Mars 1600 Watt Lights - Enough Power?

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BusinessManTexas

Member
I'm going to keep this as short and simple as possible. I'm new to the forum, not a new grower. However, I've been small timing it for a while, and times have changed. I'm looking to increase my operation from a current 4x4 closet to an entire 10x10 room. I've previously been using a 1000 watt HPS, power hasn't really been a concern. However, I'm going up to 4500-5,000 watts, so now it's a road block.

There are lots of LED options on the market. Obviously, many very cheap, and many very expensive. My budget for the build isn't at all low. In fact, around $8k. However, I don't want to over-spend on power or lights that's not getting used to its fullest potential.


My question:

Will (4) Mars 1600w's be enough to power a 10x10 or approximately 95 square feet to be exact?

I was looking into the Platinum Led's, however, when comparing lights, they seem over-priced. I know you get what you pay for, but watt for watt. I can buy almost (9) Mars 1600's for the price of (4) 1200w Platinum Led's.
 
VenomGrower6990

VenomGrower6990

Well-Known Member
Another option worth a look.
http://www.topshelflight.com/#!products/ilqj4
Looks like 3 of these would give you great coverage for a 10×10. Looks like for a little over $3k. 3 units run about 1800 actual watts from the wall. I have not used them but have see grows on youtube with them and they look impressive. Each unit is supposed to replace a 1200 watt HPS. I however do run the Marshydro and do ok with them but have only owned them for about 6 months so cant really tell you the longevity of them yet. You are going to get so many mixed reviews on this site about the Mars series. However with your budget being pretty high you have so many different options and Mars may be right for you. Many people love them but many more do not here. Best of luck to ya
 
Cyrus420

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
If you're going to use LEDs then a DIY or pre-built COB might do good for you. From what I've seen they can match HPS in terms of yield and quality and run around for the same cost of an LED of whatever wattage you go with.
 
VenomGrower6990

VenomGrower6990

Well-Known Member
BusinessManTexas said:
I'm going to keep this as short and simple as possible. I'm new to the forum, not a new grower. However, I've been small timing it for a while, and times have changed. I'm looking to increase my operation from a current 4x4 closet to an entire 10x10 room. I've previously been using a 1000 watt HPS, power hasn't really been a concern. However, I'm going up to 4500-5,000 watts, so now it's a road block.

There are lots of LED options on the market. Obviously, many very cheap, and many very expensive. My budget for the build isn't at all low. In fact, around $8k. However, I don't want to over-spend on power or lights that's not getting used to its fullest potential.


My question:

Will (4) Mars 1600w's be enough to power a 10x10 or approximately 95 square feet to be exact?

I was looking into the Platinum Led's, however, when comparing lights, they seem over-priced. I know you get what you pay for, but watt for watt. I can buy almost (9) Mars 1600's for the price of (4) 1200w Platinum Led's.
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Have you considered taking a look at cob led setups? They seem super efficient and have great LPW. I am in no way trying to steer you one way or another but just giving options with such a big investment on your part and getting the best bang for your buck.
 
B

BusinessManTexas

Member
Resinhound, do you care to explain? Are you comparing par and watts to an HPS? I ask out of curiosity, but if that's what your implying, it's negligent to what I'm looking for. While I'll appreciate and yield more with a higher par and watt output. Power is a major concern. Especially, when I live in an area where I've seen $400.00 electric bills and $500.00 water bills. I wouldn't be so concerned if I lived back home, where we had $30.00 water bills, cheap electric, no smart meters, and so on. However, to run such a room, I don't have a whole lot of options.

VenomGrower, I appreciate you posting those. I've done quite a bit of looking and hadn't ran across those yet. I'm digging and doing some research now on them.
 
B

BusinessManTexas

Member
I just started looking into COB setups today, I'm still researching them also. I figure it would be best to come and let some guys who've got experience with various brands to point me in the right direction. As you mentioned, I know my budget isn't too low. However, I'm not wealthy enough to just over-spend because there's some money in the bank, if you know what I'm saying.

So is my wattage reasonable for a 10x10 room. In general, 4500 to 5,000w should be ample to power a 10x10?
 
VenomGrower6990

VenomGrower6990

Well-Known Member
Cyrus420 said:
If you're going to use LEDs then a DIY or pre-built COB might do good for you. From what I've seen they can match HPS in terms of yield and quality and run around for the same cost of an LED of whatever wattage you go with.
Click to expand...
This too @Cyrus420 beat me to the punch as i was typing but very good option too.
 
Steve Man

Steve Man

Active Member
I'm with Cyrus for that kind of money cobs would be way more worth. Like trading your support for your carry and winning the lcs worth
 
B

BusinessManTexas

Member
Having not too much luck with cob's.

Does anyone know of some links that sell them for a good deal? I don't have a manageable amount of time to build several lights. I would be open to paying someone to build them or if anyone knows of a place to buy, please let me know.
 
