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littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
pop22 said:
You know, I'm all for these DIY lights, as they mostly exceed anything you can buy. But all the people on here yapping about Mars lights are just blowing smoke up people's asses, or just running their mouths to sound important. Most people don't even think about DIY, or ever look at these sections of a forum. and they have no interest in such. they just want to buy a light they can afford that will give coverage of x amount of area. And there is no middle ground for people to buy from. there are low price, low end Chinese lights, there are mid-to high priced lights passing themselves off as " Made in the USA" that use the same parts as those "junk" lights, and there are the high end lights that 90% can't afford and are hugely over priced anyway.
I bought Mars lights before I discovered the DIY lights. I have three of them that are all three years old and still going strong. I've grow excellent weed with them and have had some good harvest. Yep, I can do better with better lights, and I'm working towards that goal.
Telling people they have to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in order to grow good weed with LED is ludicrous! I've got bud right now, that will knock anyone on their ass and it was grown under my "shitty" Mars light! What I'm looking to gain is grams/sq.ft and better, more powerful lights are needed for that. Growing 7 ounces of great bud in a 2.5'x2.5'x5' tent with a 345 true watts of LED isn't record setting but it sure as shit isn't shabby either!

So yes, there are better lights, and most are DIY. But you get what you pay for right? Hope you don't own a Volkswagen.....
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Bonjour
How many gpw do you pull from yoir mars? And is it soil or hydro?
CU
 
pop22

pop22

Well-Known Member
Wonder where I could get those cases.........

Zulu Smoker said:
Here's their latest 200W model, purchased after they went "dark" for a time a few months earlier. The case does get a little too hot for my taste, I'm thinking of either getting small fans to blow across the lights or install 40mm fans on the exhaust ports to facilitate air movement.

Back:


Front:


Inside:


Test run with and without optics (check out color temps, all are 4000K):


Two of the units were a bit banged up at the corners, but nothing that would compromise safety or performance. Just a few more pieces and this grow is good to go! And I got a migraine from staring at the mylar too long, being light sensitive and all. Going to need sunglasses when working under these lights.

I might have to stop looking at the LED thread for the next few months to prevent buyer's remorse - there are a TON of new community lights coming that I unfortunately couldn't wait for any longer. :bigjoint::peace:
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pop22

pop22

Well-Known Member
My last grow I got 242 grams from the 345 watt light, so about .7gpw 4 autoflower plants in organic soil, 3 gallon growbags, and no plant training of any kind.With the right strain, I might hit 1gpw. Still, its time for more powerful lights PAR wise. I'm sticking with these a bit longer though as I'm upgrading other areas of my grow room first.

littlejacob said:
Bonjour
How many gpw do you pull from yoir mars? And is it soil or hydro?
CU
Click to expand...
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
Ok 0.7gpw what I usually do with my 600hps in soil...I plan on 1.3/1.4gpw with cxb 3590! Not less!
We will see what I will pull from my 4 cxb 3590@1400mA (200/220w) over my 3.5x3.5x4.5!?? (No dark spot,) 4plant under each cob and one in the center to fill the hole...35d vegg and 65/75d bloom depend on strains! (I never exceed 35d vegg...less next time cob grow faster...even 3500ºk...I can't imagine 5000/6500ºk!)
CU
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
pop22 said:
You know, I'm all for these DIY lights, as they mostly exceed anything you can buy. But all the people on here yapping about Mars lights are just blowing smoke up people's asses, or just running their mouths to sound important. Most people don't even think about DIY, or ever look at these sections of a forum. and they have no interest in such. they just want to buy a light they can afford that will give coverage of x amount of area. And there is no middle ground for people to buy from. there are low price, low end Chinese lights, there are mid-to high priced lights passing themselves off as " Made in the USA" that use the same parts as those "junk" lights, and there are the high end lights that 90% can't afford and are hugely over priced anyway.
I bought Mars lights before I discovered the DIY lights. I have three of them that are all three years old and still going strong. I've grow excellent weed with them and have had some good harvest. Yep, I can do better with better lights, and I'm working towards that goal.
Telling people they have to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in order to grow good weed with LED is ludicrous! I've got bud right now, that will knock anyone on their ass and it was grown under my "shitty" Mars light! What I'm looking to gain is grams/sq.ft and better, more powerful lights are needed for that. Growing 7 ounces of great bud in a 2.5'x2.5'x5' tent with a 345 true watts of LED isn't record setting but it sure as shit isn't shabby either!

