Growdown! Mars Hydro vs Grow Lights Australia

So the yield numbers are in.

Mars Hydro = 17oz
GLA = 18oz

The numbers overall are down a bit on what I'd usually expect from a grow like this, but the grower said temperatures were a bit colder than he would have liked and that he was also expecting a bit more than what he got.

If I'm honest, it's not a definitive win, but when you take into account the GLA clone started off a bit smaller – and that we tried to even out all the variiables – it's probably not that surprising. The GLA buds did look slightly denser, but there were obviously not as many of them. Regardless, I still consider it a good measure of each spectrum as the PPFD levels were pretty much identical throughout the grow. We certainly can't be accused of fudging the numbers or giving the GLA light an obvious advantage.

It will be interesting to see what the cannabinoid levels reveal.

What height and power was veg and flower of the GLA?

Very nice test to read mate...

What about a cost comparison? I am wanting to convert fully over to LED but it's hard to justify the price point on them for what I use them for.

nailbag said:

What height and power was veg and flower of the GLA?

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Hi mate, they were both set at max, so the GLA pulled 490-500W from the wall and the Mars 465-475W (depending on ambient/operating temperatures – as the LEDs heat up they're voltage requirements go down and so the overall wattage is lower for the same current). The GLA was on average 30-36" above the canopy while the Mars was around 24". The Mars had a more uneven canopy so some tops were closer while the GLA was above optimum height (24") and had sidewall losses (but the Mars also has sidewall losses due to the bars on the ends being close to the walls). We set both lights up to have the same average PPFD readings so that we could better compare the spectra.

not to be impatient but when do we expect the results of lab testing? Sorry not being pushy just love this kind of stuff. Thanks for posting.

Playk328 said:

What about a cost comparison? I am wanting to convert fully over to LED but it's hard to justify the price point on them for what I use them for.

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The GLA Quad is around A$1200 if you're in Australia and A$1090 if you're international (less sales tax), but of course there is shipping on top of that. The Mars FC-4800 seems to be around the A$900-950 mark. The GLA comes with a Mean Well driver with 7-year-warranty and the lights have a full 3-year-warranty. Mars has a full 1-year-warranty and after that they will supply parts and you have to pay for your own repairs.

MidnightSun72 said:

not to be impatient but when do we expect the results of lab testing? Sorry not being pushy just love this kind of stuff. Thanks for posting.

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I've got the samples here and I've been told they can be tested in the next couple of weeks. A couple of extra weeks' cure wont' hurt

Prawn Connery said:

Hi mate, they were both set at max, so the GLA pulled 490-500W from the wall and the Mars 465-475W (depending on ambient/operating temperatures – as the LEDs heat up they're voltage requirements go down and so the overall wattage is lower for the same current). The GLA was on average 30-36" above the canopy while the Mars was around 24". The Mars had a more uneven canopy so some tops were closer while the GLA was above optimum height (24") and had sidewall losses (but the Mars also has sidewall losses due to the bars on the ends being close to the walls). We set both lights up to have the same average PPFD readings so that we could better compare the spectra.

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Thanks for the reply, I have my GLA that I'm wondering how hard to push it in veg atm, about 4 weeks veg will flip in 2 probs.

nailbag said:

Thanks for the reply, I have my GLA that I'm wondering how hard to push it in veg atm, about 4 weeks veg will flip in 2 probs.

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What size light and what size area do you have?

GLA long board in 3 x 5 feet cupboard!

This man made my led as I wanted with red-farred-blue and uva

ichimoto said:

This man made my led as I wanted with red-farred-blue and uva

Crescience | LED Plant Lamp & Indoor Garden Controller

Our highly efficient LEDs and solutions for indoor garden automation are as unique as the requirements of our customers. Discover Crescience now!

cre.science

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That's nice. How much did he charge you? What size was the light and what type of driver? Did you have to assemble it yourself? Is it waterproof? I see they use XLG drivers on their website which a lot of companies don't use any more because we have had issues with them.

nailbag said:

GLA long board in 3 x 5 feet cupboard!

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Hi mate, if you have the 320W driver (you didn't say, sorry) I would run it full power in that area. If you have the 480W driver, you want to run it full during flower and at around 2/3 power during veg. It is all to do with DLI (daily light integral). 12 hours of light multiplied by "I" (PPFD intensity) is the same as 18 hous of light multiplie by "I x 2/3" (12/18 = 2/3).

Prawn Connery said:

That's nice. How much did he charge you? What size was the light and what type of driver? Did you have to assemble it yourself? Is it waterproof? I see they use XLG drivers on their website which a lot of companies don't use any more because we have had issues with them.

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Less than €1000,-
The light is 1.00x 0.60
Drivers are from Mean Well: XLG-240-M-AB
I have the Fluxengine Evo(full spectrum) Usual is 70 diodes on 48cm (flux strips). The Fluxengine Evo has 140 diodes on 24cm !!!!
Also the Apex strips boosters build in: blue,red and farred. They have their own drivers.
Totally 520Watt
Dimmable

Customer service is absolutely top......

@ichimoto ^^^^^^ start another thread on this so called amazing light

you are................the boss?

Scuzzman said:

@ichimoto ^^^^^^ start another thread on this so called amazing light

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It's OK mate, I'm sure we can humour him for a little while.

ichimoto said:

you are................the boss?

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No, he's not the boss and neither am I. It's a free world and you are welcome to post wherever you like, but @Scuzzman was merely pointing out that some would consider it a little rude to spam other people's threads. Personally I don't mind. But if you are going to tell us all about your light, then you also need to show us photographs of the light and your grow.

So please post up your photos and I will post up mine.

You know, for around €1300 you could have something like this which is 740W of "true" full spectrum light, including 1% UVA and 10% Far Red on Mean Well HLG drivers. That price includes both the lights in this photo, ready to hang. Each of these fixtures is 960mm x 206mm and provides very even light spread in a 1.2m x 1.2m tent.

I have started harvesting this room, so the top colas have been removed from three of the five plants. Two of them still have a way to flower. These are test seeds so they are quite variable, but I should get one or two worth running again.


Here is a close-up photo of GLA's 370W Longboards from the website

So?

ichimoto said:

So?

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So what? Sorry, what is the question? Are you going to post photos of your light?