AliExpress A8SE Reef Light

[bradreef]

Are there any instructions for programming this light? I've got it connected, but I don't understand how to set time periods. I turn on the timing slider, select 0700-1900, and hit "save device." It says successful, but then the light output drops to zero, and the graph/colors remain unchanged. I also have no idea where "save customer" is saving to.

I don't change the time zone myself. Just change time to what I want and then save settings.

 

[bradreef]

I don't change the time zone myself. Just change time to what I want and then save settings.

Save device

 

[RoanokeReef]

Are there any instructions for programming this light? I've got it connected, but I don't understand how to set time periods. I turn on the timing slider, select 0700-1900, and hit "save device." It says successful, but then the light output drops to zero, and the graph/colors remain unchanged. I also have no idea where "save customer" is saving to.

Change mode to auto -
Save to Device is what applies the schedule to the light
Save to Customer is what saves the template or back up if you will. You can only see these if mode is set to auto by click the down arrow far right of the presets.

Also if you have multiple I don't recommend linking them as it's very buggy. Make a template on one and "Save to customer" than go into each light and apply the preset you made.

 

[penfold2]

Change mode to auto -
Save to Device is what applies the schedule to the light
Save to Customer is what saves the template or back up if you will. You can only see these if mode is set to auto by click the down arrow far right of the presets.

Also if you have multiple I don't recommend linking them as it's very buggy. Make a template on one and "Save to customer" than go into each light and apply the preset you made.

Thank you! I assumed auto was for using the built-in presets, but hitting clean allows you to make your own. Making a 2 hour ramp was a bit goofy, as it defaults to 1 hr, but it seems to work if you manually make another set point in the middle of the ramp. I'm not sure what manual is for, or how it differs from the temporarily button, but it seems to work in auto now.

 

[Jonreefer]

so far so good. seems to run pretty smoothly. I had to unplug the light a few times as I was tanking it off the tank mount and hanging and it turned back on remembered the program and time. I havnt had any of the issues i was reading in the past post about not keeping time, dropping off wifi. It seems to work just as good as any name brand light

 

[LunchboLobster]

Is anyone running these lights in an enclosed hood (non-vented)? Wondering about heat build up.

 

[bradreef]

Is anyone running these lights in an enclosed hood (non-vented)? Wondering about heat build up.

The heat pushes out the sides but intakes from the top. You would want to ensure they have air access.

 

[Jonreefer]

I have to say now day 3 of this light. I was worried it would be real flaky and have alot of issues from everything I was reading.
It has not lost wifi once, adjust proper time auto and never lost time. I have unplugged it a few times to do some things and to move from tank mount to hanging and it comes back on and connects back on the wifi real quick and program starts right back up.

 

[RoanokeReef]

I have to say now day 3 of this light. I was worried it would be real flaky and have alot of issues from everything I was reading.
It has not lost wifi once, adjust proper time auto and never lost time. I have unplugged it a few times to do some things and to move from tank mount to hanging and it comes back on and connects back on the wifi real quick and program starts right back up.

Most of the issues were fixed via a firmware update a few months ago. I'm guessing they are coming with the newer firmware which is great

 

[Jonreefer]

Most of the issues were fixed via a firmware update a few months ago. I'm guessing they are coming with the newer firmware which is great

I have to say i think I had more drops trying to connect my blades to Mobius than I have had with this. Yea the app isnt as flashy but does the job once you get it setup.

 

[bradreef]

I have to say i think I had more drops trying to connect my blades to Mobius than I have had with this. Yea the app isnt as flashy but does the job once you get it setup.

I agree, I have 2 XR30's that are 30 min apart. Can't get them fixed. Tried 6 times and then got over it.

 

[Jonreefer]

anyone run the white ch at 1% for a moonlight. it works pretty well but not sure if running that low is an issue or anything.

 

[ryudo80]

I have to say now day 3 of this light. I was worried it would be real flaky and have alot of issues from everything I was reading.
It has not lost wifi once, adjust proper time auto and never lost time. I have unplugged it a few times to do some things and to move from tank mount to hanging and it comes back on and connects back on the wifi real quick and program starts right back up.

How is the shimmer on this light?

 

[Jonreefer]

How is the shimmer on this light?

its ok, it blends well but the shimmer is kinda fast. I ordered the ecotech diffuser to help and also help with glare.

 

[Wolffman64]

Most of the issues were fixed via a firmware update a few months ago. I'm guessing they are coming with the newer firmware which is great

I just installed 3 A8 Pro II max (or whatever order the acronyms are), and struggled quite a bit with the app and lights losing connection and l the app couldn't find my wifi ( I was sitting right next to a wifi6 router).

