Pedro420uk
Active Member
Yeah, hps is out of the question with the temporary lack of ventilation.......i have some but not enough so cob it is! Heard nothing but good things so gotta be worth a try
1st Time grow with mars 300w led
- Thread starter Pedro420uk
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Pedro420uk
Active Member
Ok guys, took your advice and ordered 1 of these off eBay........nit the most expensive but gotta be better than what I'm using right???
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coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Depends on the real wattage somewhat. It wont be 600w. Could be anything, I would have a look at where you bought it and look at the small print. ( I can see similar lights on ebay but not that one that say 600w but are 125w in reality.)
Not all COBs are equal, these lights have come out since COB lights really set the LED growing world alight, they are jumping on the band wagon with an inefficient Chip on Board. You want something using white phosphor coated cobs like cree 3590, citizen 1212 or above or Vero chips and you want meanwell drivers to get an efficient light and thus light up your space.
These are the 3 options to light up your space properly. (not the only options)
1. HLG 260w quantum board kit
2. Build your own COB light using quality parts.
3. 315 ceramic metal halide.
let us know more info on that light you bought. We can tell you if it will see you though your grow or if its grossly inadequate.
Bottom line though, LEDs worth converting to (from hps) cost money. Ventilation is not an option that can be disregarded in any grow with any lighting.
P.S sorry for pissing on your bonfire, but this is the truth of the matter.
Not all COBs are equal, these lights have come out since COB lights really set the LED growing world alight, they are jumping on the band wagon with an inefficient Chip on Board. You want something using white phosphor coated cobs like cree 3590, citizen 1212 or above or Vero chips and you want meanwell drivers to get an efficient light and thus light up your space.
These are the 3 options to light up your space properly. (not the only options)
1. HLG 260w quantum board kit
2. Build your own COB light using quality parts.
3. 315 ceramic metal halide.
let us know more info on that light you bought. We can tell you if it will see you though your grow or if its grossly inadequate.
Bottom line though, LEDs worth converting to (from hps) cost money. Ventilation is not an option that can be disregarded in any grow with any lighting.
P.S sorry for pissing on your bonfire, but this is the truth of the matter.
Pedro420uk
Active Member
Not really "pissing on my bonfire" mate, the light I ordered has great reviews and it's better than what I have in there lol not spending lots on a light when I'll be upgrading my room in a couple of months when I move. Just looking to do the best I can in the mean time on a budget........
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Its pretty much the same thing as what you had. The mars was 132w and this light could well be the same. It might be slightly better, it might be slightly worse. Who knows without knowing the power draw. I can guarantee its not 600w though. But would like to know if you would be kind enough to link the light here or put the full description so I can search for it.
I would use both lights at once to get you through flower.
EDIT, I found it. Its 130w, defo use both lights. They wont compete with the 600w hps but will be obviously less heat.
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Pedro420uk
Active Member
Each cob is 130w mate, there's 3 of them = 390w actual draw!! It's far more powerful than the 300w/185w actual draw that I'm using atm buttttttt I will be trying to use both pending temps
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Specifications:
Either way hope you pull some nice buds .
- Model: COB 600W
- LED Type: 200W integrated LED
- LED quantity: 3PCS
- Input Voltage(V): AC85V-265V
- Working Frequency: 50~60Hz
- Actual Power Consumption: 130W±10%
- Dimension: 310*210*60 mm (12.2x8.26x2.36 inch)
- Product Weigt: 2.04kg
- Plug Type: EU Plug
- Coverage Area: 2.5 x 3.5 ft
- Certification: CE, RoHS
- Wranty: 2 years
Either way hope you pull some nice buds .
Cobbyist
Active Member
Just because the ad says it’s a Cob light, doesn’t mean it’s good. I’ll bet those lights you have posted has no better efficiency than the Mars Hydro.
Seeing that your from Europe, Timber grow lights might not be an economical option for you.
digikey.com (Cob chips)
horticulturallightinggroup.com (heat sinks)
Arrow.com (drivers)
And a little elbow grease, you can build a MORE powerful system for LESS than any of the “economical” options that you got hanging in the tent.
But it’s not for everyone to build their own lighting system, requires a bit of hands on work.
It’s a lot easier than it seems and there are lots of people on this forum that can help you build one step by step.
Seeing that your from Europe, Timber grow lights might not be an economical option for you.
digikey.com (Cob chips)
horticulturallightinggroup.com (heat sinks)
Arrow.com (drivers)
And a little elbow grease, you can build a MORE powerful system for LESS than any of the “economical” options that you got hanging in the tent.
But it’s not for everyone to build their own lighting system, requires a bit of hands on work.
It’s a lot easier than it seems and there are lots of people on this forum that can help you build one step by step.
Pedro420uk
Active Member
Thanks man, led's are a completely new thing to me when it comes to this.
Always had the space and ventilation to just blast my hps without any restrictions. I'm definitely gonna research building my own light........thatd be awesome
Watt doesn't mean anything with LEDs it's PAR.
