Mars Hydro or Spider Farmer

Imcamping86

Well-Known Member
Why avoid SF? I think i am making up my mind and probl go for the Mars Hydro ts 3000 Because of the price. With shipping the Spider Farmer is close to 200 USD more... I guess everything is better than ny 176 true watt :(
That sucks. The ts3000 uses smd led doesn’t it ?
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
So there is a difference between b and h and it’s not just the h for horticulture. They DO have more efficiency and umouls
If you are comparing the same bin 301b diodes to 301h diodes, there is no difference, check the datasheets to see for yourself:


The only difference is that "H" diodes are only available in the top bin options, while the B diodes (which also have the same top bin options as "H" diodes) do also include lower bin options which are less efficient.

As shown in the data sheets this is the flux output for both diodes depending on the flux bins:

Screenshot (41).png
 

Imcamping86

Well-Known Member
If you are comparing the same bin 301b diodes to 301h diodes, there is no difference, check the datasheets to see for yourself:


The only difference is that "H" diodes are only available in the top bin options, while the B diodes (which also have the same top bin options as "H" diodes) do also include lower bin options which are less efficient.

As shown in the data sheets this is the flux output for both diodes depending on the flux bins:

View attachment 4789523
Earlier in the thread there was a video posted that and the guy in the video via the Samsung web page showed there is a difference . I’m just saying what I’m seeing lol
 

Mr Hill

Well-Known Member
Earlier in the thread there was a video posted that and the guy in the video via the Samsung web page showed there is a difference . I’m just saying what I’m seeing lol
Exactly my thought. But even Spider Farmer replied with an email stating that the number B and H is just for different regional sales. But i beg to differ.
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
Why avoid SF? I think i am making up my mind and probl go for the Mars Hydro ts 3000 Because of the price. With shipping the Spider Farmer is close to 200 USD more... I guess everything is better than ny 176 true watt :(
I had one and sold it because I didn't like it. Nice fit and finish. Felt ripped off when I realized it was set below 240 watts and I'd void my warranty if I changed it, BUT to dim the first generation lights (no potentiometer) you had to pull the Lo port and use a phillips to dim them manually. Now they have the switch, but less than 240 watts is bad in flower because these style LEDs are low on intensity even at max wattage. I paid $392 Canadian for it and the Fusion boards with 240 watts were $345. I personally think there are better LEDs out there thanSpider Farmer.
The mars hydro should be lots cheaper than the spider and will work well. The components aren't supposed to be as high end as other brands but it all comes from China and has a timed life anyway.
 

Mr Hill

Well-Known Member
I had one and sold it because I didn't like it. Nice fit and finish. Felt ripped off when I realized it was set below 240 watts and I'd void my warranty if I changed it, BUT to dim the first generation lights (no potentiometer) you had to pull the Lo port and use a phillips to dim them manually. Now they have the switch, but less than 240 watts is bad in flower because these style LEDs are low on intensity even at max wattage. I paid $392 Canadian for it and the Fusion boards with 240 watts were $345. I personally think there are better LEDs out there thanSpider Farmer.
The mars hydro should be lots cheaper than the spider and will work well. The components aren't supposed to be as high end as other brands but it all comes from China and has a timed life anyway.
So you had spider farmer led and sold it? Did i get that part right?
 

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
No input on spider farmer but I run a Mars hydro ts1000 (150w)...alongside 3 cobs of 200w total and I've noticed all plants lean toward the MH...
don't care if they may be cheaper diodes...they pull their weight. upgrading to a MH TS3000...!
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
You can get a refurbished HLG 550 Rspec for $539 after the "RIU10" discount code. They only have them in 240V now, but you can add yourself to the list if you need 120V.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Earlier in the thread there was a video posted that and the guy in the video via the Samsung web page showed there is a difference . I’m just saying what I’m seeing lol
Exactly my thought. But even Spider Farmer replied with an email stating that the number B and H is just for different regional sales. But i beg to differ.
The guy in the video is speculating, and his speculations are wrong.

Here is the link of the news page in the video, which you can see has been updated since then: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-sets-new-photon-efficacy-level-in-white-led-packages-for-indoor-farms

Please note that there is zero mention of LM301B diodes on that page. Also in the video he mentioned that LM301B is 2.6 umol/j, however there is no reports from Samsung stating that number. The reason is that they don't measure the LM301B diodes using umol or ppf, they use lumens instead.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Exactly my thought. But even Spider Farmer replied with an email stating that the number B and H is just for different regional sales. But i beg to differ.
The B's came first, and were measured in lumens, because lumens are for humans, and lm301b diodes were intended for area lights. Once LED companies started using those diodes in mass, Samsung introduced the "H" version, which they measure in umol/j, because that's you measure horticultural lights. The only difference is that they don't have the lower bin options with the H version like they do with the B version. If you are sure that your LED fixture is made with top bin LM301B diodes, it's exactly the same as using LM301H diodes. Where it gets tricky is manufactures who you can't trust to guarantee using top bin LM301B diodes, such as Mars Hydro, who has openly (and likely accidently) admitted that they do not use top bin LM301B diodes, because they would have to charge more for their fixtures as the top bin diodes are more costly for them. Basically what that means is that Mars Hydro lights will be about 10%to 15% less bright than manufactures who do use top bin diodes.
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
I think SMD stand for Surface Mounted Diodes
No, it still stands for Surface Mount Device. ;-)
SMDs can be diodes, resistors, capacitors etc.

 
Last edited:

SpideyManDan

Well-Known Member
This is the video i was watching about LM301B and LM301H

Not trying to be a dick, but how do we know the things that guy is telling us are completely accurate. I heard the h's where only a couple efficacy points higher then the b's not a 2.7 to 3.3 jump.
 

bEelzeBosS

Well-Known Member
Has anyone done a grow with both lights?
Not separately but I have one of each in my flower tent. The MH is brighter but I havent messed with the settings of the SF, it likely comes from the factory dialed down a bit more. As far as overall quality my SF seems to be far superior.
 
Top