Mars 2 vs Mars Reflector

First time grower. I'm currently in a 4x2 tent using two old Mars 300's for 3 plants. I want to get an additional tent 4x4 or 5x5 and buy additional led's. I'd like to use the old Mars 300's in the 4x2 for clone and/or early vegging. My question is what is the difference with the Mars 2 vs reflector series? First the Mars 2 were 5 watt LED's and non switchable veg bloom. And the reflectors were only 3 watt LED's with a switch. But I think I read that the new Mars 2 have switches now and the reflectors come in 5 watt LED's now. What are the differences now? And is there a way to recognize the model (3 vs 5 watt, switch) on Amazon or eBay? Also are they daisy chain compatable? Also any input on the Mars pro or crew. Thank you.
 

sunny747

Well-Known Member
I know that on another forum (autoflower) they have a dedicated sales rep that answers questions.
I 've looked at these lights50 times. Still can't pull the trigger since I see a lot of people ripping them apart and putting in cobs.
I might go with the Viparspectra over the Mars just based on price.
 

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
Vipar is a better option ... I use a 600 and had very good results. It vegs better with a better bluish / white footprint . It works better with BOTH SWITCHES ON.

Wish i could post a pic , but after the site gets 100% up and running i will update ... I had a journal running this panel and journals with MARS , Vipar spanked that ass.
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Buying obsolete blurple leds from those Chinese marketing outfits is areal waste of money when the latest cob technology is available very reasonably priced is pointless. DIY or premade COBs are simple and easy to cool. They will be more efficient and grow much more herb per watt.

Blurple cheap mono leds from Mars or Vipar(I own one) can't keep up. Those here that are using COBs with great success have owned all those sub-par lights. Mine are under the house in storage, for what I don't know!
 
Mars 2 panels are worse than DE HPS.

Buying generic warm white 100w equivalent LED bulbs and removing the diffuser/bulb section will also yield better results for a lower cost.




Edit: Does the image load for others?
It won't load on just viewing the thread. But when I reply the photo shows up with the plants in the green totes.
 

frica

Well-Known Member
Also if you're really hellbent on going Mars.

From the few growlogs/diaries I've seen, the Reflector series shits on the Mars 2.
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
If I was not using COBs, I would use quantum boards to maybe even if I add area. The next choice would be 315w cmh. The very next would be 600w HPS with any new bulb.

Many of us have Mars or Vipar or Magnum or Lumigrow or any other flavor of blurple stored somewhere.
 

greg nr

Well-Known Member
Sadly, in my excitement to get started I went with the mars reflector 192 light. It's the 4 panel light in a square case. It pulls about 400 watts with both switches on (forget the exact number).

I supplemented that with some xm-l2 cree chips. The plants are loving the crees up close and the blurple gets washed out to white. So far so good, but I'll probably switch to quantum once the boards are back in stock.

Then I'll either sell the mars to someone else too excited to care or keep it as an emergency backup.
 
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