And LED could be 90% efficient and HPS could be losing 30% of its energy in heat and not light so it's impossible to compare then on just watts
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Yeah its a murky world the LED market. There are so many companies making crazy claims. But there are more and more companies producing really good lights that really do perform amazing.Thanks man, led's are a completely new thing to me when it comes to this.
Always had the space and ventilation to just blast my hps without any restrictions. I'm definitely gonna research building my own light........thatd be awesome
I switched from HPS over a year ago and I have never regretted it, but before I did I didn't know anything so I sourced all sorts of parts from all over the world to build one and spent a lot of money. Then I did more research and found I had wasted my money on pretty much the same components that your mars light uses, those parts are all still in boxes now and I swallowed the pain and went on to learn more about efficiency and quality parts and went on to build my own quality light. It was all thanks to guys on here who put me right. Specifically a guy called Growmau5 who makes really easy to understand youtube vids on how to build a light to outperform a HPS.
Check out all 7 episodes of the basics of DIY COB lights to gain some knowledge, also checkout his other early vids where he does HPS vs COBs. He is a good grower and an even better light builder.
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
No LEDs are 90% efficient. None of them.
I'm talking about watts to this guy because its simpler to do so when someone doesn't understand LEDs or ppfd and its relevant in this situation with the lights concerned.
Its not impossible to relate HPS to LED when both epileds and HPS are in the same efficiency ball park
Pedro420uk
Active Member
Amazing results!!
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Some of his later vids he's pulling in the region of 1.8gram per watt... Shit most of us can only dream of.
Closest I have ever got to that is 1.67gpw and that's a personal best and above my average considerably.
Pedro420uk
Active Member
Mannn I'd be happy with 1g per wattSome of his later vids he's pulling in the region of 1.8gram per watt... Shit most of us can only dream of.
Closest I have ever got to that is 1.67gpw and that's a personal best and above my average considerably.
CuriousFarmer420
Member
I am currently using a Mars 300w, first time grow so new to LED and lights altogether. I am thinking of upgrading to COB LED for next grow and use Mars for veg only. Any thoughts on this light, would it be too much for a 2.5x2.5x5 grow box? Added pic of current grow under Mars, 4 weeks into flowering.
King X4 Dimmable 1200W LED
King X4 Dimmable 1200W LED
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coreywebster
Well-Known Member
All I said above applies to this light too, its 215w power draw so should be a bit more powerful than the mars 300w but still slightly underpowered for a 2.5x 2.5. But for the price you could build a simple COB light yourself, you would want 4 x vero or citizen COBs, 4 heat sinks and a meanwell driver and some aluminium L shape. Powering it a 200w would beat that light hands down.
If you want I will list the prices and where to buy them and price it up for you when I get home from work.
Or you could buy a 260w Quantum board kit for about twice the price of that king light, that's what I would do if the coin was available.
Just reply to this message if you want me to price a COB light up for you and I will get on it.
With these cheap lights your looking for 50w a square foot to avoid disappointment, with something you could build yourself or a kit your looking at 35w per square foot to get amazing results.
CuriousFarmer420
Member
Thanks for the info, wouldn't mind a kit or build DIY if not to complicated and around the 200.00 range. Need to keep it somewhat reasonable to keep the better half happy. It would at least be good to compare the two options.All I said above applies to this light too, its 215w power draw so should be a bit more powerful than the mars 300w but still slightly underpowered for a 2.5x 2.5. But for the price you could build a simple COB light yourself, you would want 4 x vero or citizen COBs, 4 heat sinks and a meanwell driver and some aluminium L shape. Powering it a 200w would beat that light hands down.
If you want I will list the prices and where to buy them and price it up for you when I get home from work.
Or you could buy a 260w Quantum board kit for about twice the price of that king light, that's what I would do if the coin was available.
Just reply to this message if you want me to price a COB light up for you and I will get on it.
With these cheap lights your looking for 50w a square foot to avoid disappointment, with something you could build yourself or a kit your looking at 35w per square foot to get amazing results.
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
I will look at what will work for your space and get back to you.
The QB kit is a bit over your budget but should be able to get some efficient COBs for around that price.
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
So you could get this set up.
1x MeanWell HLG-240H-54B $72
4x Luminus CXM22s 90cri 3500k $19 each
4x BJB holders $2.50 each
4x 133mm pin heat sinks £21 each
$242
But you would need some wire, a length of aluminium angle and some thermal paste, none of which are expensive.
Or a bit cheaper set up.
1x meanwell HLG 185h c1400b $54
4x citizen clu048 1212s $9 each
4x BJB holders $2.50 each
4x 120mm Heat sinks $18.50 each
Total $174
Again , aluminium for frame is needed, wire, thermal paste is needed.
Both set ups would light up your space really well but the first is more efficient.
(all components and prices are from CobKits.com, whom you can speak to on RIU directly if needed)
If your prepared to look into this DIY COB build then check out growmau5 on youtube and search his early vids where you will find a 7 part vid which covers all the basics. It may sound complicated to start but you will soon get your head round it and if not lots of folk on here have done this and will help you along the way.
You can also check out the following companies
Horticultural lighting group.
Cobkits.com
Timbergrowlights