MarsHydro lights?

Buttknuckle

Buttknuckle

Well-Known Member
Currently running some cheap fluorescent 23w bulbs in a homemade reflector fixture. my flower chamber is roughly 18"x25"x60". I'm growing in a stealth ish cabinet dwc right now and my current light set up does fine to get me about 3oz of aurora indica or a bit more per run . I'm looking to improve my performance and looking into doing a scrog grow as well... my space doesn't allow for any hid bulbs for the heat or space alone but i believe a decent led could step things up. I'm on a slightly tight budget but have been watching some panels on ebay and Amazon for a while and could get 2 600w panels for a couple hundred or 2 300w panels for less than 200. does anyone have experience with this brand? i know it may not be top the line but I'm not in the market for professional grade either but would love something that performs well. any feedback from someone with personal experience with these would be great.
 
NapalmD

NapalmD

Well-Known Member
The Mars panels will still put out some heat especially in that small of a space plus they are inefficient with a short life span from what I've seen here.
I just finished a run with a Photon 180 from Northern and it's a killer little light that would blow your space up in a good way. You can dim it down low and raise it according to how your plants respond.

Any of the models they offer will more than suit your space and they're not much more than your budget. They will outlast any Mars light and they're hand built from top of line components right here in the U.S.
Here's a link to check them out.
https://northerngrowlights.com/collections/all
You can contact the owner @robincnn here if you see one you like that's sold out.
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Hello, I have used a Mars before so here are my thoughts.
It puts off heat fore sure, not direct like a HPS but for sure my tent was around 20-25C.
This did not affect my plants and I have a fan, but there is heat.
It grew plants fine and better than my HPS.
Do I recommend them? Yes and No, if you have a descent budget dont buy them, if not then sure.Currently any BLURPLE is obsolete in the COB age.
For your setup I would go with a COB light, for any setup I would go with a COB light.
If your your into DIY you can save a ton of money building your own COB lights with either CXB or Vero or Citi.

Some companies are below
Timber
Northern
Pacifc Light Cncepts
Tasty LED
Cob Kits

No specific order.
If you have a descent budget I advise against Mars and to either DIY or buy a COB panel.
Reason is the fact that it will last and a MARS will not, ask @REALSTYLES , he has trashed out many of these.
They dont last. a COB panel has high PAR per watt which means more yield for the same wattage.
Any more questions ill be happy to answer them
 
BM9AGS

BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
Trippyness said:
I agree but the heat is more of an abient heat than a direct such as HPS.
Its much more manageable.
People however needs to stop with LEDS dont produce heat.
They do, just easier to manage.
Click to expand...
Yep. My old closet was 85 with 800w cxb3590. Exhaust ran 15 min every other 30min block. Insulated walls. With a 1k HPS I was running exhaust all times and heat was 90. So big diff. People just need to use the actual wattage of shitty leds for their estimation. They're less efficient than HID and actually radiate more
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
BM9AGS said:
Yep. My old closet was 85 with 800w cxb3590. Exhaust ran 15 min every other 30min block. Insulated walls. With a 1k HPS I was running exhaust all times and heat was 90. So big diff. People just need to use the actual wattage of shitty leds for their estimation. They're less efficient than HID and actually radiate more
Click to expand...
Yeah, newbies get caught in the BS marketing instead of actuial wattage, which is false adverting and isnt allowed, but it will continue to happen.
Running an HPS the heat is absurd.
There is a guy on here who clains to run his DE HPS at 1.5 foot no fans no exhaust..
like fuck off. Plants would be dead in a day.
On a side note I would love to know 1 person who has every bought a BlackDog Phytomax...I swear no one has 1 of these..
All smartened up and realized its overpriced garbage. Mars clone basically.
 
Buttknuckle

Buttknuckle

Well-Known Member
I fully understand the difference between the "wattage"and actual power draw. i don't fall for that nonsense I've done a fair amount of research into just haven't made any purchases yet to have the experience of one. i have an intake fan and exhaust fan in my cabinet and honestly i feel like my fluorescent may put out a fair amount of heat as well with 12 23 watt bulbs wired to a piece of ductwork lol.

I feel like i could manage the heat of an led panel and i am definitely interested in a COB light, i however know i don't understand the mechanics of it enough to just order parts build my own light. ..
Do these come as kits anywhere or are there build listings? i wouldn't mind a diy since my budget would prefer to stay under 250-300 tops.
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Buttknuckle said:
I fully understand the difference between the "wattage"and actual power draw. i don't fall for that nonsense I've done a fair amount of research into just haven't made any purchases yet to have the experience of one. i have an intake fan and exhaust fan in my cabinet and honestly i feel like my fluorescent may put out a fair amount of heat as well with 12 23 watt bulbs wired to a piece of ductwork lol.

I feel like i could manage the heat of an led panel and i am definitely interested in a COB light, i however know i don't understand the mechanics of it enough to just order parts build my own light. ..
Do these come as kits anywhere or are there build listings? i wouldn't mind a diy since my budget would prefer to stay under 250-300 tops.
Click to expand...
In that price I would go with https://cobkits.com/
and the Citi COBS :)
PM if you want some help :)
Just build a Vero light the other day.
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Johnny Lawrence said:
http://timbergrowlights.com/grow-light-kits/
Click to expand...
Beat me to the punch!
His budget is not good enough for these.

