AI Prime 16 Melting?

[X-37B]

I run 7 16hds on 2 seperate systems. I lowered my intensity to 100% first 4 and 50% last ones.
I have 2 lens that burnt from the UV lens being at 140% and Blue at 120%.
Replaced lens and im good.
That really looks like water spash of some kind, imo.

The Luxdium replacement pucks are not available yet for the 16hds as they are not plug and play like the old 13 lensed 26.

Other than that they are quality lights, imo. Been running them for over a year now.

One reason they melt is frim water splashes and it dont take much.

Its the heat and water combo that frys them, imo.

A friend made the mistake of turning them on on a wood couter top. It immediatly burned a 16 hole pattern in the counter.
He walked out of the room, came back, and the counter was smoking.

I did something similar and turned one on as it was sitting on my leg.
Mistake! It burnt a 16 hole pattern in my shorts and left a 16 dot pattern on my leg, Ouch!

 

[Joe31415]

Im not an expert but you were definitely overdriving four of the channels so I’m not surprised the lens melted.

Even if that's true, it's not on the end users to know how high they can be set. If there directions don't mention a maximum and the apps lets you turn them up too high without any type of warning, how are we supposed to know?

IMO, that's like your mechanic telling you your car keeps breaking because you're not supposed to go over 60mph.

If there's a maximum it can be set to before it starts damaging itself, it needs to be either better documented or the app needs to warn you.

I wonder how much of a problem (regarding how the light covers the tank) it would be if there was a spacer between the lens and lights. Just an extra few mms to them a fighting chance.

Actually, better yet, I wonder if I could find a way to [externally] mount a small noctua fan such that it moves air over the lens to help keep it cool. Maybe?

 

[piranhaman00]

why oh why

 

[X-37B]

I have diffusers on my xr15's and you would ne sirprised at how dirty tjey get in a 1 month period. All salt spots.

If you ran shades like I do you could add a diffuser to the 16's.
I am thinking about it as we speak.
Just cleaned all 7 and wow lots of salt.

 

[LiquidSpace]

Looks like there are several reviews at BRS mentioning melted lenses. Not a good sign.

Yep! If mine melts that just means it’s time to upgrade to a Radon

 

[Mark3]

My light is melting... I run 3 AI Prime 16HD on my tank. All 3 run the same time and setting...but one is melting. The fan is running and the screen is clean. Light sits 15 inches from the water surface.
I am going to guess it might be a small salt splash onto the lens.
Wow...it's not a good thing to find.

 

[FrugalReefer]

‘what lights are good like the AI Prime 16 and won't freakin' melt into my tank?’

If they melted on you I would be hesitant to call them good.

 

[Uncle99]

Somethings wrong with your power source.
Discard that.
Sorry.
Wow, that’s a big bummer.

 

[theatrus]

My light is melting... I run 3 AI Prime 16HD on my tank. All 3 run the same time and setting...but one is melting. The fan is running and the screen is clean. Light sits 15 inches from the water surface.
I am going to guess it might be a small salt splash onto the lens.
Wow...it's not a good thing to find.

The close coupled lenses and salt will create hot spots. This even happens to the LEDs under the lenses pretty easily at these high power levels.

I’d expect the AI lens to be a PMMA acrylic. Maybe they stuffed up and ended up with polycarbonate lenses,which absorb UV and will turn that straight into heat. Seems unlikely, could be bad supply chain mess up though.

 

[Joe31415]

Maybe they stuffed up and ended up with polycarbonate lenses,which absorb UV and will turn that straight into heat. Seems unlikely, could be bad supply chain mess up though.

Wouldn't they have fixed it by now? It's been an ongoing issue for years now. I'm on my second set of lenses and they're doing the same thing.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I've noted that the lenses on my Primes are now melting, too. I have them over my RSR350 with a Clearview acrylic lid, so you'd think that salt spray would be less of an issue.

 

[X-37B]

I've noted that the lenses on my Primes are now melting, too. I have them over my RSR350 with a Clearview acrylic lid, so you'd think that salt spray would be less of an issue.

Its was always the uv, v lights on mine that melted. I just kept extra lens on hand. Some went over a year but they all melted over time. Great lights though. At one time I was running 9 over varios tanks.