Popbloom RS90 wifi upgrade

[Mechano]

Just a recap, I received the new WiFi modules today (there was 4 in total and I also received one a few months back for my 5th light)
All installed and working as they should.
I can’t honestly unfortunately put faith in these lights that the wifi modules will last that long and cause of the downtime I did end up purchasing new lights locally. The reef tank would have been down without lights for over 2 weeks which would cause issue with all my corals for sure.
Dont get me wrong, I really like the lights, but not having any local suppliers in North America makes for longer shipping obviously as they come straight from China. And also having 5 out of 5 wifi modules fail, it likely means a production issues (I’m sure PopBloom will hopefully fix this flaw)

The only issue that might have caused this that I can think of (if it’s possible) is that we had a power outage one day. Never checked or played with the app afterwards as no need to, then one day when I did try to check the light functions, they didn’t work. Who knows.
(I also did put these wifi chips under a microscope to see if there was any visible breaks in the circuit board and didn’t visually find anything)

PopBloom owned up to the faults in the end. Wished I didn’t need to spend the extra on new lights (radions) but I will still keep one of these lights on the frag system and eventually find a use for the other 4!!

Thanks again Oliver for expediting and sending out the new wifi modules

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

Yes, coal need lighting.
as I said, "Honestly speaking , I do not know where is the bug points. But I know the importance of the lighting for coral , want to solve your lighting fast and trust you to help find out the reason latter."
1, I try the fast shipping, as you see, it is only 8 days.
2, you only need on /off the power by hands during the 8 days.

I feel very sorry that I tried so much to fast , but " I did end up purchasing new lights locally. " ...:loudly-crying-face:

Would please may help us find out the real problem now ?

Technically speak, each light is individuals it is IMPOSSIBLE that all 5 lights broken as same time without external special cases.

So I asked "are all 5 wifi module lost control suddenly or one by one ?"
you said “Step by step”.
today, I see there is a "we had a power outage one day."

would please I am little confused about the information, May I ask you help answer some quesion which much help me understand the status of the lights when problem.

1,“Never checked or played with the app afterwards as no need to” ， Do you mean the light run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

2, after I agree to send the new bords to you. when power on, the light is
A, on always
B. off always
C, run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

3, Would please decribe how you reset the light to enter the "connect mode"， I mean "flash"
may it possible you help take a short video so how you enter the re-connect with the new boards.


I know it is not good feeling to answer this and that. What you have done will much h0elp make this forum more genuine and more trusting of each other.

Thank you very very very much!

 

[Mechano]

Just a recap, I received the new WiFi modules today (there was 4 in total and I also received one a few months back for my 5th light)
All installed and working as they should.
I can’t honestly unfortunately put faith in these lights that the wifi modules will last that long and cause of the downtime I did end up purchasing new lights locally. The reef tank would have been down without lights for over 2 weeks which would cause issue with all my corals for sure.
Dont get me wrong, I really like the lights, but not having any local suppliers in North America makes for longer shipping obviously as they come straight from China. And also having 5 out of 5 wifi modules fail, it likely means a production issues (I’m sure PopBloom will hopefully fix this flaw)

The only issue that might have caused this that I can think of (if it’s possible) is that we had a power outage one day. Never checked or played with the app afterwards as no need to, then one day when I did try to check the light functions, they didn’t work. Who knows.
(I also did put these wifi chips under a microscope to see if there was any visible breaks in the circuit board and didn’t visually find anything)

PopBloom owned up to the faults in the end. Wished I didn’t need to spend the extra on new lights (radions) but I will still keep one of these lights on the frag system and eventually find a use for the other 4!!

Thanks again Oliver for expediting and sending out the new wifi modules

Yes, coal need lighting.
as I said, "Honestly speaking , I do not know where is the bug points. But I know the importance of the lighting for coral , want to solve your lighting fast and trust you to help find out the reason latter."
1, I try the fast shipping, as you see, it is only 8 days.
2, you only need on /off the power by hands during the 8 days.

I feel very sorry that I tried so much to fast , but " I did end up purchasing new lights locally. " ...:loudly-crying-face:

Would please may help us find out the real problem now ?

Technically speak, each light is individuals it is IMPOSSIBLE that all 5 lights broken as same time without external special cases.

So I asked "are all 5 wifi module lost control suddenly or one by one ?"
you said “Step by step”.
today, I see there is a "we had a power outage one day."

would please I am little confused about the information, May I ask you help answer some quesion which much help me understand the status of the lights when problem.

1,“Never checked or played with the app afterwards as no need to” ， Do you mean the light run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

2, after I agree to send the new bords to you. when power on, the light is
A, on always
B. off always
C, run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

3, Would please decribe how you reset the light to enter the "connect mode"， I mean "flash"
may it possible you help take a short video so how you enter the re-connect with the new boards.


