About to pull the trigger on a new grow light for my grow closet 4x6 total but only plan on using 4x2 or 3x3 thus burstable. Total of 4 plants max. I was thinking about a MARS HYDRO FC-E3000 300Watt LED. Is the Samsung version really worth $70 for a home grower?
Samsung diodes are the best 301b or h h is the best
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I get that but are they going to result in 25% more yield\quality\reliability over the BridgeLux Diodes in the standard version? That about the cost difference and what I’m getting at. Would it likely pay for itself over time?
Also is that enough light for decent yields from 4 plants in that space.
I’ve used MH from the beginning. I have 3 of their lights. My next light is for my flowering tent and I am going with HLG. I can get one of their kits at a discount.
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Most definitely you’ll probably average a half gram/watt better with the Samsung diodes
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For that size, I went with the ChilLED Tech X3. Great light and fair price if you don’t mind DIY.
I could buy two of the lights I’m considering the FC-E3000 is only $270 the commercial version with Samsung LM301B is only $340 which exceeds that in efficiency. That’s as absurdly over priced as the HLG stuff.
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You get what you pay for go cheap you will likely get a cheap light,good lighting will pay for it’s self the first harvest, HLG all the way
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HLG is way over priced in lights it’s about the components not the branding on the side.
It’s also about customer service, warranty,ect
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Stuff mars using isn’t as good what hlg or chilled tech using. They’re not overpriced, you’re just paying for better products.
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They use the same diodes the main difference is the form factor vs the commercial MH. The output is more consecrated the MH vs wider coverage for the HLG which over driven, thus less expected life. The HLG equivalent cost $200 more, it’s very over priced. Agian I 2/3rds the way into buying 2 of my initial choice which would vasting out perform this option and has a 5 year warranty vs 3. Independent results don’t support that opinion either.
Can we just focus on the question I asked? I did not post this question to argue. As it’s the second time a mod has pimped HLG it really disappoints me.
If you have an independent integrated sphere report for Mars light i would love to see it. If such information exists and supports your claims I will happily apologize for not providing accurate information. Anything less isn’t an apples to apples comparison and proves nothing.
I can tell you what Samsung supports, their products. They provide a data sheet for all of their leds, and on the data sheet flux and voltage bins are listed. Not all lm301b/h are the same performance level, and not every light manufacturer has access to the highest flux and lowest voltage bins. This is why companies like horticulture lighting group and chilled tech provide third party integrated sphere data for their stuff and mars hydro doesn’t. Because its way easier to say they have the same product than prove they have the same product. As moderator, I’m not pimping anyone’s lights, I’m just giving you all of the information.
Mars is Mars, claims always larger than what their fixtures actually do. Seeing as how they don’t provide the industry standard data for their fixtures the choice is do you want the cheap model or the cheaper model. Bridgelux and Samsung are both big names in led tech, and they both make leds that range from basically junk to cutting edge of technology. As far as warranty goes, there is more to warranty than merely length its good for. In most cases hlg will have you parts before you get a response from Mars. Then they’ll want you to box it up and send it to China for them to look at it. They will probably fix or replace it, and send back to you from China. You’re talking weeks minimum.
At the end of the day, buy whatever you want. It’s not like we’re throwing out affiliate links and getting kickbacks lol. We’ve all just been there and done that, and trying to keep others from going down same road.
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Its fairly competitive as a top tier light, as @JJ520 said “you get what you pay for”. Especially in grow lights, I have several lower end lights that I had sitting around. Now I have a seedling/clone tent to use them in, but they literally sat around for a year. The buds I grew under cheap lights were larfly at best and just not up to standard IMO. Not trying to bust your balls or anything, just seriously think about saving for better lighting. You will not be disappointed.
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I understand that you aren’t interested in other brands so buy the cheaper version of the Mars light, it will likely keep you happy for a couple grows in the 3x3. And you’ll be $70 ahead when you upgrade if you decide to go with the 2x4 space or larger over the 3x3.
Of course if you ever decide to look at lights other than the Mars FC’s, HLG has the 200 Diablo for $199 that would likely do just as good a job as either of the FC’s you’re looking at in a 3x3 if you have reflective walls. And neither of the Mars would be enough for a 2x4 space.
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Well said, not here to bust anyones balls, just trying to save you frustration and less than expected results so you have success in this hobby we all love so much. Happy growing y’all.
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Hi again @anon74009880 this happens every time someone asks about lights… I’ve found that people and their lights are like people and their cars they get a favorite and everything else is junk. So when you say your $80,000 vett performs almost as good as someone’s $200,000 Lamborghini it hurts their feelings
I’m going to give my opinion it and it’s up to you to take it or leave it
Where I hear people say omg this light kills my old light is when they go to a higher watt light and compare them… 100w and 150w doesn’t sound or look like much of a difference but think about it that’s a 50% increase so of course you should get 50% more bud. It’s almost like these companies are putting out lights with different wattage than their competitors so you can’t get an honest answer between them. Then when it comes to the diodes used there is such a small difference between the 301b and 301h but unless you look at the paper you won’t see a difference in what is growing under them. But Samsung and other diodes it would surprise me if you find better. Nebulahaze just did a side by side grow with the different diodes you can search her and Mars v spider farmer and it’s not the brand name but the diodes that makes the difference between the two here’s the results. I don’t care about brands but it’s THE GRAMS PER WATT and that the Mars used doesn’t have Samsung diodes but has 100 more watts
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Yet you are same mod that did it last time for HLG.
you seem to already have convinced yourself on a specific model. just go ahead and buy what you want and don’t get pissed off at people just trying to help. sheesh
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I couldn’t agree more why ask for help just buy the cheap lights waste your money, we will be here for guidance when you come back looking for better lights @GoingGreenVirginia 
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