Going from Radion G4s to Radion G5 Blue: initial impression and two week update

[A. grandis]

Seriously? Return them and move on. Get some ATI Sunpower T5s going, my friends. You like LEDs? Get some Kessils, or Orphek... That much money for all the trouble?! Enough with the Corona virus stuff going on! I normally don't post on LED threads, but I feel sorry for you guys. Don't keep suffering! Move on already! Return those lights now.
Be safe!

 

[acropora4u]

WOW...so a short update. Just a few minutes ago, I was inspecting the bottom of the lights after they had gone off. With all the popping sounds, I wanted to check to make sure the clear LED cover wasn't cracked.

Well the good news is the clear LED cover hasn't cracked yet. The bad news is all 4 screws on the 4 corners of each light is cracked. Yes, 8 cracks per light. Every single light has the same 8 cracks in the same spots.

This is VERY bad news for everybody who has these lights because I inspected the lights very carefully when I received them and they did not have any cracks. So you can have non-cracked housing that cracks in a few weeks of use. These brand new lights are literally falling apart in less than a month. What is going on Ecotech....

yes ECOTECH, I have 2 xs radion gen5 xr30s and all cracked the same as Nubbie, how are we to get free repairs????

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

I was leaning towards the new Radions for my new 310 gallon build, but after reading this thread, I think I'll be looking for another option unfortunately.

 

[User1]

Ive mentioned it before and I’ll say it again. In the interview jake did with one of the ecotech guys he specifically said they designed their own fan from the ground up to make it quieter yet it is universally reported as ALOT louder.

Funny you should mention this. I'm not in the product for the light but watch this video a while back and caught this. The engineer said they decided to design / make their own rather than sourcing for a specific reason. Yet this complaint comes up often. Not sure how they are going to address this other than maybe throttling the RPM down. I would be afraid of thermal repercussions and overall diode life expectancy.

 

[dadnjesse]

I have three XR30 Blues that I hadn't noticed cracks, but after checking now all three have cracks around the screws, I don't know if they came that way or it happened later. I did just get off the phone with customer support and they will send me replacements. I don't have the loud fan problem though. And going from the Gen 4 pro's my Sps and responding great. overall I am pleased with the lights. I do however have problems with Mobius.

 

[NeverlosT]

Oh man ecotech is so lucky the Phillips Coralcare G2 launch is pushed back a few weeks due to coronavirus...

 

[HolySmoke]

Hey sorry about your step dad. I'm actually an ICU nurse currently working all my shifts on an absolutely swamped ICU covid floor. I haven't seen anything like this virus in my career... If I can give you any good news, the fact that he's still alive 18 days on the ventilator is a good thing and should give you hope. Most people I see pass within days if not hours after being intubated. Hang in there bud and you're right, at least we're fortunate enough to complain about lights that cost $800+.

I dont know how I missed this post but thank you very much nubbie. They woke him up yesterday, and he was breathing for 16 minutes on his own. I think they are gonna be performing a trach on him in the next couple of days.

Thanks for the kind words and doing what you do.

 

[Reefr]

Oh man ecotech is so lucky the Phillips Coralcare G2 launch is pushed back a few weeks due to coronavirus...

And don't forget the ATI Straton

 

[NeverlosT]

And don't forget the ATI Straton

Is there an english review of the Straton anywhere? That thing looks epic, but my dutch and spanish are rusty and that is all I can find for folks reviewing the fixture. No info on ATI website. When will it be available I wonder?

 

[Jstn]

I want them to be great lights. I think if they get these I guess you would call them “launch issues” taken care of they will be absolutely awesome. It’s a hard market with all the brands launching lights this year. Then add in the Economic and health issues right now you don’t want to turn potential sales away. @Nubbie thanks for the honest review and I hope that the issues you have are resolved.

I did notice today one of my lights has a crack I did reach out to Ecotech with an Email at 10am, by 2pm they reached out with the solution that they will mail me, they also have a how to change it out. Sure this is an inconvenience but they stood but their product in short time.

If anyone has a cracked lens here is the article on the fix and I would reach out to their CS people.

Radion G5: Cracked Lower Cover

Overview We identified an issue that may cause the lower cover on G5 Radions to crack around its retaining screws. Some background information: the countersunk holes are being over-stressed when ...

support.ecotechmarine.com

 

[2Wheelsonly]

I got a chance to see the G5 and can't stand the "blue" . Even with whites way down it looked like such a washed out blue. My G4 pros were a huge upgrade over AI as expected (not a fan of AI at all) but I couldn't imagine going with Radions again. Never had a problem with disco on my G4 and refuse to use diffusers as they make the already dull and washed out radions look even worse.