I know it is not good feeling to answer this and that. What you have done will much h0elp make this forum more genuine and more trusting of each other.

Thank you very very very much!

No what I am saying is the new boards came and I replaced them and all the lights work good now.

I always mentioned that I appreciated you trying to ship fast which you did. But crossing an ocean is crossing an ocean and wouldn’t be something that’s possible to be shipped within a day Oliver. You did it right pal.

Anyways, you and Demi are a good company to deal with. It would be awesome if it could have been shipped sooner , but again, not your fault.

The “Original” chips were definitely faulty, I tried about a million times to pair them to app.
The “NEW” chips worked perfectly on the first try.

Thank you

 

[Djmac]

Hi @Oliver@DSunY ,

My replacement wifi board is still faulty. I’ve messaged the Popbloom store (where I purchased the wifi board from) on AliExpress and I haven’t had a reply.

The light runs at 100% power when turned on, and won’t enter pairing mode or join wifi.

Can you help out?

Cheers
Dave

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

Now aliexpress are in holiday , Please tomorrow, they will reply your message.

would you please what is your order information ?

 

[Djmac]

Just an update for anyone else following the thread. I have two RS90 that I've upgraded to the wifi model. One light has been fine (my right hand one) but my left one has had two faulty boards.

I've swapped the first light back to the old style manual controller. I'll probably do this on the other light as well just so they are the same, at least until I can get the left side light fixed.

I'm lucky I have the option of going back to the manual controller.

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

very thank you for you information. you are information help me starting to take this thing seriously.

I checked all warried information.
1, there are 11 cases for wifi reset (include you and Mechano)
2, others 5 cases is new light. 4 cases are old
3, 2 case is solved by reinstall the Tuya app. 3 cases is solved during describe the problem.
4, 4 case has to send a new board

that is why Demo always asked reintall the app or retry after a day. They learn from the cases.

At that time, we have no useful information about this problem, because sale team just want to help customers solve them problem. They thought it was also "uncorrect operation way" AT THAT TIME. Aslo, the faut rate is far less then 0.1%.



Now, I get the same information from you and Mechano cases.
1, there was a power went out before problem
2, all 2 cases replace one boards before, then problem again with same light/lights.

I am lucky that you familiar with electronic and wifi issue. thank you for your test 3.3V. now I can sure the wifi module is working..

what is your advice?

 

[Mechano]

Just an update for anyone else following the thread. I have two RS90 that I've upgraded to the wifi model. One light has been fine (my right hand one) but my left one has had two faulty boards.

I've swapped the first light back to the old style manual controller. I'll probably do this on the other light as well just so they are the same, at least until I can get the left side light fixed.

I'm lucky I have the option of going back to the manual controller.

It’s a good thing you still had the manual controller on hand, especially if u are reliant on only these lights over your reef tank!

 

[Mechano]

very thank you for you information. you are information help me starting to take this thing seriously.

I checked all warried information.
1, there are 11 cases for wifi reset (include you and Mechano)
2, others 5 cases is new light. 4 cases are old
3, 2 case is solved by reinstall the Tuya app. 3 cases is solved during describe the problem.
4, 4 case has to send a new board

that is why Demo always asked reintall the app or retry after a day. They learn from the cases.

At that time, we have no useful information about this problem, because sale team just want to help customers solve them problem. They thought it was also "uncorrect operation way" AT THAT TIME. Aslo, the faut rate is far less then 0.1%.



Now, I get the same information from you and Mechano cases.
1, there was a power went out before problem
2, all 2 cases replace one boards before, then problem again with same light/lights.

I am lucky that you familiar with electronic and wifi issue. thank you for your test 3.3V. now I can sure the wifi module is working..

what is your advice?

Spoke to Demi and when u guys get me the postage I am gonna send all OLD ORIGINAL wifi chips back to you so you guys can do the testing and R&D.

I have one of these lights with the new wifi chip on my frag tank that’s working as it should be.

The other 4 were tested after I replaced those chips and they all worked as they should but haven’t tried since. Not sure on longevity though as they aren’t installed to my big system anymore so I can’t comment.

I think it would be a good idea to supply the manual controller with the wifi units as a back up just in case with your units maybe.

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

thank you for your gentle support and kindly help very much.

Sending the old back will much help us and Tuya do more analaysize.
At first, I think the power-cut broken the module, but it is not.
Djmac helps test his old wifi module yesterday . the power of 3.3V is correct and the module is working.
It is much easy to let our R&D do more analysize。

Please I am very sorry for the WiFi module trouble for you. how about no-time limitation warrianty for your wifi. I really do not think it will break again, but if so, connect us for new replacement, forever .

