Kessil a360x and spectral x controller

[Rscott]

So I am a bit ticked at kessil right now like many people

Still no WiFi dongle for these $459 lights
The most expensive LEDS on the market for a single puck

I am trying to get my lights to go from a low setting to lunar mode. Apparently you cant!
One of the time blocks must be all the way off!


So now your going to tell me that the few time intervals we have to work with I now need to make one of them a full off state???


Please someone tell me there is a way to add a custom number of time intervals??

If we can’t then kessills are going in the trash
7 time intervals are not nearly enough to ramp up the lights slowly and down slowly

And not we have to dedicate a whole interval to a full off mode??
I really truly hope I’m wrong and if I’m right they will be in the for sale forum if someone wants them

 

[Montiman]

I have been extremely happy with my 360X but I can assure you there is no way to add more time setting points. I don’t see why you would need to but if you do you are out of luck.

Just saying, MACNA is at the end of the month and that is likely when new product releases will happen.

I personally won’t swap out my spectral controller for a WIFI dongle even when it does come out. WiFi is a toy nothing more. The spectral controller will fill its role more reliably than any WiFi controller and making things more complicated goes against Kessils approach of simplicity.

All of this said I’m the guy who doesn’t touch his spectral controller settings more than twice a year and I am considering going back to halides so if you really want control because it’s fun then. Kessil might not be right for you. If you want something you can plug in that just works. The 360X with a spectral controller is awesome.

 

[Rscott]

I absolutely disagree

If 7 time intervals for you is enough for an 8 or 12 hour cycle I i don’t know what else your doing

That is not nearly enough intervals to have a reasonable ramp from setting to setting

This is what the best lights money can buy get you?

7 time intervals! You can’t even adjust the lights once per hour on an 8 hour schedule

Are you kidding?

 

[Montiman]

Its not like the lights suddenly shift I often even use less than 7 points.

I have just used 4 points. Start color and intensity, Start of Peak color and intensity, End of Peak color and Intensity, and an Off point color and intensity.

Boom lights programmed! don't touch them again for a year.

 

[RunBikeSwim]

So I am a bit ****** at kessil right now like many people

Still no WiFi dongle for these $459 lights
The most expensive LEDS on the market for a single puck

I am trying to get my lights to go from a low setting to lunar mode. Apparently you cant!
One of the time blocks must be all the way off!


So now your going to tell me that the few time intervals we have to work with I now need to make one of them a full off state???


Please someone tell me there is a way to add a custom number of time intervals??

If we can’t then kessills are going in the trash
7 time intervals are not nearly enough to ramp up the lights slowly and down slowly

And not we have to dedicate a whole interval to a full off mode??
I really truly hope I’m wrong and if I’m right they will be in the for sale forum if someone wants them

You bought an item without the features you want and now you are mad at the manufacturer? Try looking in the mirror and have a discussion with the reflection.

You are not wrong with your assumptions, you just made a wrong purchase.

I never saw a need for more than 4 time slots.

 

[Aardvark1134]

The Spectral X controller does a great job. If you throw away the best leds out there please let me know I will pay for the shipping to get them here.
As for wifi...you set them once correctly and never change them again...so no wifi dongle will effect you for what 1 hr the 1st time you tune them and then you would never use it again anyway.

 

[Rscott]

Let’s keep the conversation constructive

First of all

Let’s be clear
I’m mad at kessil for promising WiFi then a year later still nothing

Your opinion on if it’s needed or not is not relevant

Second of all
The feature lists nothing about a specific set # of time intervals
I assumed that a $459 light would have at the least the same features that a $50 led fixture and hope to get more for my extra $400 over the $50 fixture

Come to find out not only does s $50 light have more features but the company can’t be bothered to keep its promises after gouging customers

There is a reason everyone users radions
Now I see why
My fault for not using common sense , can’t argue there
I should of listened when people said don’t buy kessil

But I’m glad you all like your lights

 

[ca1ore]

That the lights have 7 time intervals does not mean that they are the points at which dimming occurs. If you have one setpoint at an intensity of 20 and the next at 50, the lights will ramp up over the time interval between the two points. Having said that, I’ve not been particularly impressed with the 360x; certainly not as a significant premium over the 360WE. Dimming is neither as smooth as the pre-release hype would have had me believe, nor does the light go down to complete darkness. Better in this regard than the WE, but still generally a disappointment.

 

[User1]

That the lights have 7 time intervals does not mean that they are the points at which dimming occurs. If you have one setpoint at an intensity of 20 and the next at 50, the lights will ramp up over the time interval between the two points. Having said that, I’ve not been particularly impressed with the 360x; certainly not as a significant premium over the 360WE. Dimming is neither as smooth as the pre-release hype would have had me believe, nor does the light go down to complete darkness. Better in this regard than the WE, but still generally a disappointment.

I believe in your case since already having Kessil WE's it probably didn't make sense to upgrade to this release. At least based on what I have read around the internet when comparing previous to next gen. In fact similar to other manufactures and not necessarily unique to Kessil (gen 1, 2, etc). They do command a premium but I do see the attraction to the form factor, connectivity links, and lens. About the only turn off is the controller but again this is not a Kessil problem, this is a hobby problem.

To the OP I hear you but not sure the angst is warranted. They said what their plan but didn't really specify a date. This was known upon launch so buyer beware and up to them to decide if they want to take a chance, wait, etc. Personally speaking I'm not a fan of the controller that Kessil provided. It doesn't flow logically and it is clumsy - at least in my opinion. If it was me I personally would have provided native integration with a controller out of the box and saved money on RnD. But alas everyone wants their app, controller, etc - so again not unique to Kessil...

