Third AI Blade Malfunctions!

[slingfox]

I have two 57” AI Blades Grows and one AI Blade Glow over my RedSea 525 G2. Within the first year both AI Blade Grows malfunctioned (in one unit a set of LEDs stopped working, and in the other one of the panels shined noticeably less intensely than the others). AI customer service was great and I was shipped replacement units quickly. I believe those two lights were amongst the first sets manufactured. The early runs seem to have quality issues.

I purchased an AI Blades Glow one year later. After 17 months of usage the light stopped powering on. I now have to ship the unit to AI for service.

I hope others have had better luck with these lights! The spectrum and par thru put out is super nice but reliability has been a major issue for me. Thankfully the two replacement AI Blade Grows I was sent have been operating flawlessly for the last year or so.

 

[mcarroll]

Wondering how you have them installed? Can you post a pic? Sometimes that's just the way it goes...

 

[slingfox]

Wondering how you have them installed? Can you post a pic? Sometimes that's just the way it goes...

I have them a HMS mounts a few I ches above the water. They are at or higher than the level the others would be in Inused the Blade on-tank mounts. The 57” are too long for those mounts but I used the height of those mounts to adjust the height of the HMS mounts.

 

[Sean Clark]

This is why I choose lights designed and manufactured by respected lighting companies and not from marketing companies like AI/Ecotech that want you to believe that they offer the best everything, pump, doser, wavemaker, light, ect. If you want a quality light then purchase it from a lighting company. Not a marketing company.

 

[Kooma]

This is why I choose lights designed and manufactured by respected lighting companies and not from marketing companies like AI/Ecotech that want you to believe that they offer the best everything, pump, doser, wavemaker, light, ect. If you want a quality light then purchase it from a lighting company. Not a marketing company.

Suggestions?

I’m a big Ecotech person myself but can agree they are the apple of saltwater gear.

 

[rtparty]

Wonder if it was just the power supply? Did they have you test the light on a known working power supply?

I was hit with the first batch build quality issues but AI replaced them no issues. I haven’t had any fail so far

Easily some of the best lights I’ve ever used in the hobby and I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

 

[Sean Clark]

I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

Surprise, its Kessil and Philips. Now you know what respected lighting companies means

 

[Kooma]

I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

Surprise, its Kessil and Philips. Now you know what real lighting companies means

Had no idea Philips made reef lights.
Link?

 

[Sean Clark]

Had no idea Philips made reef lights.
Link?

Philips CoralCare Gen2: Only LED to Rival T5 & Metal Halide

Philips CoralCare Gen2 is the LED equivalent to T5, with best-in-class spread, color blending, PAR distribution, & warranty. No fans = no noise. Control w/ app, PC/MAC, Apex, HYDROS, or ProfilLux. IP65-Rated + UL Listed. Built-in presets. Available in bla

www.coralvue.com

 

[slingfox]

Wonder if it was just the power supply? Did they have you test the light on a known working power supply?

I was hit with the first batch build quality issues but AI replaced them no issues. I haven’t had any fail so far

Easily some of the best lights I’ve ever used in the hobby and I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

I have 3 lights so I have three power supplies available for testing. It is not the power supply I wish it was since that would be easy to remedy. Instead I have to send the Glow in and have them take a look.

 

[Kooma]

Wonder if it was just the power supply? Did they have you test the light on a known working power supply?

I was hit with the first batch build quality issues but AI replaced them no issues. I haven’t had any fail so far

Easily some of the best lights I’ve ever used in the hobby and I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

I have 3 lights so I have three power supplies available for testing. It is not the power supply I wish it was since that would be easy to remedy. Instead I have to send the Glow in and have them take a look.

In all honesty, 2” above the water sounds like you have a moisture and corrosion issue on internal components.

 

[liongolfer]

Wonder if it was just the power supply? Did they have you test the light on a known working power supply?

I was hit with the first batch build quality issues but AI replaced them no issues. I haven’t had any fail so far

Easily some of the best lights I’ve ever used in the hobby and I’ve used plenty from “real lighting companies” whatever that means

I have 3 lights so I have three power supplies available for testing. It is not the power supply I wish it was since that would be easy to remedy. Instead I have to send the Glow in and have them take a look.