Also, we will launch RL50 (60W, armkit , wifi) before April, it is amazing looks nice. I am very happy to invitate you for the Beta test. (free product , only shipping cost) to thank you for your kindly help to me.


Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need my hands.
thank you again.

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

Dear all.
seems there is a bug : after power outage, sometimes wifi module can not enter the reset mode.
I will update the result information after we analize the sending-back module.

I am very sorry for this.

would please if you find out that your module can not enter the reset mode.
1, please try it after some hours (maybe it is busy in global server)
2, reset your wifi router first and ensure your phone connect to the wifi router.
3, after 3 times, waiting 2-3 minutes.
4, if not enter the reset mode. take a short video to show problem and contact us.

we will ship you a new replacement FREE by the FAST way no matter warranty time.

During the shipping, you can power on and power off the light by hands.

From our records, the faut rate is far less then 0.1%.

I am very sorry for this again.

 

[oreo54]

Yes, coal need lighting.
as I said, "Honestly speaking , I do not know where is the bug points. But I know the importance of the lighting for coral , want to solve your lighting fast and trust you to help find out the reason latter."
1, I try the fast shipping, as you see, it is only 8 days.
2, you only need on /off the power by hands during the 8 days.

I feel very sorry that I tried so much to fast , but " I did end up purchasing new lights locally. " ...:loudly-crying-face:

Would please may help us find out the real problem now ?

Technically speak, each light is individuals it is IMPOSSIBLE that all 5 lights broken as same time without external special cases.

So I asked "are all 5 wifi module lost control suddenly or one by one ?"
you said “Step by step”.
today, I see there is a "we had a power outage one day."

would please I am little confused about the information, May I ask you help answer some quesion which much help me understand the status of the lights when problem.

1,“Never checked or played with the app afterwards as no need to” ， Do you mean the light run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

2, after I agree to send the new bords to you. when power on, the light is
A, on always
B. off always
C, run schedule but can not connet to your phone.

3, Would please decribe how you reset the light to enter the "connect mode"， I mean "flash"
may it possible you help take a short video so how you enter the re-connect with the new boards.


I know it is not good feeling to answer this and that. What you have done will much h0elp make this forum more genuine and more trusting of each other.

Thank you very very very much!

Followup:
1) Not sure how common the wifi module failures are currently so I'd appreciate an update.
2) Can the new RL90 (wifi ) lights be "downgraded"' by adding a Turing Controller?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805146309453.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.3.55eaZJMQZJMQBi&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40000.327270.0&scm_id=1007.40000.327270.0&scm-url=1007.40000.327270.0&pvid=9cd41f71-d5a9-49a5-83be-36c4ac794c3a&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.327270.0,pvid:9cd41f71-d5a9-49a5-83be-36c4ac794c3a,tpp_buckets:668#2846#8109#1935&pdp_npi=4@dis!USD!79.00!72.50!!!79.00!72.50!@2101f00017143321232274533e77ee!12000032644208759!rec!US!721248960!AC&utparam-url=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:&_gl=1*73uzrp*_ga*MTE3NTY5NTcwNDE4NzA1Ny4xNzExNzQ0NzE1Mzc4*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*MTcxNDMzMjEyMy41LjAuMTcxNDMzMjEyNC41OS4wLjA.

 

[Mechano]

They seem to always have glitchy issues with the wifi modules.

I’ll be tagging along on this ride as I was thinking the same thing about just downgrading to the controller instead…less headache

 

[alain Bouchard]

Never had any issue with mines. Gone through a few power losses, changed router. all four light grouped in tuya, they always reconnect by themselves. Maybe I m just lucky, cant say, but still, doesnt seem to be a generalized issue.

 

[Mechano]

Never had any issue with mines. Gone through a few power losses, changed router. all four light grouped in tuya, they always reconnect by themselves. Maybe I m just lucky, cant say, but still, doesnt seem to be a generalized issue.

Yeah they get the job done. I use 2 of them now as supplemental lights to my radions anyways.
The other 3 are used on an observation/QT tank I use. I just don’t trust them enough to be my main lighting anymore….but aside from the wifi issues, they are still nice lights

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

Dear all


As I said before, I would analyze the modules after they back to me as agreement. But after 3 months. there is no wifi module back to me.
So I can not release report about the “Broken WiFi module "

We have send the information to Tuya. they repled us it is impossible that 5 pcs indepentent-seperate hardwares broken at same time. It must be setting problem with WiFi.
They are very confident that when the broken wifi back to us, they will work correctly with the right router setting.
So, I thought, there is no necessarily to remind to send them back to us. :-)


Also, there are more than 3K new wifi modules send to all over the worlds in this 3 months. no one broken.
So, I am very confident with Tuya WiFi modules

Yes, I am very confident with Tuya WiFi modules.

