiting on 3rd one hope it will be max version ;P

 

[_AV]

In October I bought 4 A8s lamps, unfortunately after less than 3 months the light blue channels in two lamps stopped working. The LEDs barely light up after looking closely. I contacted the seller from Alibaba, unfortunately they are causing big problems, because they claim that this lamp is no longer produced and they do not have parts, and shipping to China is not very profitable. Maybe one of you has already had such a case and knows how to fix it? Were the LEDs or the motherboard broken?

I'm still waiting for someone curious enough to send me one of these for a repair so I can make a detailed component level comparison video of this light and a radion.
With that being said, there are almost always three reasons for LED lights like these to fail:
- burned out LEDs
- failure of LED channel on the main board
- corroded off PCB traces
Any one of the above or often a combination will lead to your symptoms.

 

[lukas_gr]

is the motherboard for the a8s and a8se versions the same?

 

[sith114]

is the motherboard for the a8s and a8se versions the same?

I have a8se 6channel and a8se II max 8 channel and it's the same ;) I think firmware on esp32 which is main controller on this board is different.

 

[Saltfishlover]

yeah, I setup the access point and that didn't help either. So no wifi coming up with the Alight. I sent an email to their technical support, but haven't heard back yet.

So right now my lights fully light up with the fans on, but the Up, down and cycle buttons aren't working. Just a dim red light when I push them, but nothing happens. I ordered a new electronic bar, which I hope will fix the problem.

I just got the electronic bar installed and the light works now, so i would think it will also work for you!

 

[Bamm69]

Will this bracket work on a rimmed tank? I can't seem to find anymore pictures or videos reviews of this light.

No it is made for rimless tank

 

[Saltfishlover]

Yes, I put a little thermal paste, which likely caused the problem. I thought it was fairly straight forward and followed a previous video that was posted.
This also happened to someone else and they suggested buying a new board. In hindsight I probably woudn't add the thermal paste... I did contact support and I'm waiting to hear back.

It's the circuit bar (black long piece with all thr resistors) just buy that and replace. Easy peasy. What i did notice is the warm white, purple and green don't apply to these lights. Purple and green appear to.be UV and a blue. Just for what it's worth

 

[VDC]

Show us photo of label that you got on lamp.
I bought mine in Novemver and they send me a8se II max when i bought a8se on auction.


Does anyone knows is radion X Kit the same as a8se X Kit?

I also bought 3 A8se light in Oct and have 8 channels.

I think it’s just random..

 

[savoyard]

I just got the electronic bar installed and the light works now, so i would think it will also work for you!

Just a follow up. I got the new board in and installed and it worked fine after that. Super easy to switch out and a relief to see one working. The new board didn't come with a battery though. Maybe this is normal, so I just took it off the old board.