ATI Powermodule Hybrid Club

[sahin]

Right, I knew it. But it seems that ATI is fooling its customers once again. I'm not very satisfied with this product nor the company itself. They have released to market an unfinished product with way lots of issues. Some of them:

- After a power failure, the controller loses the time, so when energy comes back it could follow an inversed photoperiod. Imagine you are out on hollidays.

- Controller easily goes crazy if you don't choose the right fixture when loading.

- Controller has got a keyboard that you should not use for lights programming, just to ser the time.

Just three examples, but there are many. Come on man, is this a german product?

- The controller mains the time for around 8 hours I believe. It is somewhere on this thread. It does revert to a standard program after the internal clock runs out of battery power, so its no way as bad as not turning back on at all. In any event, if you lose power for more than 8 hours, I'd be more worried about potential death of livestock after that long a time.

- This one I am not sure...Maybe send ATI Germany an email with the problem fully highlighted...there might be a fix or something or even a firmware fix?

- It is possible, but reported to be tedious. One of these days I am going to try and program it using the controller. I've seen a guide somewhere, maybe ATI USA website.

 

[mark54321]

- The controller mains the time for around 8 hours I believe. It is somewhere on this thread. It does revert to a standard program after the internal clock runs out of battery power, so its no way as bad as not turning back on at all. In any event, if you lose power for more than 8 hours, I'd be more worried about potential death of livestock after that long a time.



The first generation of those fixtures ( like mine) have controllers that don't keep time at all, if power is cut off. After power comes back, time starts at 8:00 am, no matter if power was of for a few seconds or longer. Newer controllers If I remember correctly keep time for like 30 min., not 8 hours.

Page 226 on this thread:

I heard back from support.
The original version of the control box resets the time to 8 am after a power reset, a newer version of the control box keeps the correct time for a short period of time after a power reset.
Both versions remember the light program.

 

[rtparty]

I'm not sure what's unfinished about these? Mine works just as advertised.

Every product in the history of products has had a few lemons here and there. We're on a forum where people come for help and to complain. Very few posts on all of RC are to praise something. The few incidents here are rare for the product as a whole IMO.

The only other hybrid fixture is Pac Sun and after hours of reading up on them, I wouldn't ever spend my money for one. That's just me though.

 

[Montireef]

- The controller mains the time for around 8 hours I believe. It is somewhere on this thread. It does revert to a standard program after the internal clock runs out of battery power, so its no way as bad as not turning back on at all. In any event, if you lose power for more than 8 hours, I'd be more worried about potential death of livestock after that long a time.



The first generation of those fixtures ( like mine) have controllers that don't keep time at all, if power is cut off. After power comes back, time starts at 8:00 am, no matter if power was of for a few seconds or longer. Newer controllers If I remember correctly keep time for like 30 min., not 8 hours.

Page 226 on this thread:

I heard back from support.
The original version of the control box resets the time to 8 am after a power reset, a newer version of the control box keeps the correct time for a short period of time after a power reset.
Both versions remember the light program.

That's correct. Nevertheless I cannot understand why having bought a new fixture two months ago I got one of those defective ones from the first batches. I know several people here in Spain that have bought it on 2014 and have the same problem. Is it they are sending those defective fixtures to some markets?

 

[rtparty]

That's correct. Nevertheless I cannot understand why having bought a new fixture two months ago I got one of those defective ones from the first batches. I know several people here in Spain that have bought it on 2014 and have the same problem. Is it they are sending those defective fixtures to some markets?

Many vendors and distributors have old inventory that they must sell off. My bet is that you got an older fixture. Have you asked ATI or your vendor? If so, what was their response?

 

[Montireef]

I'm not sure what's unfinished about these? Mine works just as advertised.

Every product in the history of products has had a few lemons here and there. We're on a forum where people come for help and to complain. Very few posts on all of RC are to praise something. The few incidents here are rare for the product as a whole IMO.

The only other hybrid fixture is Pac Sun and after hours of reading up on them, I wouldn't ever spend my money for one. That's just me though.

Come on Ryan!
You know it perfectly, would you dare input data from the keyboard instead from the computer? Oliver from ATI is advising not to do so.

I have been on this hobby for about 25 years (keeping marine tanks) and in the last years I have purchased many ATI Powermodules for may tanks (one 4x54W, one 6x54W, two 4x24W, one 10x54W and this 8x54+3x75W hybrid) and mended many of them (I have changed ballasts, fans and even done some wiring mods) so I can state I am quite expert on this products.

