Mars hydro fan and glass question

JNWII

New Member
I was wondering, is there a purpose to the fans pulling air in and across the heat sink on the Mars units or do they just not think these things out when they are designed? I opened mine up and flipped it to exhaust the heat because it really does get trapped with it in the stock config as it seems the venting holes just arent designed right. Air coming out is very low pressure, hot, and really only makes it out a few of the holes on each side. These things get a shit ton hotter than people keep insisting. The light is a few degrees cooler now but my grow closet is also a lot hotter. Went from 75-78 to 78-82 and if I dont catch it, it will probably keep climbing. If anyone has experience with this in the long term give me a shout and let me know if it.made a difference for longevity and performance/efficiency.


Also, has anyone removed the glass? When I opened mine I noticed a gasket around the heatsink so the fan doesnt make a difference in that area at all as its sealed tight. Silicon around the glass and the gasket around the heatsink/pcb. There is no ventilation between the glass and led's which means there is zero circulation. Just straight stagnant heat trapped in there. Was wondering how logical it would be to remove it as well as that gasket so air can get forced around it and circulate? It could help the light but it could also once more heat up the grow space. Seems like the light itself in ways acts like a heatsink keeping heat contained .

I know there are better options for lighting but the reviews I seen with par testers seemed promising and the whole appeal was keeping the grow area cooler, which isnt happening. I cant cut into the wall or ceiling to exhaust heat so until my tent comes I need to keep the closet door open with a fan on the top shelf blowing the rising hot air out.
 

kaka420

Well-Known Member
These lights are pretty terrible, I know a guy who owns 5 of them that he purchased earlier this year. They are heat boxes. He also bought 10 King Plus from Amazon. The King Plus don't even have heat sinks! They get super hot. He spent a ton of money on crap lights.

I can't tell you how to improve your lamp. I would suggest looking at spectrum king led. Take a look at the heat sink on all their fixtures. Thats what you should be looking for in an led. They also have no moving parts - fans. For lower heat led this is the direction you need to go. Go luck on your fixture.
 

JNWII

New Member
Thanks man. Aside from the heat I have no real complaints, just opinions on improvments. I mean its not like 3 years ago when the first version was released and they were an arm and a leg for total scrap. If I bought one of those ones then I'd be pretty pissed. For as much as I paid considering Radio Shack near me is closing and stuffs marked down to up to 90% off I am sure I can improve on it somehow for rather cheap. I mean I paid about 50$ each so if the lighting aspect is good which some reviews on YouTube that used meters indicates they actually are, 15-25$ to keep it super cool isnt a big deal to me.

Before I do dump money on them though I'll check out the ones you mentioned.

Thanks!
 

jabusgrow

Member
I'm running 2 300w viparspectra's and gotta say for $90 each I love them. Having no issues with heat so far and there pretty quiet for the price. I am a little worried to see how they do in the long run but for now it was just a start up investment. I was looking into getting a 1200w king plus to throw in for flowering but a little worried after kaka's post about them.
 

kaka420

Well-Known Member
I'm running 2 300w viparspectra's and gotta say for $90 each I love them. Having no issues with heat so far and there pretty quiet for the price. I am a little worried to see how they do in the long run but for now it was just a start up investment. I was looking into getting a 1200w king plus to throw in for flowering but a little worried after kaka's post about them.
Dude, I wouldn't. Seriously, they run so fucking hot it isn't funny. The dude who had them used a heat gun on the mars hydro, they ran about 90 degrees. The heat gun on the king plus was 115 degrees. That is what caused me to look inside the vents only to find no heat sinks. There was a thin sheet of metal inside the top of the lamp but nothing touching the diodes. Heat boxes that are doomed for failure.
 

jabusgrow

Member
Dude, I wouldn't. Seriously, they run so fucking hot it isn't funny. The dude who had them used a heat gun on the mars hydro, they ran about 90 degrees. The heat gun on the king plus was 115 degrees. That is what caused me to look inside the vents only to find no heat sinks. There was a thin sheet of metal inside the top of the lamp but nothing touching the diodes. Heat boxes that are doomed for failure.
Damn saying I don't have a AC either I cant risk that. Might go for 2 300w mars hydros then for now. Just not sure if 1200w of led will be enough to pull of the yield I'm hoping for.
 

JNWII

New Member
I got a temp gun too actually. Should have thought of that before I removed the glass so I knew for sure what temps I was getting. I found my happy medium for now though. They seem to be best in my situation with the glass off and fans in stock config.
 

JNWII

New Member
I'm running 2 300w viparspectra's and gotta say for $90 each I love them. Having no issues with heat so far and there pretty quiet for the price. I am a little worried to see how they do in the long run but for now it was just a start up investment. I was looking into getting a 1200w king plus to throw in for flowering but a little worried after kaka's post about them.

I was thinking about these but I seen someone par test them on youtube and they did well but these MARS just did better especially with the lens mod. The Vipars actually ended up doing worse with the lens mod than stock too. I might still try them next grow thougb.
 
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