Mars Pro II 1200w Cree 256 . Anyone with current experience with this light?

[bubba29]

Does anyone have current experience with this light? It's time for me to get a new light, and for the price, this light seems to offer some good performance. IF the manufacturers claims can be believed, the PFD map shows a PFD of 2075 in the center, and lows of PFD 680 in the far corners of a 4.5 foot square (the size of my tent). Strangely enough, I seem to remember this light as being listed with about 650 watts from the wall a year or so ago, but it's now listed as 560 watts from the wall, but there has been no change of the PAR map(?). I know that Mars had some reliability issues in the past, as well as some questionable policies regarding their warranties, and was wondering if that had improved. I'm presently leaning towards this Mars light or a HLG 600H. Mainly trying to get away from the heat that the HPS generate.

[gbauto]

Welcome, bubba

Although the Mars does use 550W, it suggests a hanging height of 12-18" so I think that it would have a real problem giving adequate coverage for anything larger than a 3x3. Also, I would also suspect that the diodes used aren't any more efficient at converting electricity to photons than an HPS rig. 50w/sq ft is the standard for HID so the Mars doesn't produce enough light(photons) to cover a 4x4. If your grow space is 4.5 sq ft, both of the fixtures you quoted are too large for that space.
'

[Toker1]

I have used the original Mars 1200 in a 4x4 before. It’s like a weak version of a 600w HID in terms of yeild.
The customer service with Mars was great. Very helpful people when I spoke to them to make repairs on that light.

[bubba29]

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. The tent is 4.5 feet on a side, or 20.25 sq feet.the Par map that Mars provides suggests that it should flower 4.5 X 4.5 feet, but I've learned to be VERY skeptical of manufacturers claims, thus why I asked here.Here's the Par map.

I really don't see how they are doing this with 560 watts.Their Mars Pro II 1600w Epistar 320, which actually consumes 740 watts has a slightly more conservative PAR map, but still looks like it would also flower a 4.5 X 4.5 square. Even the HLG 600H would appear to need some supplemental to fully flower a 4.5 X 4.5., but at least you could see the true colors.

[Toker1]

Flower what in a 4.5? Lol. Maybe a shade plant, but not MJ. Lol
No I disagree with that claim. Light would have been hitting the walls in my 4x4. That was not the case. More like 3.5 x 3.5 spread at 18” is my best guess.

[bubba29]

That's why I asked here. I suspected that the PAR map was a figment of some chinese salesman's imagination. I DO remember seeing several grow journals using this light shortly after it came out. "Doubled my yield" over a 600HPS", ROCK hard nugs, etc. They all appeared to be sponsored grows (by Mars), and there just seemed to be too many superlatives. Ah well, back to my search. At least I'm not in a hurry. More I look, the more I think I'll be looking at a DE HID if I want to do it with one light. The tent is 95" tall, so I might have enough height if I go with one of the new air-cooled DE hoods, but that'll lose some light.

[Toker1]

Nice. I just got one of these... can’t wait to install it.

https://www.horticulturesource.com/mobile_sun-system-ac-de-double-ended-lamp-air-cooled-reflector-8in-12-plt--p13926?gclid=CjwKCAjwmdDeBRA8EiwAXlarFsh-kBtoQwdhQVveAlrl-E4MUT07pp-jxPx3SFzueDqzS2HCPU2pLxoCxdEQAvD_BwE

[Weed Pharma]

I use several MarsHydros and get good results, even with the cheap MarsHydro 300w (original).

As long as you can get 500+ umoles at the soil and around 720 umoles at the canopy- you will have great grows.

Also,, watts from the wall includes the LED's fans too!