VenomGrower6990

VenomGrower6990

Well-Known Member
BusinessManTexas said:
I just started looking into COB setups today, I'm still researching them also. I figure it would be best to come and let some guys who've got experience with various brands to point me in the right direction. As you mentioned, I know my budget isn't too low. However, I'm not wealthy enough to just over-spend because there's some money in the bank, if you know what I'm saying.

So is my wattage reasonable for a 10x10 room. In general, 4500 to 5,000w should be ample to power a 10x10?
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Good point why spend more then a person has to for the same results. I do think that your wattage level is reasonable with the right lighting with great results.
 
Resinhound

Resinhound

Well-Known Member
BusinessManTexas said:
Resinhound, do you care to explain? Are you comparing par and watts to an HPS? I ask out of curiosity, but if that's what your implying, it's negligent to what I'm looking for. While I'll appreciate and yield more with a higher par and watt output. Power is a major concern. Especially, when I live in an area where I've seen $400.00 electric bills and $500.00 water bills. I wouldn't be so concerned if I lived back home, where we had $30.00 water bills, cheap electric, no smart meters, and so on. However, to run such a room, I don't have a whole lot of options.

VenomGrower, I appreciate you posting those. I've done quite a bit of looking and hadn't ran across those yet. I'm digging and doing some research now on them.
Click to expand...
Both of those lights are probably 25% efficient, so if the actual wattage draw is say 400w,you are only producing 100 par watts.

Ya pretty bad. Ya they will use less electricity, but the par/watt used is pretty bad...not much better than HID honestly

In order to save money on electricity efficiency is key, that means better quality diodes and drivers. Some leds can be 50%efficient or more.
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
Resinhound said:
Both of those lights are probably 25% efficient, so if the actual wattage draw is say 400w,you are only producing 100 par watts.

Ya pretty bad. Ya they will use less electricity, but the par/watt used is pretty bad...not much better than HID honestly

In order to save money on electricity efficiency is key, that means better quality diodes and drivers. Some leds can be 50%efficient or more.
Click to expand...
How "efficient" is DE HPS?
 
B

BusinessManTexas

Member
OneHitDone said:
How "efficient" is DE HPS?
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It depends on the grower to determine how "effecient" an HPS is. There are many more variables in my opinion. Amount of plants? Square Ft.? Co2? Growing Style? Nutrients? I don't disagree with HPS, as I love it. But HPS cost too much, old timers might disagree. Just as if my father would still argue up and down, you change your oil every 3k, despite what manufactures state in 2016. As an HPS user, most fail to tell the truth about the risk they take. Do you know how many kids I've seen in college busted for electricity (smart meters) while utilizing HPS, simply because they were cost effective. Way to much heat and electric. We already have $300-$500. Utility / Water Bills. Anymore, is crazy, but very closely monitored.

A good LED, should use half the amount of wattage draw, while producing the same amount of usable light. In otherwords, that makes HPS completely "inefficient" in terms of running cost. I've seen lots of great LED grows, most I've seen fail, we're clueless guys, using no c02, pH out of whack, too much nutrients, not monitoring humidity or atmosphere closely, and so on. Otherwise, I've seen some astonishing yields from fellow friends using LED's.

I won't argue against HPS in terms of reliability and performance. I will argue that it's about the least efficient, least safe, and most outdated, yet proven.
 
Resinhound

Resinhound

Well-Known Member
BusinessManTexas said:
It depends on the grower to determine how "effecient" an HPS is. There are many more variables in my opinion. Amount of plants? Square Ft.? Co2? Growing Style? Nutrients? I don't disagree with HPS, as I love it. But HPS cost too much, old timers might disagree. Just as if my father would still argue up and down, you change your oil every 3k, despite what manufactures state in 2016. As an HPS user, most fail to tell the truth about the risk they take. Do you know how many kids I've seen in college busted for electricity (smart meters) while utilizing HPS, simply because they were cost effective. Way to much heat and electric. We already have $300-$500. Utility / Water Bills. Anymore, is crazy, but very closely monitored.

A good LED, should use half the amount of wattage draw, while producing the same amount of usable light. In otherwords, that makes HPS completely "inefficient" in terms of running cost. I've seen lots of great LED grows, most I've seen fail, we're clueless guys, using no c02, pH out of whack, too much nutrients, not monitoring humidity or atmosphere closely, and so on. Otherwise, I've seen some astonishing yields from fellow friends using LED's.

I won't argue against HPS in terms of reliability and performance. I will argue that it's about the least efficient, least safe, and most outdated, yet proven.
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Efficiency doesn't have anything to do with the grower, what I'm talking about is PAR produced per watt of power consumed.

Good leds can be 50%efficient that means 50%of the wattage drawn from the wall is converted to par.

I'm not totally sure on HID efficiency but I seem to remember it being in the 25% area. So 1000w HID would produce about 250 par watts.

Crappy led diodes like in these units arent better than HID on a par/watt basis.
 
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