What i would recommend is the following:
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/citizen-clu048-1212-80cri-choice-of-color-temps/ $13.25 each = $39.75
either 3000k or 3500k ( I prefer 3000k for full cycle)
1 x https://cobkits.com/product/meanwell-hlg-240h-c/ $72
at 1.05A
3x https://cobkits.com/product/mechatronics-111mm-pin-fin-heat-sink-for-cree-citizen-vero/ $23 each = $69
Passive heatsinks
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/ideal-holder-for-clu048/ $3.50 each = $10.5
SOilderless holder
$191 without tax and shipping

Other random things youll need
Wago connectors ( COB Kits has these)
M3 screws from local hardware
Arctic Silver thermal paste( COBKits)
Get some angled aluminum to mount the Heatsinks or you can hang each one with a YOy-YO style light hanger.
Drill some loops into each one.

( you could get away with 2 COBS at 1.4A insead of 3 at 1.05A)
Hope this helps :) There is also a coupon for CObKits :)

Total Wattage about 116W
PPFD about 907 ( idea)

Any help PM :)

Trippy
 
Bad Karma

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
Trippyness said:
On a side note I would love to know 1 person who has every bought a BlackDog Phytomax...I swear no one has 1 of these..
All smartened up and realized its overpriced garbage. Mars clone basically.
Click to expand...
Actually, it's the other way around. Mars II LED's were knock offs of the original Black Dog LED panels.
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Bad Karma said:
Actually, it's the other way around. Mars II LED's were knock offs of the original Black Dog LED panels.
Click to expand...
Regardless they use the same housing and same diodes.
What i am refrencing is the fact that I dont know or have ever seen anyone have a BD Phytomax ( new one with white diodes).
I have also questioned if Mars is behind Black Dog just with a premium name..
 
Buttknuckle

Buttknuckle

Well-Known Member
Trippyness said:
Beat me to the punch!
His budget is not good enough for these.

What i would recommend is the following:
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/citizen-clu048-1212-80cri-choice-of-color-temps/ $13.25 each = $39.75
either 3000k or 3500k ( I prefer 3000k for full cycle)
1 x https://cobkits.com/product/meanwell-hlg-240h-c/ $72
at 1.05A
3x https://cobkits.com/product/mechatronics-111mm-pin-fin-heat-sink-for-cree-citizen-vero/ $23 each = $69
Passive heatsinks
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/ideal-holder-for-clu048/ $3.50 each = $10.5
SOilderless holder
$191 without tax and shipping

Other random things youll need
Wago connectors ( COB Kits has these)
M3 screws from local hardware
Arctic Silver thermal paste( COBKits)
Get some angled aluminum to mount the Heatsinks or you can hang each one with a YOy-YO style light hanger.
Drill some loops into each one.

( you could get away with 2 COBS at 1.4A insead of 3 at 1.05A)
Hope this helps :) There is also a coupon for CObKits :)

Total Wattage about 116W
PPFD about 907 ( idea)

Any help PM :)

Trippy
Click to expand...
Thank you this is very helpful! now would i need am casing to put all this in then?
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Buttknuckle said:
Thank you this is very helpful! now would i need am casing to put all this in then?
Click to expand...
Angled aluminum would be your best option.
Checkout Growmau5 of youtube, member here and has some nice tutorials on LED. For your budget I would suggest Citi CLU :)
Welcome mate!
Any more questions just ask.
Casing isnt worth it or needed, just angled aluminum.
Here is a video to show you what I mean
 
Buttknuckle

Buttknuckle

Well-Known Member
Aaaah i see, thank you sir! i work at a big box hardware store so i can probably get a lot of the odds and ends from work like i did for my current setup.

Also would it be worth it to invest in a couple more lights and slightly larger driver for the case that i upgrade my grow space to a little larger area or at that point should i just use this one to veg and build a new light since too more in my current space would probably cook it
 
Trippyness

Trippyness

Well-Known Member
Buttknuckle said:
Aaaah i see, thank you sir! i work at a big box hardware store so i can probably get a lot of the odds and ends from work like i did for my current setup.

Also would it be worth it to invest in a couple more lights and slightly larger driver for the case that i upgrade my grow space to a little larger area or at that point should i just use this one to veg and build a new light since too more in my current space would probably cook it
Click to expand...
Depends on how many lights you are going to build.
You can run a few more COBS off that driver.

I suggest you checkout growmau5 video series on DIY COBS, its in his playlists :)
Should answer all your questions
 
W

Wicked0ne

Active Member
Trippyness said:
Beat me to the punch!
His budget is not good enough for these.

What i would recommend is the following:
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/citizen-clu048-1212-80cri-choice-of-color-temps/ $13.25 each = $39.75
either 3000k or 3500k ( I prefer 3000k for full cycle)
1 x https://cobkits.com/product/meanwell-hlg-240h-c/ $72
at 1.05A
3x https://cobkits.com/product/mechatronics-111mm-pin-fin-heat-sink-for-cree-citizen-vero/ $23 each = $69
Passive heatsinks
3 x https://cobkits.com/product/ideal-holder-for-clu048/ $3.50 each = $10.5
SOilderless holder
$191 without tax and shipping

Other random things youll need
Wago connectors ( COB Kits has these)
M3 screws from local hardware
Arctic Silver thermal paste( COBKits)
Get some angled aluminum to mount the Heatsinks or you can hang each one with a YOy-YO style light hanger.
Drill some loops into each one.

( you could get away with 2 COBS at 1.4A insead of 3 at 1.05A)
Hope this helps :) There is also a coupon for CObKits :)

Total Wattage about 116W
PPFD about 907 ( idea)

Any help PM :)

Trippy
Click to expand...
Would this be enough for a 4x2 tent? With recreational passing in MA I'm wanting to start up a small tent for myself. I'd like to do 2-3 strains at a time.
 
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