In all honesty, 2” above the water sounds like you have a moisture and corrosion issue on internal components.

I’ve been doing a ton of research on these and it seems like if you place them too low that is exactly the case. I know they have the ones that sit on the rim but from others experiences they are not very waterproof if you get any splashes.


I’m heavily considering getting these lights. Any chance you could tell me how far out those arms on the Hms arm go? I read 14.3 inches online but yours look longer. Also do they angle down under the weight? Or is that something you did on purpose

 

[rtparty]

Surprise, its Kessil and Philips. Now you know what respected lighting companies means

Gotcha.

Kessils love to die at 2 years. I’ve seen far too many failures to ever trust them myself

Philips could make amazing lights if they’d try

 

[Tangdora]

Going on almost 2 years with 4 57s no issues. Not to say my experience with blades have been perfect. When I first bought I received 4 of the manufacture defect units where the blue and while leds were all the same direction not alternating resulting in a blue to white fade in the tank. Once they replaced the lights have been good since. I did have one power pack go bad like 3 months after but that was somewhat on me. When i did my exchange I kept the original power packs and returned the new ones because I did not want to undo all my wire tucking.

One personal note. Personally would never run lights that close to the water unless there were lids. Evaporation is powerful. Lights are supposed to be seal but maybe moister getting inside. Mine sit like 8 inch above water and I still find my self wiping waters spots and salt residue off them.

 

[slingfox]

In all honesty, 2” above the water sounds like you have a moisture and corrosion issue on internal components.

I have the AI Blades on my main tank mounted at a slightly higher height than would be achieved with AI Blade’s stock on tank mount. It is not like I am mounting them in a way that is more aggressive than how the lights are marketed.

Note also the lights are rated IP66. That means they are supposed to be protected from “high pressure water jets from any direction”. I did not subject the units to any sort of “high pressure water jets” since I don’t like to tempt fate.

 

[slingfox]

Going on almost 2 years with 4 57s no issues. Not to say my experience with blades have been perfect. When I first bought I received 4 of the manufacture defect units where the blue and while leds were all the same direction not alternating resulting in a blue to white fade in the tank. Once they replaced the lights have been good since. I did have one power pack go bad like 3 months after but that was somewhat on me. When i did my exchange I kept the original power packs and returned the new ones because I did not want to undo all my wire tucking.

One personal note. Personally would never run lights that close to the water unless there were lids. Evaporation is powerful. Lights are supposed to be seal but maybe moister getting inside. Mine sit like 8 inch above water and I still find my self wiping waters spots and salt residue off them.

My conjecture is that first batch of AI Blades had major quality issues. I purchased two AI Blade’s Grows shortly after release and they both bugged out after 6-8 months or so of running. The
Two replacements I received have been running for 17 months without issue. Hopefully they keep on chugging along.

I assume AI Blade Glow which broke during during after 17 months were also amongst the early batch of lights but who knows. Will see what their service department says. Among the first set of AI Blades there were cases where the units failed to to power on. This was apparently due to loose connector.

 

[slingfox]

Update: AI came back to me and said after inspection they have concluded that the defective unit could not be repaired. I had the unit for 18 months so that is outside the 12 month warranty. They offered to sell me a replacement for 40% off. I have decided to not take them up on the offer (you can find the units for sale elsewhere at 20% off with tax included and free shipping).

 

[mcarroll]

I have decided to not take them up on the offer (you can find the units for sale elsewhere at 20% off with tax included and free shipping).

what are you going to do instead?

 

[RuralReefer1]

If you’re looking for a quality light bar that’s simple and reliable check out the quanta helix. I am running them on both my tanks and they have been awesome for years now. Luca is the owner and very responsive when it comes to figuring out your needs.

 

[slingfox]

what are you going to do instead?

I have two AI Blade Grows on my tank. I will continue using them and then likely upgrade to some other lights. Top candidate now is ATI Straton. I am in no rush but the upgrade may happen next year. I will hit the two year mark on the AI Blade Grows soon. I was hoping to get 4-5 years but I switched to an SPS dominant tank two months ago and therefor want to flood the tank with more light.