Just putting Orphek OR2 lights on my tank have completely changed the look and after 10+ years of LED I finally have that "pop". I am going to be selling my G4 Pro hybrid T5 setup and going to go with 8 orphek V4 compacts and 8 orphek OR2 bars; I can't wait!

 

[Reefr]

Is there an english review of the Straton anywhere? That thing looks epic, but my dutch and spanish are rusty and that is all I can find for folks reviewing the fixture. No info on ATI website. When will it be available I wonder?

Sadly, I think Philips & ATI are both facing issues due to the current situation and the delay/lack of parts coming from China.
I have seen the Straton installed at an LFS here in Belgium and yes, it does look epic. This light used to be on the ATI website but it's not anymore. I think we'll have to wait a bit longer but if the Straton lives up to its expectations, it could very well render T5 obsolete. Of course ATI will need to get serious with the software part this time - a great light is good but together with a good interface/connection it's even better. I didn't manage to find any serious reviews in English but you can always use the subtitles with auto translate in Youtube

 

[HuneyBear]

I did notice today one of my lights has a crack I did reach out to Ecotech with an Email at 10am, by 2pm they reached out with the solution that they will mail me, they also have a how to change it out. Sure this is an inconvenience but they stood but their product in short time.

If anyone has a cracked lens here is the article on the fix and I would reach out to their CS people.

Radion G5: Cracked Lower Cover

Overview We identified an issue that may cause the lower cover on G5 Radions to crack around its retaining screws. Some background information: the countersunk holes are being over-stressed when ...

support.ecotechmarine.com

It’s great that they have good customer service, especially in these times we are in. Its great they are rectifying the issue. But are your fans loud like many others have stated? Are they going to send fans for people to install as well? That’s not a smart*** question either, I’m legitimately curious.It is hard to convey that in type.


I just can’t understand how you can justify the fact you are having to disassemble and repair the lights you paid such a high price for. What are you paying the price for?
I would find it unacceptable to repair a brand new light and would want a full out new replacement sent myself, that’s what I paid for. If it where a bit older closer to the end of warranty I’d not be as hesitant to do it myself.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I’m really happy I got the Red Sea LED. Awesome light at a reasonable price. I don’t think they are getting the love they deserve. Too many you tubers pushing the G5

 

[Jstn]

It’s great that they have good customer service, especially in these times we are in. Its great they are rectifying the issue. But are your fans loud like many others have stated? Are they going to send fans for people to install as well? That’s not a smart*** question either, I’m legitimately curious.It is hard to convey that in type.


I just can’t understand how you can justify the fact you are having to disassemble and repair the lights you paid such a high price for. What are you paying the price for?
I would find it unacceptable to repair a brand new light and would want a full out new replacement sent myself, that’s what I paid for. If it where a bit older closer to the end of warranty I’d not be as hesitant to do it myself.

The have on the site a fan fix where it seems the bolts that go through the light a few inch lbs too tight, to be fair mine aren't loud but i might look at this when i disassemble.

Radion G5: How to Reduce Fan Noise

If your G5 Radion fan is producing louder than expected noise, this may be a result of insufficient pressure between the heatsink and LED board. In most cases this is resolved by tightening the 10 ...

support.ecotechmarine.com

I imaging if Covid wasn't such an issue they would send new lights but the fact i get parts and a response in a few days is fine with me, i understand your point but It doesn't bother me. Going from pilot scale to full production always flushes out issues here and there, I work in aerospace and automotive areas and this is why we require 3 qualification runs of materials and a battery of testing when scaling up runs (going pilot to full production) and we only make films and adhesives (no moving parts). I could only imagine being a small US company like ecotech where you are building a product much more complicated.

I get it from Ecotechs side and from upset customers but in the end I'm happy to have my lights and still with the issue I wouldn't change my decision: the spread is great and i don't miss my t5/G4 hybrid.

I guess different people respond differently, i recently bought a used manual transmission that ended up needing all new bearings and 3rd and 4th syncro hubs ( this wasn't stated at the time of sale), Iwasn't upset but looking forward to rebuilding it. I guess years of Grad School and the fact it takes at least 9 failed experiments to make one success changed the lens I view problems through.

