Mars Hydro FC-E6500 PAR Test and Review
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- Опубліковано 10 кві 2021
- The New Mars-Hydro FC-E6500 is another game changer! The FC-E series are the first bar array fixtures that I have seen with adjustable bar positions. This cool feature allows growers to customize the distribution of light.
I ran the FC-E6500 through four different PAR tests and use the opportunity to explore the grow light physics of distribution and efficiency.
Read the Test Report and enter your suggestion for the bar positions that will create “The Best PAR Map for the Mars Hydro FC-E6500”! www.cocoforcannabis.com/grow-...
The Mars-Hydro FC-E6500 is among the most efficient fixtures that I have tested. Watch the video to see how it performs. At only about $750, the Mars-Hydro FC-E6500 has a cost efficiency of only $0.48/ µmol. It has cool new innovations, superior efficiency, and one of the best prices for any fixture on the market.
To get the best price, Use Discount Code: CCFC on Mars-Hydro.com: bit.ly/3cRtj4w
Grow Light PAR Testing is part of the CCFC Grow Light Guide.
Grow Light Calculator: www.cocoforcannabis.com/grow-...
Grow Light Metrics Primer:
Grow Light Testing Protocol: www.cocoforcannabis.com/grow-...
I conduct independent and impartial grow light testing and reviews. I present the data that I gather during my tests. The opinions and recommendations that I offer are based on my experience with indoor horticulture and horticultural lighting.
The manufacturer provided me with the light fixture in exchange testing and a review. I always retain the right to give honest reviews about the products that I receive. I do not offer manufacturers exclusivity or give them any editorial control over my reviews. The opinions and analysis are my own.
Everything at CocoforCannabis.com is in the interests of growers and in the Spirit of Collaboration. You can support our work by visiting the grow light guide, following our links and using our discount codes. Grower Love -MJ
It’s truly amazing that all of this is available for free. What an amazing time to be alive and you guys deserve as much support as we can give you!!
Great perspective and true
We so appreciate your commitment to our growing community, Dr. MJ!
Another great video from Dr. Coco!! The adjustable bars look so cool!
This really puts density control into the hands of the grower- and videos like these are making a more educated consumer! I like the patterns that are beginning!!! Thanks for another great and informative video!!!
Thank you Smot! Yes, it gives you a lot of control and you need to know how to use it best! We all do! I hope you enter a suggestion for a PAR test! Grower Love
Thank you so much! I bought SIX FC-E6500's... BUUUUT... as soon as I bought them, THEN Mars decided to add IR and UV diodes 🤬
...which my previous Mars lights had... felt like a kick in the nuts 😐
....I still love em though ❤😎☮️🖖
Great content as I expect from your channel! I love the layout of the diodes ,I feel that is very intelligent and possibly more important than the adjustable bars.
Yes, I agree. It is along the ends that we need more light. They tried to put as many diodes as possible there and it certainly helps even out the spread. Grower Love
Yes, since GEEKBEAST first proposed the EVEN PAR distribution, many manufacturers have followed this idea
Very good job!! Marshydro as always doing great job there :) Ty Doc
One of my favorite videos . This was amazing 👏 . So much work , We appreciate you doc MJ CoCo
Glad you enjoyed it!
Always appreciate your support Gg! Grower Love
I need that light! Great video as always 👍
Just ordered my fce 6500 and used your promo code, thanks for the $20 off!
Per Mars Hydro: For the SP 3000 and SP 6500 lights, the previous version is with IR and UV chips. Since March, we have moved the IR and UV from the SP 3000, SP 6500, and FC 6500 lights. Also, the new FC-E6500 light doesn't have IR and UV chips. The reason is that these lights' main customers are personal growers who pursue the best results or the commercial project customers; they prefer to independently control the IR and UV lights time, don't need the IR and UV chips on the light itself. Mars Hydro also will issue independent IR and UV lights in the second half of the year.