I have never regretted buying one of those fixtures, even when I think they are overpriced. I always knew what I was buying and that I would be the best choice for my SPS collection (now more than 50 different acros). I don't even regret buying this hybrid fixture as long as I don't suffer one of this issues, but I feel quite disappointed with ATI's policies as they are still producing and selling an item with important known issues.
I definitely think that they should dedicate more time in fixing them (I highly doubt it will be fixed with just a sw update) instead of manufacturing and selling. Every fixture they sell a new customer worried or even disappointed, at least as I know in my country.

People claim that ATI should urgently solve those problems.

 

[sahin]

- The controller mains the time for around 8 hours I believe. It is somewhere on this thread. It does revert to a standard program after the internal clock runs out of battery power, so its no way as bad as not turning back on at all. In any event, if you lose power for more than 8 hours, I'd be more worried about potential death of livestock after that long a time.



The first generation of those fixtures ( like mine) have controllers that don't keep time at all, if power is cut off. After power comes back, time starts at 8:00 am, no matter if power was of for a few seconds or longer. Newer controllers If I remember correctly keep time for like 30 min., not 8 hours.

Page 226 on this thread:

I heard back from support.
The original version of the control box resets the time to 8 am after a power reset, a newer version of the control box keeps the correct time for a short period of time after a power reset.
Both versions remember the light program.

Thanks for correcting me on that.

 

[flamron]

Mine resets to 8am no matter length of power loss. It is annoying.

 

[sahin]

Come on Ryan!
You know it perfectly, would you dare input data from the keyboard instead from the computer? Oliver from ATI is advising not to do so.

I have been on this hobby for about 25 years (keeping marine tanks) and in the last years I have purchased many ATI Powermodules for may tanks (one 4x54W, one 6x54W, two 4x24W, one 10x54W and this 8x54+3x75W hybrid) and mended many of them (I have changed ballasts, fans and even done some wiring mods) so I can state I am quite expert on this products.

I have never regretted buying one of those fixtures, even when I think they are overpriced. I always knew what I was buying and that I would be the best choice for my SPS collection (now more than 50 different acros). I don't even regret buying this hybrid fixture as long as I don't suffer one of this issues, but I feel quite disappointed with ATI's policies as they are still producing and selling an item with important known issues.
I definitely think that they should dedicate more time in fixing them (I highly doubt it will be fixed with just a sw update) instead of manufacturing and selling. Every fixture they sell a new customer worried or even disappointed, at least as I know in my country.

People claim that ATI should urgently solve those problems.

There will always be a few number of units with issues in all electrical goods...

When I got my Tunze Osmolator now more than 5-6 years ago, the main control unit was faulty right out of the box. I had to send it back to the vendor who sent it back to Germany. I got a replacement control unit sent out to me; that has been working without fault for since those 5-6 years ago.

My Vortech MP10 magnet split just after year I bought it...replacement was sent free of charge by the UK distributor...unit now working fine for the past 3 years.

I also have to replace the bearings on my MP10's every 8-12months as they get too noisy...

Most usually if you contact the vendor/distributor/manufacturer, in my experience at least one of them has always helped me out.

If your unit is faulty, contact the vendor, or even ATI directly, they ought to be able to sort something out for you since it is still under warranty.

 

[Montireef]

A few units? All the units I know, and they are still selling them even when they know ir.

Please do not compare this 20 kgs fixture with a Tunze osmolator por a Vortech pump, those are easily sent to the vendor and with no problem for the aquarium.

I repeat: they are still selling defective units. Annoying.

 

[echoreef]

The only other hybrid fixture is Pac Sun and after hours of reading up on them, I wouldn't ever spend my money for one. That's just me though.

I feel quite the opposite of how you feel after following this thread and doing my own research on the Pac Sun Pandora. Both are nice fixtures but there seems to be a lot less problems with Pac Sun. The software for Pandora is very easy to use. Which one can grow corals better? That's debatable but the result is promising so far. Look wise I give the nod to the Pac Sun.

 

[Montireef]

I fully agree echoreef. However I think the ATI fixture will get the best from our SPSs.

 

[sahin]

A few units? All the units I know, and they are still selling them even when they know ir.

Please do not compare this 20 kgs fixture with a Tunze osmolator por a Vortech pump, those are easily sent to the vendor and with no problem for the aquarium.

I repeat: they are still selling defective units. Annoying.

I was merely pointing out that products will always have some units with problems.

Have you contacted the vendor/retailer for support? What have they said?

