THERMAL PASTE A8SE

[Tims reef]

Is it advisable to apply thermal paste on the heatsink?

 

[fishface NJ]

You may get a quicker answer here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aliexpress-a8se-reef-light.972836/

 

[penfold2]

A number of people do it because it's theoretically beneficial, but I haven't seen anyone say that it reduced their temperature or fan speed. I did it, and my temperature remained exactly the same (41-42°C at 40% power). The fan speed sounds similar to me as well. I suppose it's possible that it would have a more noticeable effect at higher output, but I haven't seen any improvement in my case.

 

[Jonreefer]

I did it the moment I got the in the light.
Just be careful with the mainboard. Some have had the lights not work correctly after. I think its because the board connection is delicate. I ended up unscrewing the mainboard with the LED panel and gently lifted and applied the paste.
Dont go nuts with the past. I only put like 6-8 pea drops over the area of the heatsink and once its screwed down it will spread out evenly and be plenty to transfer the heat to the heatsink. No need to butter the heatsink like bread

 

[Tims reef]

I did it the moment I got the in the light.
Just be careful with the mainboard. Some have had the lights not work correctly after. I think its because the board connection is delicate. I ended up unscrewing the mainboard with the LED panel and gently lifted and applied the paste.
Dont go nuts with the past. I only put like 6-8 pea drops over the area of the heatsink and once its screwed down it will spread out evenly and be plenty to transfer the heat to the heatsink. No need to butter the heatsink like bread

did it perform better?

 

[Jonreefer]

I have no reference as I only turned the light on to make sure it worked for 10sec and then took apart to paste it.
its not going to be a negative because having nopaste and having an air gap the transfer of heat will be very poor. The temp might not change alot but your also pulling the heat away better so once you hit higher wattage you will help keep it from rising to high. I wanted to make sure the led panel last as long as it can with some $5 thermal paste. I have never seen my temps go above 33c and that is hardly warm for electronics.

 

[Tims reef]

Done theyre here, have u observed that? the lights go pink for half a sec and goes back to normal again?

 

[Jonreefer]

Done theyre here, have u observed that? the lights go pink for half a sec and goes back to normal again?

are you talking about when its ramping through its program. I notice when my lights are slowly transitioning from ramp up and during ramp down when its making its step to a new setting there is a very quick flash of more a white looking spectrum as it makes the change. I say thats normal how it functions as it does not do that during the hours of constant peak lighting