I received this article in a newsletter that my LFS sends out. I had similar problems with the Solaris I purchased and returned for a full refund. I edited out the names and company names in the letter.
Newsletter:
"If you were considering one of PFO Lighting’s
Solaris LED fixtures, we wanted to share our
personal experience with this system. First, the
fixtures operate with very little heat into the
aquarium. Corals that have been acclimated to
the intense LED lighting seem to respond well
and thrive under the Solaris. The ability to adjust
the color spectrum, light cycles and other custom
features is an excellent idea. BUT, there is the
down side and it’s a big one! We installed two of
the 48†Solaris fixtures on a custom aquarium in
the last quarter of 2008. For a short time, the
fixtures operated beautifully but then the
problems began. The LED strips randomly began
to flicker and fail. Some would light up fully
while others either flickered or dimmed
unexplainably. Initially, PFO Lighting was
helpful by sending replacement LED strips that
we installed in place of the defective strips. Yet,
weeks later, more LED strips (some that had
already been replaced) failed or began to flicker.
After several visits to the customers home to
replace defective strips (at no charge to our
customer) I (#####) felt this was not fixing the
problem with these fixtures. Once again, PFO
Lighting responded by sending replacement
control panels at no charge that we (######)
installed in both fixtures along with more
replacement LED strips that had failed. Their
response was that fixtures that were
manufactured in China (imagine that) were
having problems (imagine THAT) and the new
control panels would fix the problem.
Just after installing the fixtures in the custom
aquarium we spoke about above (before the
problems started) we (#####) also purchased
one of these 48†LED Solaris fixtures. The same
problems have occurred with this fixture to a
point where we have robbed nearly all the
functioning LED strips to replace bad ones in our
customer’s two fixtures. The control board has
also been replaced in this fixture. J### #### of
####### (a local aquarium service and
installation company) also purchased a Solaris
fixture for one of his custom jobs. The same
issues have arisen in this fixture. Another
aquarium store in the Charleston area installed
one of these fixtures over one of their custom
jobs with the same results! For both J#### and
our competitor’s fixtures, PFO Lighting has sent
out replacement parts just as with the other
fixtures we installed. But now, PFO Lighting will
not answer any phone calls or emails from me or
from Mr. S### (or from requests from our
customer). The fixtures are all still having issues
with flickering or burned out LED strips. These
are EXPENSIVE fixtures still in full warranty
yet PFO Lighting is not responding to requests to
replace any of them. In fact, no one even answers
the phone at the company.
For the obvious reasons listed here, #####
##### feels these fixtures are unreliable and
the support from the manufacturer has degraded
to a point of customer neglect. For us and our
customers that have purchased these fixtures
already, it looks like legal means may be
required to settle these problems. As for you, the
customer considering the Solaris LED system,
we will let you decide whether you want to take
the risk by purchasing one of these fixtures from
PFO Lighting or one of the many other outlets
offering these fixtures for sale. We give PFO
Lightings LED fixtures a BIG THUMBS
DOWN FOR RELIABILITY AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Consider yourself
warned…."
Newsletter:
"If you were considering one of PFO Lighting’s
Solaris LED fixtures, we wanted to share our
personal experience with this system. First, the
fixtures operate with very little heat into the
aquarium. Corals that have been acclimated to
the intense LED lighting seem to respond well
and thrive under the Solaris. The ability to adjust
the color spectrum, light cycles and other custom
features is an excellent idea. BUT, there is the
down side and it’s a big one! We installed two of
the 48†Solaris fixtures on a custom aquarium in
the last quarter of 2008. For a short time, the
fixtures operated beautifully but then the
problems began. The LED strips randomly began
to flicker and fail. Some would light up fully
while others either flickered or dimmed
unexplainably. Initially, PFO Lighting was
helpful by sending replacement LED strips that
we installed in place of the defective strips. Yet,
weeks later, more LED strips (some that had
already been replaced) failed or began to flicker.
After several visits to the customers home to
replace defective strips (at no charge to our
customer) I (#####) felt this was not fixing the
problem with these fixtures. Once again, PFO
Lighting responded by sending replacement
control panels at no charge that we (######)
installed in both fixtures along with more
replacement LED strips that had failed. Their
response was that fixtures that were
manufactured in China (imagine that) were
having problems (imagine THAT) and the new
control panels would fix the problem.
Just after installing the fixtures in the custom
aquarium we spoke about above (before the
problems started) we (#####) also purchased
one of these 48†LED Solaris fixtures. The same
problems have occurred with this fixture to a
point where we have robbed nearly all the
functioning LED strips to replace bad ones in our
customer’s two fixtures. The control board has
also been replaced in this fixture. J### #### of
####### (a local aquarium service and
installation company) also purchased a Solaris
fixture for one of his custom jobs. The same
issues have arisen in this fixture. Another
aquarium store in the Charleston area installed
one of these fixtures over one of their custom
jobs with the same results! For both J#### and
our competitor’s fixtures, PFO Lighting has sent
out replacement parts just as with the other
fixtures we installed. But now, PFO Lighting will
not answer any phone calls or emails from me or
from Mr. S### (or from requests from our
customer). The fixtures are all still having issues
with flickering or burned out LED strips. These
are EXPENSIVE fixtures still in full warranty
yet PFO Lighting is not responding to requests to
replace any of them. In fact, no one even answers
the phone at the company.
For the obvious reasons listed here, #####
##### feels these fixtures are unreliable and
the support from the manufacturer has degraded
to a point of customer neglect. For us and our
customers that have purchased these fixtures
already, it looks like legal means may be
required to settle these problems. As for you, the
customer considering the Solaris LED system,
we will let you decide whether you want to take
the risk by purchasing one of these fixtures from
PFO Lighting or one of the many other outlets
offering these fixtures for sale. We give PFO
Lightings LED fixtures a BIG THUMBS
DOWN FOR RELIABILITY AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Consider yourself
warned…."
