AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[Jonreefer]

After reading all the niggles of these lights along with the shoddy app I'm inclined to not bother.

They do appear to be good lights when performing properly but there is just so many niggles as far as taking the unit apart even.

I think the new Gen2 Nicrew, along with it's old school handheld remote, may be worth the extra cost.

I'll hold back for while regardless because the Nicrew Gen2 is not yet available in the UK.

I bought the Nicrew Gen2 when I first setup the tank and was not impressed by the lights power and didnt find it blended the colors great and to busy shimmer. I got the 100w and it was on my Nuvo 20. Plus the controller was annoying and having it always plugged in for the light to run its schedule. Also the blue ch are only 1 ch on the remote so is the white ch. You cannot dial in the color exactly how you want because of that as well.I returned it after about a week and replaced it with AI blades.

I dont know why some other are having issues with the lights. Mine connected up and worked perfectly since day one as easy as my Blades were to setup. I agree it sucks you have to open it to add thermal paste to make sure they get proper cooling but having to take 5min to do that vs spending $800 more for a single light I will take it

 

[PlayerOne]

I dont have option to separate 2.4 and 5 connection.
I just take a walk with my phone... when i almost lose the wifi im in 2.4...
I connect the lamp or pump there !
Trust me, i am an engineer :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

you have to do it via your router. Enter your IP into a web browser. Then create a 2.4g Guest network. Thats what I had to do. Very easy once figured it out lol.

 

[Patx]

you have to do it via your router. Enter your IP into a web browser. Then create a 2.4g Guest network. Thats what I had to do. Very easy once figured it out lol.

Im kind of old lol
Back in 2001 i know how to use piratebay
But i can't create "easily" a 2.4 :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:
Trust me, walking 100feet away it easier and automatic!

Maybe I'll try someday if im not able to crawl!

 

[joseph.timbs]

After reading all the niggles of these lights along with the shoddy app I'm inclined to not bother.

They do appear to be good lights when performing properly but there is just so many niggles as far as taking the unit apart even.

I think the new Gen2 Nicrew, along with it's old school handheld remote, may be worth the extra cost.

I'll hold back for while regardless because the Nicrew Gen2 is not yet available in the UK.

With the struggles I’ve had I’d recommend ur thinking. Others have had success but mine just is not cooperating, I may be unlucky with my connection setup performing with device. I’ll say the color, par and settings in the app when properly set is amazing value BUT….

 

[joseph.timbs]

Update.. don’t exactly know what I did but I was able to find WiFi, set and save my device. Sincerely, Thank you to everyone who helped. It looked bleak.

 

[woowoodengy]

Did someone already try reflash the onboard chip of these lights with ESPHome?
I just ordered a spare PCB to experiment with while my A8se II max can stay on the tank. This way I can then hopefully intergrate it into HomeAssistant and get rid of the original app.im working with

Did someone already try reflash the onboard chip of these lights with ESPHome?
I just ordered a spare PCB to experiment with while my A8se II max can stay on the tank. This way I can then hopefully intergrate it into HomeAssistant and get rid of the original app.

im tempted to do it but I’ve been having issues with the connection and I think my esp32 may be malfunctioning. I’ve been messaging with the seller almost 2 weeks and hoping to get some sort of resolution before tearing the light down. Let me know when you get the replacement board. I would love to know the Pin-out

 

[UK-Reefer]

With the struggles I’ve had I’d recommend ur thinking. Others have had success but mine just is not cooperating, I may be unlucky with my connection setup performing with device. I’ll say the color, par and settings in the app when properly set is amazing value BUT….

It's the app and it's connection with these, along with all the other niggles, where as with the Nicrew Gen 2 there is no app, only control via basic remote but it works out the box.

After all, Telegraham results of the Nicrew spanked Radions by a long way.

 

[KoenE]

im tempted to do it but I’ve been having issues with the connection and I think my esp32 may be malfunctioning. I’ve been messaging with the seller almost 2 weeks and hoping to get some sort of resolution before tearing the light down. Let me know when you get the replacement board. I would love to know the Pin-out

I will do, the seller messaged me about the needed version this morning as a check, because I ordered a replacement board for the A8se (ordered through the link somewhere in this thread). But apparently the mainboard for the A8se II Max is different, so they have contacted the manufacturer for me to get the right version mainboard (the one in the link is 6 channel instead of 8). So I have to wait for now to see when it will get shipped.