Dear all.
seems there is a bug : after power outage, sometimes wifi module can not enter the reset mode.
I will update the result information after we analize the sending-back module.

I am very sorry for this.

would please if you find out that your module can not enter the reset mode.
1, please try it after some hours (maybe it is busy in global server)
2, reset your wifi router first and ensure your phone connect to the wifi router.
3, after 3 times, waiting 2-3 minutes.
4, if not enter the reset mode. take a short video to show problem and contact us.

we will ship you a new replacement FREE by the FAST way no matter warranty time.

During the shipping, you can power on and power off the light by hands.

From our records, the faut rate is far less then 0.1%.

I am very sorry for this again.

 

[Oliver@DSunY]

Followup:
1) Not sure how common the wifi module failures are currently so I'd appreciate an update.
2) Can the new RL90 (wifi ) lights be "downgraded"' by adding a Turing Controller?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805146309453.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.3.55eaZJMQZJMQBi&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40000.327270.0&scm_id=1007.40000.327270.0&scm-url=1007.40000.327270.0&pvid=9cd41f71-d5a9-49a5-83be-36c4ac794c3a&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.327270.0,pvid:9cd41f71-d5a9-49a5-83be-36c4ac794c3a,tpp_buckets:668#2846#8109#1935&pdp_npi=4@dis!USD!79.00!72.50!!!79.00!72.50!@2101f00017143321232274533e77ee!12000032644208759!rec!US!721248960!AC&utparam-url=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:&_gl=1*73uzrp*_ga*MTE3NTY5NTcwNDE4NzA1Ny4xNzExNzQ0NzE1Mzc4*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*MTcxNDMzMjEyMy41LjAuMTcxNDMzMjEyNC41OS4wLjA.

Please I strongly suggest WiFi version, if you or your friends familiar how to set a rouber.
Also there are more amazing function in wifi version. which no in controller version.
For example,
1, simulate the sun time (from sunrise to sunset) of some place.
2, simulate the sun spectrum of different deep in sea.
3, lunar

Please try the wifi version, and I promise you. if you are not satisfied with them. I will send you controller FREE.
I am very confident with the quality for the wifi module.

 

[Djmac]

@Oliver@DSunY I've just PMed you asking what return address for the faulty board, Demi never sent this through to me on Aliexpress chat. Happy to return the faulty board to you for testing.

Im 100% certain this isnt a 'wifi configuration' issue. I've been working in IT as a programmer and UNIX system admin for over 20 years, and I know how to configure wifi :).

I've had the faulty and working board hooked up to TTL serial on the debug port, the faulty board is completely dead after it prints an initial boot string of "V:", the working board prints "V:BK7231N_1.0.1" (and continues booting with lots more output).

I'm not very familiar with Tuya devices but if I had to guess it might be a corrupt boot loader.

I had holidays in late January away from my tank and have had travel for work every few weeks since then. Before I left I switched the lights over to the old controller and I havent found time to swap them back to wifi, so the replacement board I got in Jan is still in the packaging. I'll make an effort to get this done soon.

(I also picked up a second hand Cade 1200 S2 tank in March so I'd been planning to do the wifi swap when I move my tank over).

 

[Mechano]

@Oliver@DSunY I've just PMed you asking what return address for the faulty board, Demi never sent this through to me on Aliexpress chat. Happy to return the faulty board to you for testing.

Im 100% certain this isnt a 'wifi configuration' issue. I've been working in IT as a programmer and UNIX system admin for over 20 years, and I know how to configure wifi :).

I've had the faulty and working board hooked up to TTL serial on the debug port, the faulty board is completely dead after it prints an initial boot string of "V:", the working board prints "V:BK7231N_1.0.1" (and continues booting with lots more output).

I'm not very familiar with Tuya devices but if I had to guess it might be a corrupt boot loader.

I had holidays in late January away from my tank and have had travel for work every few weeks since then. Before I left I switched the lights over to the old controller and I havent found time to swap them back to wifi, so the replacement board I got in Jan is still in the packaging. I'll make an effort to get this done soon.

(I also picked up a second hand Cade 1200 S2 tank in March so I'd been planning to do the wifi swap when I move my tank over).

Here’s the address Demi gave me. I sent my back around 2 months ago. Still haven’t heard back from them yet

Recipient: Rose Li

Address: 2F,Building B, Jiahuangyuan Industrial Area, Bao'an District, Shenzhen city, Guangdong province 518132 China

+86 13728841434

 

[Djmac]

My replacement board has been running great since I put it in, I've also swapped from a minireef215 to a cade 1200 and things are going pretty well.

I've been documenting growth of a red monti cap under the RS90 popblooms if anyone is interested (using the LPS & Soft Coral preset since I switched over to the cade). I got this from the bargain bin at LFS for about $25AUD.

Sorry the images arent scaled the same.