Tamra Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 Hello, So my heater is flashing a code and I've do not see this code on my instructions as to what it means. Does anyone know? Thank you, Tamra 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 EL meaning "End of Life" It's just a code indicating that it's reached a certain amount of hours of use. It's not "broken" or "dead" or anything, but it will flash that code until you replace it. For reference, you can DL the manual here on the website: Also, welcome to the forums! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim O Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I don't get it. The screenshot that nabokovfan87 posted says that a yellow light will come on after two years of operation, which sounds like it would be OK. But it doesn't say anything about the display flashing "EL," which sounds very irritating. And the downloaded manual also mentions the yellow light but not the "EL." Tamra, how long had the heater been in operation before the "EL" started flashing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllFishNoBrakes Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I know for sure that the “EL” code is what is described above by @nabokovfan87 I believe that the Coop has updated that for V2 of the heater, in that a yellow light will now flash instead of the display flashing “EL”. Probably describes the manual being updated for V2 as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamra Posted September 17, 2023 Author Share Posted September 17, 2023 It's been flashing for about a week. This is the first round of heaters that Corey came out with. I believe the EL code is what the first series did. You are correct, it is very annoying, that is why I believe he changed it to the yellow light. I think... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim O Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 On 9/17/2023 at 2:09 PM, AllFishNoBrakes said: I believe that the Coop has updated that for V2 of the heater, in that a yellow light will now flash instead of the display flashing “EL”. Probably describes the manual being updated for V2 as well. OK, thanks. I didn't realize that the heater was in v2. Makes sense now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 My oldest co-op heater just started blinking EL. I knew this day was coming and here it is! Any suggestions on how to block the display? My plan is to move it behind some plants in the corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim O Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 On 10/20/2023 at 1:47 AM, Pepere said: I use the Inkbid as the controller instead of as a limiter, and i set it with a 2 degree differential.to turn on heat when tank gets down to 74 and off when it hits 76. As such the heater is not on very much.. And doing this from the beginning would greatly delay the appearance of the flashing "EL," since the heater would take much longer to reach the requisite number of hours before that "feature" kicks in. Although it obviously has other benefits (i.e., redundancy and safety), the cost of an Inkbird controller is quite out of proportion to these cheap heaters. I must say that, whether it's a flashing "EL" or a yellow light, it's disconcerting that ACO and/or the ODM finds this "end of life" warning to be needed. It appears that there is a lack of confidence in the design. Combined with other complaints of these heaters starting to make noise or just plain failing, I'm not sure that these things were ready for prime time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quikv6 Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 I use an Inkbird as a failsafe, and let 2 Co-op heaters do their job. I have one set for 77 and the other set for 75 (in case the 77 heater fails to turn on). The 75 heater has almost never turned on, except the occasional colder water change. It is now flashing "EL", even though it was barely ever on. I must say, that in itself is a bit frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim O Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 On 10/20/2023 at 11:03 AM, quikv6 said: It is now flashing "EL", even though it was barely ever on. I must say, that in itself is a bit frustrating. Wow, so much for my theory that you could delay the onset of that with a controller.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quikv6 Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 (edited) I respectfully don't like using the Inkbird that way. I much prefer to use it as a failsafe rather than a controller. While I have never heard about an Inkbird failing, I'd much prefer to have three layers of protection against failure (Heater #1 / Heater #2 / Inkbird) vs. One (Inkbird). It also lets me ensure the accuracy of the heaters' adjustment. I have had one heater (a first gen Co-op 50w) that was 3.5 degrees off out of the box. Regardless, I used it, and after a few months it started to become inaccurate by 5-6 degrees. If I had just maxed out the heater and let the Inkbird do the work I doubt I would've caught this discrepancy. Different strokes for different folks. That is one thing that is great about this hobby. Edited October 20, 2023 by quikv6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quikv6 Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 I actually have 8 co-op heaters. All except the one 50w were spot on with the Inkbird. I had zero issues with it being inaccurate....but the inaccuracy did change for the worse as the months went by. It did not stop me from ordering 2 more co-op heaters. I hate the logo on them, but the new generations look to be green, and it blends in much better. As for the Inkbird....again....it's not the way I prefer to do things. I don't shut my appliances by unplugging them when they are on. I hit the "off" button. I realize heaters can be slightly different, as they are also thermostat-dependant, but it's just the way I like to do things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 I know this is a little silly. But I came up with a simple solution to the annoying EF flashing. I pulled off the suction cups and turned the heater around! ha ha....I'm so high-tech! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev C Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Hi everyone I have the 75-100 watt ACO heater and i got in May 2022. it always kept the correct temperature and always matched my inkbird and tester thermometer but this week it started acting up ,, I pulled out my spare/backup heater to tested my inkbird. tested the ACO heater in a bucket separately … and the problem is the ACO heater I have my heater and inkbird set to 78 the water is 78 degrees. with but the ACO heater says 71 the red light flashes on and off and and then the temperature blinks twice and says 68 I unplugged and let set that did not work ,,, It must be going dead I really love the heater I will order another one my warranty is past /dead i love the size and style and hides well and it has been a very good one for the price my snails and pelco loves laying around and under it so glad I still have Ehiem for backup that i had before the ACO heater 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev C Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 (edited) update on my the old ACO heater it is a version 1 of the heater now this morning it is showing the EL now ( like in Matt’s and Tamra ‘s photo ) it must have been in the process of going End of Life. I do not mind the flashing light if it keeps the heat I will continue to use it in my other room tanks or heating my water changes but I will order a new one for the main 55 gallon living room tank i do not mind the yellow light popping on but the EL flashing is annoying in the living room tank ….i have my old trusty Ehiem in there now and like it it and heats well but always hate the size it sticks out like a sore thumb ACO heaters are wonderful heaters and smaller and easy to hide and it did last 1 year and 8 months and went through hell with pelcos and snails laying on and around it So glad to hear ACO heaters version 2 has no EL flashing only yellow light I love my inkbird best buy I ever did for the fish aquarium would be lost without it learn my lesson not having one before I bought the inkbird I fried my fish aquarium lost all my fish with a faulty heater ,,, let’s say if my inkbird ever goes out ,, buying another one same day matter fact might need to buy one for the spring when i set up a new tank both tanks will be in the living room but opposite sides to connect the two Edited January 5 by Bev C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xr4tiCrew Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 I feel that heater would be perfect if it weren't for the constant display of the temperature. Would be nice to have an option to turn that off and just hit a button when you want to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa P Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 I have one two Aquarium Co op V1 heaters that I bought in May 19, 2022. They are both flashing now but they are still working and keeping up with the heating of the tanks. Do we have an average time of death for this version of the heater? Just bought one of the V2's today. I am definately going to use Matt B.'s suggestion in turning the flashing around, lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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