What the A360X brings to the table is form factor and their spectrum logic. As noted above once you get them set to your visual preference there really is no need to touch them again unless you are increasing intensity due to coral growth. These are a light you do not need to run at 100% so when sized properly it allows plenty of room to grow without adding more. At least how I see it based on my limited use.

But yes - the controller - not a fan...

 

[PanRoasted]

Seriously though, my concerns with the paddle are that issues with its software cant be easily patched like an app can be, something that OFTEN needs to happen when smaller companies design user interfaces for products.
Personally what I need in controller is to set on and off points for each day, a setting for target % brightness, a slider to adjust ramp on time, and a button for moon light on or off, if that exists in the current controller could some one enlighten me.

 

[Hemmdog]

Seriously though, my concerns with the paddle are that issues with its software cant be easily patched like an app can be, something that OFTEN needs to happen when smaller companies design user interfaces for products.
Personally what I need in controller is to set on and off points for each day, a setting for target % brightness, a slider to adjust ramp on time, and a button for moon light on or off, if that exists in the current controller could some one enlighten me.

Yea it does that and you can control the spectrum as well. You can also add storms and all sorts of stuff.

 

[User1]

Yea it does that and you can control the spectrum as well. You can also add storms and all sorts of stuff.

You are correct. However if truth be told the storm / cloud feature is wonky and a extra step at each time slot. In fact it is a hard coded will happen sort of thing say compared to my Reef Angel in which case every time the function is called cloud() it does some math to calculate if clouds will be happening and if storms / lightening are part of it. It is random such that it happens throughout the lighting period and not "will happen" every day at 3:00 PM.

But yes - you are 100% correct of course that it does acclimation, time slices to ramp up, down, intensity, spectrum, moon light, and of course stuff I may have forgot about Controller driver still would have been a better option in my opinion but Kessil knows their product line better than I - for sure

 

[Hemmdog]

You are correct. However if truth be told the storm / cloud feature is wonky and a extra step at each time slot. In fact it is a hard coded will happen sort of thing say compared to my Reef Angel in which case every time the function is called cloud() it does some math to calculate if clouds will be happening and if storms / lightening are part of it. It is random such that it happens throughout the lighting period and not "will happen" every day at 3:00 PM.

But yes - you are 100% correct of course that it does acclimation, time slices to ramp up, down, intensity, spectrum, moon light, and of course stuff I may have forgot about Controller driver still would have been a better option in my opinion but Kessil knows their product line better than I - for sure

It is wonky. I could never get the storms to work. But they are on there lol. I figured out the moonlight a few months after I set it up. I’m still now sure how I feel about it. I might turn it back off, it’s only on 3 hours in the middle of the night now.
Your reef angel sounds so cool that it has a chance of not doing storms, what a cool feature. My favorite thing about the controller and the X is the ability to crank up the UV. It gives kessils a totally different look and makes corals fluoresce so bright.

 

[User1]

It is wonky. I could never get the storms to work. But they are on there lol. I figured out the moonlight a few months after I set it up. I’m still now sure how I feel about it. I might turn it back off, it’s only on 3 hours in the middle of the night now.
Your reef angel sounds so cool that it has a chance of not doing storms, what a cool feature. My favorite thing about the controller and the X is the ability to crank up the UV. It gives kessils a totally different look and makes corals fluoresce so bright.

Yeah, the controller is a must if you want the extra color spectrum. That is why I picked it up. I've not tried the moon light feature. I looked at it a few times but didn't take the time to really understand how it is used. It is on my to-do list though as I'm really interested.

I have used the acclimation and like the feature. Again similar to other controllers doing this the X controller does a great job by using an acclimation period. Easy to set up, intensity, spectrum, duration, etc. Comes in handy.

 

[Daniel92481]

Following along here, I have decided to use the Kessil X on my IM40 when I soon get it set up. Even if there is a dongle within a few months I’m still planning on purchasing the spectral X controller for it. I would like to know some of your lighting schedules/intensities/colors for this particular light. One question I do have is, what intensity would be ideal for softies and LPS? I used to have the 160 and had it set at 50% intensity. Would this be an acceptable percentage for this newer light? Thanks in advance for sharing.

 

[Rscott]

????

I see no settings to control ramp time?
What am I missing??

 

[Montiman]

????

I see no settings to control ramp time?
What am I missing??

The points naturally gradually transition between each other. So if you have 2 points 4 hours apart it will take 4 hours to switch from color and intensity 1 to color and intensity 2. The change is so subtle that you don't notice it.

 

[Rscott]

The points naturally gradually transition between each other. So if you have 2 points 4 hours apart it will take 4 hours to switch from color and intensity 1 to color and intensity 2. The change is so subtle that you don't notice it.

The post above says manually adjusted ramp time
Everyone said “it does that”

Apparently not ?

 

[Montiman]

I think they are saying if I want a ramp time of 2 hours I put the points 2 hours apart. I don't understand what else I would want? What kind of ramp time adjustment are you looking for?

 

[Steve Bullington]

So you selling your lights or not? Because I love my kessils, I have a 350w tuna blue and a 360we tuna blue. I just adjust light manually , since the 350 can't be controlled anyways. I love my lights, but want to upgrade to the X. ....so if you want to part with them let me know