So yes, there are better lights, and most are DIY. But you get what you pay for right? Hope you don't own a Volkswagen.....
Click to expand...
I am happy that you have had such good luck with your mars panel but with cheap chinese diodes and drivers you take your chances. my luck with the mars hydro has not been good. I don't think anyone here is trying to convince you or anyone else to give up lights that they are happy with.my florescent give me 0.75GPW with a basic soil grow and I am very happy with them but I am curious enough about LEDs to play with them.as rapidly as this technology is evolving it probably won't be long before those high end chips find their way into cheap Chinese Cobs.DIY gives us the opportunity to play with those high end diodes without breaking the bank but I don't think anyone is suggesting that people give up lights they are happy with and switch to leds. at this point they are still just a novelty to me but I see technology coming on to the market that looks very promising.I have no doubt that someday in the not too distant future LEDs will become the best option for growing plants.and good quality led grow light will become affordable for the PU grower.
 
REALSTYLES

REALSTYLES

Well-Known Member
mauricem00 said:
I am happy that you have had such good luck with your mars panel but with cheap chinese diodes and drivers you take your chances. my luck with the mars hydro has not been good. I don't think anyone here is trying to convince you or anyone else to give up lights that they are happy with.my florescent give me 0.75GPW with a basic soil grow and I am very happy with them but I am curious enough about LEDs to play with them.as rapidly as this technology is evolving it probably won't be long before those high end chips find their way into cheap Chinese Cobs.DIY gives us the opportunity to play with those high end diodes without breaking the bank but I don't think anyone is suggesting that people give up lights they are happy with and switch to leds. at this point they are still just a novelty to me but I see technology coming on to the market that looks very promising.I have no doubt that someday in the not too distant future LEDs will become the best option for growing plants.and good quality led grow light will become affordable for the PU grower.
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But I am saying fuck HPS and HPS is for retarded people lol. J\K but I will say just diy and my lights are way better than HID lights

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Stealthstyle

Stealthstyle

Well-Known Member
Hi ive been away from forums like these for a while but looking at setting up a very small area- 50cm x 80cm by 130cm high.
I already have a mars hydro 300 watt- the first version not mars ii but hearing bad things about them. i havent really used the mars light since i bought it over a year ago.
I was wondering if i should even bother with it or should i go for more like something like these-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LED-200W-LUSHPRO-COB-LIGHTING-SYSTEM-GROW-LIGHT-FOR-GROWING-PLANTS-/111674899015?hash=item1a0057ba47:g:XjoAAOSwZd1VWwjQ

Only want to do it as a hobby one plant at a time, no need for large yeilds just fucking around, should i stick with the mars light or go with a COB.
Although no yeild would be a waste of time.

How many of those COB 200 or 100 watt lights would be needed for that area?
 
TJ baba

TJ baba

Well-Known Member
Hello I have previously purchased 400w hps and Mars led 600w (278w actual) and both seem too big and hot for my grow tent. My tent is 20"×32"×61". I'm in need of a new light please someone point me in the direction of good light for veg and flowering also under $250. Please help and thanks, I'm in a mess here until I get a suitable light.

I'm interested in the DIY scene but still new, I would need a heatsink, driver, and the leds, is that everything for diy cob?
 
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D

doz

Well-Known Member
TJ baba said:
Hello I have previously purchased 400w hps and Mars led 600w (278w actual) and both seem too big and hot for my grow tent. My tent is 20"×32"×61". I'm in need of a new light please someone point me in the direction of good light for veg and flowering also under $250. Please help and thanks, I'm in a mess here until I get a suitable light.

I'm interested in the DIY scene but still new, I would need a heatsink, driver, and the leds, is that everything for diy cob?
Click to expand...
For about $275, you can build a CXB3070 CD bin setup that will produce about 96 PAR Watts. Consider loss and you will be sitting high 80s which means you will be running a bit over 19 PAR Watts per Sq. Ft. More than enough for your setup.