 

[babycover]

I'm literally about to press the Checkout button on my LFS website, I thought before committing (1300AUD) to the G5 Pro, I would give it a final check. I will be holding off for now. As I having trouble with the cheap ebay light I got (come with the secondhand tank), really need a proper light now. perhaps an Hydra 64! it does carry lots more positive comments

 

[AJsReef]

I'm literally about to press the Checkout button on my LFS website, I thought before committing (1300AUD) to the G5 Pro, I would give it a final check. I will be holding off for now. As I having trouble with the cheap ebay light I got (come with the secondhand tank), really need a proper light now. perhaps an Hydra 64! it does carry lots more positive comments

I would've kept my Gen4s and added an additional with hindsight being 20/20

 

[Hydrored]

I just purchased 3 Reefi extremes, going to replace the covers and sell all 4 blues. I have been having issues with the lights turning on by themselves in the middle of the night or resetting the intensity along with the cracked cases. I have been a big fan of Ecotech, but these are the last lights I buy from them.

 

[HuneyBear]

The have on the site a fan fix where it seems the bolts that go through the light a few inch lbs too tight, to be fair mine aren't loud but i might look at this when i disassemble.

Radion G5: How to Reduce Fan Noise

If your G5 Radion fan is producing louder than expected noise, this may be a result of insufficient pressure between the heatsink and LED board. In most cases this is resolved by tightening the 10 ...

support.ecotechmarine.com

I imaging if Covid wasn't such an issue they would send new lights but the fact i get parts and a response in a few days is fine with me, i understand your point but It doesn't bother me. Going from pilot scale to full production always flushes out issues here and there, I work in aerospace and automotive areas and this is why we require 3 qualification runs of materials and a battery of testing when scaling up runs (going pilot to full production) and we only make films and adhesives (no moving parts). I could only imagine being a small US company like ecotech where you are building a product much more complicated.

I get it from Ecotechs side and from upset customers but in the end I'm happy to have my lights and still with the issue I wouldn't change my decision: the spread is great and i don't miss my t5/G4 hybrid.

I guess different people respond differently, i recently bought a used manual transmission that ended up needing all new bearings and 3rd and 4th syncro hubs ( this wasn't stated at the time of sale), Iwasn't upset but looking forward to rebuilding it. I guess years of Grad School and the fact it takes at least 9 failed experiments to make one success changed the lens I view problems through.

like I had said before If your happy with your purchase then cool. I hope they grow coral and are the aesthetic you like. My point is someone say, saving up for these lights and now they have broken cases, loud fans, and connectivity issues. You said yourself that your industry goes through a battery of tests and material exams. They didn’t do enough testing. I’m sorry, but it’s true. These are large investments that truly support life. I won’t get into the what counts as lives matter blah blah. If it was just the casing that would be nothing to me personally, but I would start a serious inquiry where the quality is my high cost went to. But unfortunately it’s not just the casing. They have been toting that they designed their own fan. Lots of fan issues out there. Lots of Mobius issue out there too. It’s not all gloom and doom though. Lots of good word out there about them also. And they haven’t tried sweeping it under the rug they have came out and said there are issues and they are fixing them. So kudos to them.

I hear you on the used auto parts I’ve been there. Buying used manual transmission is the worst. It’s like going to casino and laying money on black at the roulette table.I bought a great transmission that shifted great but was a wrecked car. Guess what it was a street racer car. Gears, synchros chewed up. Buy another for parts because gears are astronomical. Same gears are literally destroyed. Half the cost of rebuilt transmission now. More than car cost to begin with. ‍

I just purchased 3 Reefi extremes, going to replace the covers and sell all 4 blues. I have been having issues with the lights turning on by themselves in the middle of the night or resetting the intensity along with the cracked cases. I have been a big fan of Ecotech, but these are the last lights I buy from them.

Already losing customers who aren’t going to deal with the issues.

 

[zoomonster]

I bought 3 G5 XR30 Pro's and gave them a pretty good review out of the box with the positives of the original poster. Then again I was kind of in a hurry and pretty much plugged them all in, set AB+, set fans to auto and was done. I did initially have a couple Bluetooth errors and one fan at 100% made a little rattling noise on startup. Then they were great other than the point of sale leaning RMS arms. The problems began when I started to really tweak the lights and figured out just how bad the Bluetooth and the app were. Then of course after all the cracking threads I inspecting all of mine and they were all cracked. ETM support was a PIA and I Iet the ETM prez know about it and he was gracious enough to respond. I got an email late yesterday the repair kits were being shipped overnight but that's the last I heard and no "you have a package coming" email from UPS or Fedex. That's all well and good but what I want is something wifi based and an app that not only works but runs on something other than a dang cell phone. Better yet works on Apex with WXM module.

Someone made the comment they should have their entire development team on the issue lol I saw a picture somewhere of the TWO developers who looked barely out of diapers. Speaking as a software engineer of 30+ years they probably outsourced it to a couple of low bidder kids and what we got was trash software. ETM probably got what they paid for and from what I gather the Android app does not have all the features of the Apple version.