Ai Hydra 32 problem

ShaneAugust · Nov 22, 2023

I’ve had 3 AI Hydra 32’s over my tank for about 2 years. I went to clean them and took off the diffusers to see that the red LED diodes melted on all 3. Lights still work, par is still strong, SPS still happy. What do I do? Are people willing to buy these and fix them for a discounted price? Will AI help me or fix them? What’s the process and what route should I take?

sheel be right · Nov 23, 2023

by melted do you mean brown in color but the gel dome is still there? or fully melted away and no gel dome is left on the led, all my prime 16hds had red diodes that looked brown in color which i too thought they where melted but they where not.

Kate Vellis · Nov 24, 2023

ShaneAugust said:
I’ve had 3 AI Hydra 32’s over my tank for about 2 years. I went to clean them and took off the diffusers to see that the red LED diodes melted on all 3. Lights still work, par is still strong, SPS still happy. What do I do? Are people willing to buy these and fix them for a discounted price? Will AI help me or fix them? What’s the process and what route should I take?

That sounds like what I am seeing on one of my 2 Hydra 32s that have been in use for about 2 1/2 to 3 years. The gel? is hanging below the light fixture like a glob of molten glass. One light in one pair is worse than the other, but both on the same fixture are melted. The other 32 that was put up at the same time appears to be intact. I have sent a chat to AquaIlluminations but haven't a response yet.

ShaneAugust · Nov 24, 2023

sheel be right said:
by melted do you mean brown in color but the gel dome is still there? or fully melted away and no gel dome is left on the led, all my prime 16hds had red diodes that looked brown in color which i too thought they where melted but they where not.

Two of the lights had the gel covered melted through the middle

Kate Vellis said:
That sounds like what I am seeing on one of my 2 Hydra 32s that have been in use for about 2 1/2 to 3 years. The gel? is hanging below the light fixture like a glob of molten glass. One light in one pair is worse than the other, but both on the same fixture are melted. The other 32 that was put up at the same time appears to be intact. I have sent a chat to AquaIlluminations but haven't a response yet.

I’m having the exact same issue. No response from AI either.

sheel be right · Nov 24, 2023

Kate Vellis said:
That sounds like what I am seeing on one of my 2 Hydra 32s that have been in use for about 2 1/2 to 3 years. The gel? is hanging below the light fixture like a glob of molten glass. One light in one pair is worse than the other, but both on the same fixture are melted. The other 32 that was put up at the same time appears to be intact. I have sent a chat to AquaIlluminations but haven't a response yet.

the gel is a little dome on top of the bare led diodes you can see once you open up the fixture, but i think thats the worst case of lens melting ive seen on AI lights ever, all the ai lights i have owned have had their uv diodes melt the lens by burning a hole through the plastic lens. i just ended up replacing the lenses a few times then just selling the lights all together.

ShaneAugust · Nov 24, 2023

sheel be right said:
the gel is a little dome on top of the bare led diodes you can see once you open up the fixture, but i think thats the worst case of lens melting ive seen on AI lights ever, all the ai lights i have owned have had their uv diodes melt the lens by burning a hole through the plastic lens. i just ended up replacing the lenses a few times then just selling the lights all together.

How do we go about getting them fixed? Is it expensive?

AZRC · Jan 29, 2024

Hi Shane, Did AI ever respond and what was their solution? I was in the process of looking for some led fixtures and AI was on short list.

shakacuz · Jan 29, 2024

you can buy replacement "pucks" for the burned lenses directly from their website.

X-37B · Jan 29, 2024

shakacuz said:
you can buy replacement "pucks" for the burned lenses directly from their website.

Yea just get the replacement lens. They are like $5. Its the one weak link and lens vary from 6 months to longer before they melt. I ran 8 at one time, 16hds, and they all melt over time.
I would check them every 6 months. They are easy to change.

ShaneAugust · Jan 29, 2024

AZRC said:
Hi Shane, Did AI ever respond and what was their solution? I was in the process of looking for some led fixtures and AI was on short list.

Hey, yeah the lights were totally fine. They sent me replacement lenses and they work good as new, the PAR output is the same as the day I bought them. Great lights.

Kate Vellis · Jan 29, 2024

X-37B said:
Yea just get the replacement lens. They are like $5. Its the one weak link and lens vary from 6 months to longer before they melt. I ran 8 at one time, 16hds, and they all melt over time.
I would check them every 6 months. They are easy to change.

How did you get out of paying $40 in shipping for two lenses? BTW, I have had no reply from AI.

X-37B · Jan 29, 2024

Kate Vellis said:
How did you get out of paying $40 in shipping for two lenses? BTW, I have had no reply from AI.

Well I bought 10 about 3 years ago and still have 4.
They are $4.04. Shipping should not be $40. Mine came priority mail in a small box, less than $10.