Pickup a Meanwell HLG185-1400b, 4x CXB3070 CD, a heatsink from HUSA or some CPU coolers ($9/piece on Newegg right now), and then a little wiring, connectors, power cord and you are good to go.
 
robincnn

robincnn

Well-Known Member
@Stealthstyle I would not call 50cm x 80cm by 130cm high a small area if your aim is 'hobby one plant at a time'.
It is almost 6sqft.
I would recommend Area 51 W90 $200 but you are not in USA and i do not know about their international shipping. you can check with them. This light would have been perfect for a one plant. http://www.a51led.net/contact

The Mars hydro most likely will outperform the ''LED 200W LUSHPRO COB LIGHTING SYSTEM GROW LIGHT FOR GROWING PLANTS '.
I bought a chinese COB light and it was the worst thing ever. It has holes in heatsink and the output was too low. even lower than the red/blue chinese lights.
However I would not mars hydro either. Poor diodes and efficiency.

If you cannot buy W90 then consider building a light. With COBS, heatsink and power supply it is going to cost less than a mars hydro and way better efficiency and spectrum. You can use multiple cobs and get more diffused light. With cobs 30-50 watts per sqft. You can get some ideas here
https://www.rollitup.org/t/pictures-of-your-diy-lights-post-your-pics.871625/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/mau5capades-builds-grow-journal.881192/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/realstyles-6th-diy-cxa-3590-5000k-db-bin.864284/
 
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mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
REALSTYLES said:
But I am saying fuck HPS and HPS is for retarded people lol. J\K but I will say just diy and my lights are way better than HID lights

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HPS were the best option 40 years ago when growers started using them but they get way to hot for a small cabinet or closet grow. I am very happy with my 2G11 CFLs and it appears that many people here have gotten good results with LEDs.some people have had bad luck with early led grow lights and are careful about trying them again.LEDs do provide a better SPD for plant growth than HPS lamps and when driven soft enough high quality diodes can match hps for luminous efficiency and beat them for radiant efficiency but it is still difficult to get the broad spectrum violet and blue light that MH and florescent provide.my bulbs are 2 years old running 12/12 all that time and they still produce 0.75 GPW.I am using commercial grade bulbs and my light meter shows that they are at 95% of the output they had when new 2 years ago.people get use to growing with a certain kind of light and plants adapt to the light their grown under.I'm sure you will find others who are just as happy with their HIDs or florescent as you are with your DIY LEDs.my mars hydro is collecting dust while I wait for replacement diodes again.some people have had good luck with these cheap chinese grow lights others have not. I am considering ripping those cheap chinese diodes and drivers out of my mars hydro and replacing them with 5 cobs driven at 700ma with a meanwell driver. I think the cooling system they use can handle vero 18s at 100 watts total power and that would give me a usable light.
 
pop22

pop22

Well-Known Member
My point was really, why tell people who can't afford top shelf stuff not to use them? They work and I'll take these over HPS/MH any day, been there, done that. And you CAN'T buy an HPS setup that will be useful in a small space for the price of basic LED. Yep, you can get a nice 1000 watt setup for $300-$350. Of course then unless your plan is to bake your weed with it, you need a vented hood, 6" or8" fan and ducting to extract the heat, etc. So now we're at $600-$800 dollars, right where many can't afford it to get started. I need to grow meds for my lady who has MS. I'm retired and took a part time job to raise the $800 I needed to start my first grow. Lots of people in this boat. they're not being cheap, they are doing what they can to get started. I started with a 600 watt HPS and it worked but the LED stomped it with less heat. You couldn't GIVE me an HPS/MH system, not dealing with that antique shit ever again!
Your right, they are far from the best, but some of us have to start somewhere. Over the last two years I've been upgrading a little at a time. After I finish with the current round of upgrades, a 4x4 tent and a 4 pot autopot system, I'll save for building a light. It will take me 3-4 months.
And how any people are growing with CFLs? Shit, for what you'd spend in a year on CFLs, you could use one of these cheap lights AND grow more/better weed.

