Interpet T5 Compacts

[zig]

I must interpet are really at fault for this and I think they should re-address their starter units!

I'm going to give them a call in the morning to see what they say about the issue, hopefully I should be able to get a replacement unit.
Just added a double 55W unit over the weekend and it looks like the rubber has already started to melt on the side closest to the hood lid Only been running for under a day!

From looking at the way these rubber surrounds melt it appears that they need a fan attaching right next to them! Can't believe that this has not been detected during testing.

Well i just started a thread on fans but its probably a waste of time if they are starting to melt after a day!

They obviously are selling more than they are getting back (returns) thats the only thing i can think of, i also wonder if they have had any issues as regards fire, i know the rubber on mine just melted and went brittle but i wonder if you continued to use them would they be a fire hazard.

I know Interpet also had a T5 luminaire that was on sale earlier last year, but apperantly they had so many problems with it that it was withdrawn from sale, i think its still advertised on some sites but not for sale, i wonder if the issues were the same......overheating.

It is amazing how many of us are experiencing problems after relatively short periods of time and yet they are still on sale, they should really be withdrawn from sale until they sort it out, they may be cheap but if they only last 6 months its a false economy, funny thing is, it does not mention the use of fans at all on the packageing it only mentions not covering up the convertagear or it will overheat, the other funny thing is they are guarenteed for 2 years they must be optimistic down at Interpet thats all i can say.

 

[Ste_J]

the other funny thing is they are guarenteed for 2 years they must be optimistic down at Interpet thats all i can say.

Zig have you also noticed that there is a statement on the piece of paper in the box that reads something like
"If problems occur with the power cable then the unit has to be set back to the factry for repair" Same they don't detail how to get it back for repair!!!

Just had another look at my rubber housing and I getthe impression that the tubes need to be mounted on a block type of structure that does not hang underneath the rubber - So for my hood I would need to add 2 varnished blocks of wood under the fttings and let a decent fow of air get around the rubber. Sorry if you don't understand what I'm gettng at.

I'll report back on Interpets response to my call

Ste

 

[oldwhitewood]

The more I think about it the more I 'm p*ssed of at interpet and hagen for allowing these things to come out on the market. They should have some kind of clear instructions or at least warnings I think. They're good lights apart from the obvious heat problem. To my mind though as long as the rubber holders dont come in contact with anything and have air flow round them they wont melt, hardly ideal but you know...

 

[Ste_J]

Result


Just got off the phone to a lovely lady at Interpet where upon we discussed the finer points of my 55W starter unit. I have previously spoken to this lady when my original tube snapped and she arranged for a new one to be dispatched - this is something that they do not usually do

Anyway it appears that there was an overheating issue caused by the manufactures as they didn't factor in a design feature, this mistake caused the rubber to have a lack of air flow around the fitting and thus suffer from over heating. The feature should be part of ALL new units and any units that don't have this should be sent back to the supplier.

I seem to remember having problems getting hold of my original 55w unit due to a product recall and my LFS didn't have these in stock for a long time, hence the reason I bought online - Looks like a got a bad one!

I'll now check my double 55 unit to see if this has the "feature" and if not I'll be sending it back for a replacement as advised by Interpet.

From what I can gather there should be a "divot" part way down the rubber housing which would allow for air flow, now I'm not 100% on if this is a hole or a block inside - I shall go look and compare with the new unit when it arrives.

Hope this helps someone somewhere

Ste

 

[houndour]

I've just replaced my interpet t5 55W with a 36W simply because I'm going to lower lighting levels. Anyway, on removing my 55W yesterday I can't get my tube out of the holder. The rubber bit has melted and it seems like the tube is stuck inside and I can only see that breaking the tube will get it out. I've only used the tube itself for 4-5 months.

Mine came with a 2 year warranty and I still have the receipt and everything, so I shall take it back as it is (I wont break the tube - so they can see). They should at least replace like for like. Although I may try and ask for a different brand of light.

I have a 24W interpet compact on my 5 gallon. No signs of melting here. This light is on for 4 hours, off 4 on 4. Maybe thats helped? Or maybe its the one with the new feature?

 

[Ste_J]

I have a 24W interpet compact on my 5 gallon. No signs of melting here. This light is on for 4 hours, off 4 on 4. Maybe thats helped? Or maybe its the one with the new feature?

houndour, I get the feeling that the issue with heat may be limited to the 55W as this is the unit that i remember being pulled off the market whilst they sorting out a heating issue.