 

[Montireef]

Thanks for your hint Sahin.

ATI is not a big company that manufactures and stocks hundreds of fixtures. Muy vendor told me I had to wait to get it as they mainly start manufacturing when they receive the corresponding order.

I had to wait a month to get my fixture (ordered on december) so I guess it was newly made. I know two more pals in Spain that got their fixtures two weeks ago and have the same issues (flickering, time reset...).

This makes me think that ATI is not doing anything, just manufacture and make money.

By the way, I'd rather buy a 200€ UPS to prevent time reset than having to wrap this heavy big fixture, send it back to the vendor and risk losing my corals because it will take several weeks to come back.

 

[sahin]

Thanks for your hint Sahin.

ATI is not a big company that manufactures and stocks hundreds of fixtures. Muy vendor told me I had to wait to get it as they mainly start manufacturing when they receive the corresponding order.

I had to wait a month to get my fixture (ordered on december) so I guess it was newly made. I know two more pals in Spain that got their fixtures two weeks ago and have the same issues (flickering, time reset...).

This makes me think that ATI is not doing anything, just manufacture and make money.

By the way, I'd rather buy a 200€ UPS to prevent time reset than having to wrap this heavy big fixture, send it back to the vendor and risk losing my corals because it will take several weeks to come back.

In the UK they are available all the time from the main distributor. I suppose it depends on where the larger market is, more units will go there.

Did you try resetting the controller and the fix Ryan came up with some pages back? Ryan had the LED flicker and managed to resolve the issue.

 

[Montireef]

Thanks again Sahin.

In my fixture leds don't flicker, but T5s do and it is very noticeable when ramping up/down (more people in this forum have the same problem). Other thing I have noticed is that when I unplug it, time resets to 8:00 (again, most users complain about it).

I confess I am very concerned and not daring do that reset because if anything goes wrong I risk losing my acro collection.

I wish someone from ATI took the plunge and publish any sw update or at least declare it is safe to do that reset.

 

[rtparty]

Thanks again Sahin.

In my fixture leds don't flicker, but T5s do and it is very noticeable when ramping up/down (more people in this forum have the same problem). Other thing I have noticed is that when I unplug it, time resets to 8:00 (again, most users complain about it).

I confess I am very concerned and not daring do that reset because if anything goes wrong I risk losing my acro collection.

I wish someone from ATI took the plunge and publish any sw update or at least declare it is safe to do that reset.

That reset is straight from ATI North America. Is that not enough?

The reset I use to help people wasn't meant to fix the LED flicker but that's what it did in the end.

As to the T5s flickering, I can't help there as I don't have that problem. I don't really care to ramp T5s up and down so I have mine set at 50%. They go straight from 0-50% for me. I don't really trust dimming T5s as of yet so I don't ramp them up and down a bunch.

I also don't think that three units constitutes an all out problem for ATI. Maybe there was a bad run of ballasts and ATI had no control? Maybe ATI is fixing the issue right now?

You still haven't answered whether you've contacted ATI directly. If you haven't, this is your problem and not theirs. I hounded ATI and ATI North America to fix my issues.

 

[Montireef]

Thanks for your reply, Ryan.

Can't find any official info about resetting this fixture that way, where did you get it? You must admit it is very tricky. Perhaps a question of liability? What if I reset the fixture and it doesn't start again or works in an unpredictable way? Who is responsible for that?

Nevertheless your help is very appreciated.

Ramping up/down T5s is one of main features, and I love making cloud and sun rising effects.

On the other hand it's quite odd that those three different fixtures, bought in different times to different shops have the same issues.

I will contact ATI directly just to make you know. I'm sure they will ask me to send the fixture for them to check and I'll answer that I can't risk my corals being several days/weeks with no lights.
Would you wrap your fixture and send it to ATI because you can't dim T5s and time resets if electricity goes off for a second?

 

[Lubeck]

I have had my fixture since December. Granted I have a 60" 4-bulb where the t5s don't dim but will say, I don't have any issues with flickering of my LEDs or any issues with my timer resetting to 8 after a power outage.

I love the light so far. However I would be frustrated if I had the same problems as others but would be sure to be on the phone with ati until I was 100% satisfied.

 

[Montireef]

Hi Lubeck!

I think you are a lucky guy, have you checked your T5s don't flicker when ramping up/down?

I am very happy with my fixture so far because my tank inhabitants are happy as well. I also would recommend it to my friends. Nevertheless I still think it is an unfinished product and next version will probably be the best reef light fixture ever.