But after much work and swearing, I then reset the first light (5 sec push on middle button on the light), emptied the cache in the app and reset it (two options in the app), connected the first light again, updated the firmware on the light, and everything worked like a dream. Took me 10 minutes to add tge two remaining lights and set them up with tge AB+ program.
Since then I have provoked the setup by shutting the app down, unplugging the lights and power it all up again, and it's rock solid, and connects perfectly through my wifi to the lights. So much more stable with connections than the crap myAI app for my Hydra 26HD.

There is one little trick to get the timing right for the lights.
1. Set the correct time zone in the app itself.
2. Open the light in the app, click on the time and answer "yes" to updating the time. Don't pay any attention to that the time zone on the light is wrong.
3. Select "save device", and then leave the light and go back to the main page of tge app
4. Go into the light again, and when it's connected to the light,the time zone is now correct.
5. If the time itself is not correct, click on it to update it, and click "save device" again.
The time and time zone is now correct and will stay that way!

 

[UK-Reefer]

Question about the A8SE II MAX vs A8SE II BLUE

Is the BLUE too BLUE or can you get a similar "blue" with the MAX?

Anyone bought the BLUE and wished they went for the MAX?

I'm looking at the MAX over the BLUE simply because I feel the BLUE would be too BLUE.

 

[Jonreefer]

Question about the A8SE II MAX vs A8SE II BLUE

Is the BLUE too BLUE or can you get a similar "blue" with the MAX?

Anyone bought the BLUE and wished they went for the MAX?

I'm looking at the MAX over the BLUE simply because I feel the BLUE would be too BLUE.

you can get the color probably the same blue with the pro but you wouldnt have as much power if you like blue cause you would turn down alot of the other ch. Dont be fooled though I can make the Blue have a much whiter look to it as well
The blue version gives you the ability to have more power being used with the spectrum you like if its on the blue side. I went with the A8SEII blue
I like the color and in my current tank its only a IM 20 fusion the light only running 45w I am getting over 300par 6" below the water. I will see what its like once my 50Breeder tank comes in and I upgrade to it. I am going to be running this A8 light and 2 21" blade grows with it

 

[UK-Reefer]

you can get the color probably the same blue with the pro but you wouldnt have as much power if you like blue cause you would turn down alot of the other ch. Dont be fooled though I can make the Blue have a much whiter look to it as well
The blue version gives you the ability to have more power being used with the spectrum you like if its on the blue side. I went with the A8SEII blue
I like the color and in my current tank its only a IM 20 fusion the light only running 45w I am getting over 300par 6" below the water. I will see what its like once my 50Breeder tank comes in and I upgrade to it. I am going to be running this A8 light and 2 21" blade grows with it

Thanks, helps a lot knowing you do actually own the BLUE model.

Your comment "I can make the Blue have a much whiter look to it as well" is my main worry. If the white of the BLUE gives a noticeable white, even with a tinge of blue, I would be happy. My worry with the BLUE is that no real white, even with a tinge of blue, couldn't be achieved.

Might go with the BLUE instead of the MAX

 

[Jonreefer]

Thanks, helps a lot knowing you do actually own the BLUE model.

Your comment "I can make the Blue have a much whiter look to it as well" is my main worry. If the white of the BLUE gives a noticeable white, even with a tinge of blue, I would be happy. My worry with the BLUE is that no real white, even with a tinge of blue, couldn't be achieved.

Might go with the BLUE instead of the MAX

the blue has warm white, cool whites and it has Sky blue which i think are close to a cool white look. So it has a decent amount of LED to give a white spectrum

 

[penfold2]

Thanks, helps a lot knowing you do actually own the BLUE model.

Your comment "I can make the Blue have a much whiter look to it as well" is my main worry. If the white of the BLUE gives a noticeable white, even with a tinge of blue, I would be happy. My worry with the BLUE is that no real white, even with a tinge of blue, couldn't be achieved.

Might go with the BLUE instead of the MAX

They have the exact same warm and cool white diodes. The Max just has twice as many of each. The Max also has red and green, but the Blue has sky blue. You should be able to achieve nearly identical colors on both lights at low to moderate intensities. It's just at high intensities (everything cranked near 100) that differences will emerge, due to the inability to compensate for different diode ratios by turning down specific colors. I believe the Blue is designed to create an AB+ look at 100% output, whereas the Max will have a whiter look at 100%. I went with the Max because I like a whiter light, but I can still easily achieve any look I want because I don't need to run them at 100%.