As to the situation with your tube Imagine what another few months would have done to the unit! those tubes just clean snap off when it gets too much for them to handle.

Hoping to have the new unit within a couple of days so I'll report back on what the "feature" is although looking at my new double unit and the old single I can't see that anything has changed except for the fact that one has fell to bits and the other hasn't! Maybe my new one is an old one Time will tell and I'm sure if it is then the guys over AE wont mind swapping it for me - saves me burning my house down and all that, prevention better than cure etc etc

 

[hunterm8]

The more I think about it the more I 'm p*ssed of at interpet and hagen for allowing these things to come out on the market. They should have some kind of clear instructions or at least warnings I think. They're good lights apart from the obvious heat problem. To my mind though as long as the rubber holders dont come in contact with anything and have air flow round them they wont melt, hardly ideal but you know...

mine have air round them and dont touch anything, i have fans also!! these things are 10 weeks old and although not melted, the rubber has gone hard and split causing the tubes to be a nightmare to get out

 

[zig]

Result

From what I can gather there should be a "divot" part way down the rubber housing which would allow for air flow, now I'm not 100% on if this is a hole or a block inside - I shall go look and compare with the new unit when it arrives.

Hope this helps someone somewhere

Ste

This "Divot" is on my old unit, it basically is a little step on the outside of the rubber housing which will allow airflow but it does not appear to have stopped my units from melting, its on the new unit they sent me as well basically exactly the same nothing is different, so i doubt if this issue has beem resolved by this design feature, if i had a digicam i would take a pic, its basically like a little raised part on both sides of the rubber housing which means the rubber wont be mounted directly flat and will have less surface contact.

If this is the design feature they are talking about it does not work.

 

[WILDCARD]

Damn, just bought a set for my 200 litre corner tank a month before Xmas.

Watching this thread with interest.

Went from 0.7 WPG to 2WG, which makes a fantastic difference.

 

[Ami]

This is a complete pain in the neck because I just ordered 36w and dual units the other day!

Have now cancelled the order as I don't want to risk the problem being with the 36w as well as the 55w.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...

Ami

 

[oldwhitewood]

Result

From what I can gather there should be a "divot" part way down the rubber housing which would allow for air flow, now I'm not 100% on if this is a hole or a block inside - I shall go look and compare with the new unit when it arrives.

Hope this helps someone somewhere

Ste

This "Divot" is on my old unit, it basically is a little step on the outside of the rubber housing which will allow airflow but it does not appear to have stopped my units from melting, its on the new unit they sent me as well basically exactly the same nothing is different, so i doubt if this issue has beem resolved by this design feature, if i had a digicam i would take a pic, its basically like a little raised part on both sides of the rubber housing which means the rubber wont be mounted directly flat and will have less surface contact.

If this is the design feature they are talking about it does not work.

Yeah mine has them too, still melted. It will be interesting to see what these new ones are like they send out.

 

[Ste_J]

lol

I'll let you know in a couple of days what the outcome is on the great "divot" debate.
The unit that has just melted has the raised rubber on both sdes so I really hope that this is not the golden goose that they are talking about

Think I'll send them some pics of my melted unit

Hunter, I'd be very tempted to send that unit back to where you got it from, especially if it's only 10 week old. The hardness will only get worst and you will have to keep a close eye on your tube to ensure that it does not snap.

Have you got a condensation tray? this may help prolong the life if not

Ste

 

[hunterm8]

talking to where i got it from via e-mail at the moment! mine also has a block of plastic each side of the connector! i have already broke 2 tubes!! ok ok i admit to one of them being my fault but not the other no condensation tray

here is a pic of mine i take it this is the new version

 

[RYO]

Cheers Hunterm8 saves me posting pic of mine (looks exact same) and mine is the twin 36w so its not just the 55w that melts. Prob Ive got is the box has been glued and painted blue and is now called Cranky the crane (ah bless who wants a 5 yr old lad, hes sweet really )

 

[hunterm8]

Cheers Hunterm8 saves me posting pic of mine (looks exact same) and mine is the twin 36w so its not just the 55w that melts. Prob Ive got is the box has been glued and painted blue and is now called Cranky the crane (ah bless who wants a 5 yr old lad, hes sweet really )

lol i think mine was in the dustbin anyway!