$40 Par meter?

m4s73r

Well-Known Member

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
Just picked this up on Amazon.
Looking pretty good so far. Spend all day with this testing my ChilLed lights as well as the SF4k I have. While it does not match the par charts exactly, its only off by about 10-20 ppfd. Not going to say that its as good as the apogee, but for anyone that is looking for something to get you close, Im pretty happy with this purchase. YMMV.
I have been looking for a par meter. Iam new to led's and it seems an accurate par meter is very helpful if not required. Are you still liking your purchase? $60 is is very cheap! Is it still accurate with repeatable results? Thanks for your review.
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
The OP hasn't been here for a while. Does anyone else have experience with this unit? I am suspicious of it's quality. I usually believe you get what you pay for but if it is 95% accurate to save hundreds it would be worth it.
 

harrychilds

Well-Known Member
I use the photone app on my iPhone and it gives me a really good reading because I have compared it to the LED charts for my light. But to be honest I don't even need to use an app to get good readings now because lumatek offer an exact distance for each tent size.
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
Why do think you need a par meter ?
Just to verify how much light at the canopy? I bought 2 marshydro fc-8000's for a 5x9 tent. They put out massive amounts of light and I don't want to fry my plants. I have 0 experience with Led's so I wanted to be safe and learn how far to dial down power or adjust distance. Am I over thinking it?
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
I wasn't planning on it, getting a meter, but when I saw 1 on Amazon for $60 it seemed like a good idea. Not spending $500+ on an apogee. So I was hoping some had experience with the 1 on Amazon.
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
I use the photone app on my iPhone and it gives me a really good reading because I have compared it to the LED charts for my light. But to be honest I don't even need to use an app to get good readings now because lumatek offer an exact distance for each tent size.
I did get the photone app. I just wasn't sure how accurate it really would be.
Its good to know it is fairly accurate. More reason to not spend alot on one.
 

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
Just to verify how much light at the canopy? I bought 2 marshydro fc-8000's for a 5x9 tent. They put out massive amounts of light and I don't want to fry my plants. I have 0 experience with Led's so I wanted to be safe and learn how far to dial down power or adjust distance. Am I over thinking it?
Does mars not have a reference chart in the book that came with it? A ppfd map?
 

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
I did get the photone app. I just wasn't sure how accurate it really would be.
Its good to know it is fairly accurate. More reason to not spend alot on one.
It shows you how to calibrate it to your light using the ppfd chart for your light (the photone app). I've been using it this grow and I had way to much light on my girl. Since you have a meter coming maybe you can test it against the app and let us know if the app is somewhat close
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
Does mars not have a reference chart in the book that came with it? A ppfd map?
No charts in the manual. I have been researching alot, maps from you tube testers, migro & coco for cannabis. 24" without co2 is a very nice par map. But if I can dial it down a bit and keep it a little closer, there for more efficient and cheaper to run?
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
Since you have a meter coming
I have not ordered 1 yet. The op has not replied to my question of his experience with this $60 unit on Amazon. Sounds to me like I can use the phone app with acceptable results, so don't think I will bother unless I start having issues.
 

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
I have not ordered 1 yet. The op has not replied to my question of his experience with this $60 unit on Amazon. Sounds to me like I can use the phone app with acceptable results, so don't think I will bother unless I start having issues.
Yeah if you can calibrate it to the par map for your light. I haven't used the app without calibration so don't know how accurate the default is.
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
The spot on par meter that migro uses now, instead of the apogee, is about $390. It does the standard 400-700nm.
The newer apogee sq-610( I think thats right?) does 400-750nm to help determine how much far red and ir you are getting. $600+
 

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
The spot on par meter that migro uses now, instead of the apogee, is about $390. It does the standard 400-700nm.
The newer apogee sq-610( I think thats right?) does 400-750nm to help determine how much far red and ir you are getting. $600+
Yeah there are a lot of other things I'd spend 600$ on b4 a par meter lol
 
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