That said, I'm loving the DIY LED forums here! It just bothers me the seemingly sneering attitude some present.

mauricem00 said:
I am happy that you have had such good luck with your mars panel but with cheap chinese diodes and drivers you take your chances. my luck with the mars hydro has not been good. I don't think anyone here is trying to convince you or anyone else to give up lights that they are happy with.my florescent give me 0.75GPW with a basic soil grow and I am very happy with them but I am curious enough about LEDs to play with them.as rapidly as this technology is evolving it probably won't be long before those high end chips find their way into cheap Chinese Cobs.DIY gives us the opportunity to play with those high end diodes without breaking the bank but I don't think anyone is suggesting that people give up lights they are happy with and switch to leds. at this point they are still just a novelty to me but I see technology coming on to the market that looks very promising.I have no doubt that someday in the not too distant future LEDs will become the best option for growing plants.and good quality led grow light will become affordable for the PU grower.
Click to expand...
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
You said...can match hps efficiency!!!
You talk about mars panel...right?
Cause cxb 3590 are waaaay more efficient...56% against 38% maybe 40% for the best 1000hps DE...36% for a 600hps...32% for a 400hps...28/30% for a 250hps...and only 25% of this light hit the canopy directly...that's why cob growers are pulling more than gpw...better light who enlightened just the canopy (not everywhere! ) better spectrum(as you use less nutes and the plants are healthier! ) possibility to put the cob where you want in the box (in the middle of each sq/ft if you want) to get the best light spread possible...!
Since I tried cxb 3590 I want to switch to cob...no more hps...it will be nonsense...you gonna say it is expensive...350/380 $ for 220w of the best cob available atm...if you cool them well you should keep them @1400mA 50000H...10 years of 30d vegg and 70d bloom non stop! If you switch to 700mA- maybe 100000h!! So it is not so expensive compare to quality and longevity (you just have to clean the LES with IPA 1/week)
Have a great day ★
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
TJ baba said:
Hello I have previously purchased 400w hps and Mars led 600w (278w actual) and both seem too big and hot for my grow tent. My tent is 20"×32"×61". I'm in need of a new light please someone point me in the direction of good light for veg and flowering also under $250. Please help and thanks, I'm in a mess here until I get a suitable light.

I'm interested in the DIY scene but still new, I would need a heatsink, driver, and the leds, is that everything for diy cob?
Click to expand...
Bonjour
You could try with 3 cxb 3590 3500ºk 36V cd(in kingbrite alibaba said to Jerry you come from riu and give him an avatar to get a discount! ) on a MW hlg-120-1400b...ask an US member for hs size I am not familiar with hsusa!
Are you in US?
Maybe it will cost 300 $...maybe 250 $ with 3 V29 on an hlg-120-1050b and some cpu cooler (10x10) you need a large enough for the holder (to be able to fix it on the hs) 18awg for the cob/fan and 8awg for the driver plug...wago...TIM...12v psu (or an old phone charger 5v) drilling tapping connecting applying...lights on (after the TIM dry...24h)!
CU
 
Stealthstyle

Stealthstyle

Well-Known Member
robincnn said:
@Stealthstyle I would not call 50cm x 80cm by 130cm high a small area if your aim is 'hobby one plant at a time'.
It is almost 6sqft.
I would recommend Area 51 W90 $200 but you are not in USA and i do not know about their international shipping. you can check with them. This light would have been perfect for a one plant. http://www.a51led.net/contact

The Mars hydro most likely will outperform the ''LED 200W LUSHPRO COB LIGHTING SYSTEM GROW LIGHT FOR GROWING PLANTS '.
I bought a chinese COB light and it was the worst thing ever. It has holes in heatsink and the output was too low. even lower than the red/blue chinese lights.
However I would not mars hydro either. Poor diodes and efficiency.

If you cannot buy W90 then consider building a light. With COBS, heatsink and power supply it is going to cost less than a mars hydro and way better efficiency and spectrum. You can use multiple cobs and get more diffused light. With cobs 30-50 watts per sqft. You can get some ideas here
https://www.rollitup.org/t/pictures-of-your-diy-lights-post-your-pics.871625/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/mau5capades-builds-grow-journal.881192/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/realstyles-6th-diy-cxa-3590-5000k-db-bin.864284/
Click to expand...
Thanks, i dont plan on filling that space as i will have fans and an carbon filter in there too.Plant will be around 45cm by 45cm scrog,bubbler but still wondering if i should even go ahead with it as i have a room mate and im renting.

Do you think these look worthwhile?
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-2014-DIY-Led-grow-light-whole-set-100w-full-spectrum-led-heat-sink-100w-driver/121917_1714563743.html
 
tripleD

tripleD

Well-Known Member
I'm currently on my first grow with a Spydr 600 LED & so far these 4 plants are killing the 4 plants that I just grew using a 400w CH... Anyone else have any personal info on the Spydr600??
I would love to hear any feedback if anyone has any! Thanks!!
 
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