 

[Toob]

Looks like none of these lights (a8se or a8pro) are in stock right now? At least at the BreezeAqua store - is there another source?

 

[penfold2]

Looks like none of these lights (a8se or a8pro) are in stock right now? At least at the BreezeAqua store - is there another source?

A8SE shows up as in stock for me at the BreezeAqua store.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804945139666.html

 

[Toob]

A8SE shows up as in stock for me at the BreezeAqua store.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804945139666.html

When you add it to your actual cart, you don't see this?

 

[Jonreefer]

When you add it to your actual cart, you don't see this?

it shows 1 for the Max and 2 for the Blue when I add to cart

 

[penfold2]

When you add it to your actual cart, you don't see this?

When adding to cart I see 2 left for all configurations.

 

[LunchboLobster]

Getting 2 x A8SE lights set up, I am unable to program in ramp up/down times on channels in manual mode. I've tried direct link, wifi link, and reset/deleted reinstalled everything. Firmware is up to date. The app I installed was directly from the QR code in the manual. When I enter setup on the lights, the app very briefly shows the time (ramp up/down option), but once it connects, it goes away. Screenshot attached. Any ideas?

PS - Is the right method to add a preset under "Auto" and program there?

 

[RoanokeReef]

Getting 2 x A8SE lights set up, I am unable to program in ramp up/down times on channels in manual mode. I've tried direct link, wifi link, and reset/deleted reinstalled everything. Firmware is up to date. The app I installed was directly from the QR code in the manual. When I enter setup on the lights, the app very briefly shows the time (ramp up/down option), but once it connects, it goes away. Screenshot attached. Any ideas?

PS - Is the right method to add a preset under "Auto" and program there?

Program it under Auto

 

[PlayerOne]

Im kind of old lol
Back in 2001 i know how to use piratebay
But i can't create "easily" a 2.4 :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:
Trust me, walking 100feet away it easier an

Looks like none of these lights (a8se or a8pro) are in stock right now? At least at the BreezeAqua store - is there another source?

I used breeze aqua, and the lights are working perfectly and shipped to me in like 5 days

 

[Jonreefer]

Getting 2 x A8SE lights set up, I am unable to program in ramp up/down times on channels in manual mode. I've tried direct link, wifi link, and reset/deleted reinstalled everything. Firmware is up to date. The app I installed was directly from the QR code in the manual. When I enter setup on the lights, the app very briefly shows the time (ramp up/down option), but once it connects, it goes away. Screenshot attached. Any ideas?

PS - Is the right method to add a preset under "Auto" and program there?

best thing to do is just pick one of the presets and then edit it to how you want it to run. I couldn figure out how to make one from scratch so I just used AB+ and turned it into my profile on how i want it to be

 

[Toob]

it shows 1 for the Max and 2 for the Blue when I add to cart

When adding to cart I see 2 left for all configurations.

Thanks - it must be because I've already ordered two of them and so I've reached my customer limit. How are you all ordering more than 2 lights? Do I need to make a bunch of AliExpress dummy accounts or something?

 

[penfold2]

Thanks - it must be because I've already ordered two of them and so I've reached my customer limit. How are you all ordering more than 2 lights? Do I need to make a bunch of AliExpress dummy accounts or something?

I've heard of people messaging sellers to get around minimum purchase limits, so I imagine you could do the same for maximum limits. I'm not sure who imposes the limits, Ali, or the seller, but sellers seem to be very willing to deal with customer needs from what I've heard. It's strange that the listing shows a 1% discount for 2+ items, but then limits you to 2.

 

[Toob]

I've heard of people messaging sellers to get around minimum purchase limits, so I imagine you could do the same for maximum limits. I'm not sure who imposes the limits, Ali, or the seller, but sellers seem to be very willing to deal with customer needs from what I've heard. It's strange that the listing shows a 1% discount for 2+ items, but then limits you to 2.

Thanks. I ordered two to play around with. I'm thinking of swapping out my Reefis to these lights. Don't have an issue with Reefis - in fact they are awesome lights, and probably of higher quality than the A8SE. My problem is I can't get over the Radion AB+ look. I haven't been able to replicate it with the Reefis, and I think that Radion spectrium looks better than anything out there.

I've read mixed things on this - but can anyone speak to how well these lights replicate the Radion AB+ spectrum *visually* ?