So is the light's best with the uv and ir on them
One of the great things I loved about building my own lights with COB kits was being able to adjust the placement of the cobs to fit the space. This looks to be a really neat light.
Is there a DIY COB setup you would recommend for a 5x5 area for 4 plants? how much would it cost?
Now you can buy kits with the led panels and drivers put them on stop signs if you wanted or any other aluminium.
great content as always . thank you for your time
Nicely done lovely light
Great review as usual. Your review of the SP3000 led me to buy a couple. With this fixture and how the light strips mount to the frame, with some angled/beveled washers placed between the frame and the LED strip on the outermost locations, you could easily angle them slightly outward and possibly improve the edge and perimeter measurements.
That's funny, the SP-3000 was my first Mars and it convinced me to buy this light lol.. I hope you bought it, she's amazing in a 4x4
Just go with the medic grow fold 8 and it's all covered
Great info as always!
It's always exciting to see creative work!
Great video, looking to upgrade to LEDs and just went over your entire library, your videos are.packed.with knowledge. What do you think is the best value/better buy, this light or the medigrow fold 8? Thanks for what you do.
Thank you. Just bought two of these because of you.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Awesome - It is a really cool light, I am sure you will be happy with them. Grower Love
Just got them today. That was unbelievably fast delivery so thanks again.
@@Bretbunde how you liking them?
@@Dweenz69
Loving theses lights! One in a 4x4 and another in a 5x5. First round were autos flowers and these lights made monsters out of them. This second round of photo periods is coming along amazing. Takes five minutes to put together. A+👍🏻👍🏻
Looking at the par map, would this be good for a 4x4 flower tent? Looks like pretty even coverage, but I've been using t5 so not sure if the edges are good enough.
I’m going to be running 4 sp3000 in a 5x10 very interested to see how the light fall off is on the ends of the light. Thanks for the good par test videos!
Much love on this amazing job 😍👍💯
Thank you! It is a great light and I had fun playing around and testing it out. Keep the innovations coming :)
Please do the fce3000 and 4800 as well thank you
hi dr mj ,do you know the diodes are different iin the fce6500 they have changed from the samsung /osram to a different manufacturer have you any info on this please
I was originally gonna go with the FC-6500 after viewing you par test. But! After viewing the par test on the FC -E6500 I’m kinda stuck in between. I’m in the market for 2 of them for my flower tent as I am using 2 TS-3000 in my veg tent. Both tents are 4x8x8. What do you recommend.
do u prefer to use FC-E4800 over FC-E6500 over 4X4 tent?
IS UV/IR or higher watts is more important for good buds?
So I’m in the process of opening my commercial grow and have been going back and forth on what lights to go with. I’m more or less sold on going with the FC6500s. Will this model preform well in a commercial setting or is it more geared towards the home grower?
Hello and thank you for making these awesome videos. I am trying to figure out which light to get, The FC-E6500, medic grow ez/fold 8 or the migro aray 8. Which one would you choose between these 3? They are almost similar in cost. Thank you
What do you think would be the best choice for a 5x5? I find it difficult to make a choice .... some opinions?
Great work thanks for keeping them honest
I usually finish my plants with lights, which would be better? The fc 6500 or fce 6500. I understand the fce does not have uv or ir diodes which the fc does. Would I benefit more in having the uv and ir diodes for flowering? Thx, great video!
I just bought a 2nd lamp but wish I had seen they had this coming out. The FC E3000 utilizes the Meanwell driver still but surprising to see they added a UVA I believe 410nm & 730nm far reds, oh also a 600nm deep red (highly unusual in todays lights) so I kinda hope this is a misprint because 660nm is a staple for most but the diodes did look like 660s in the video. I'd really love to use it once because they use ChilLED Techs light recipe of 3000k & 5000k mix creating a 4000k mix and I absolutely love the color. I own a Electric Sky Es300 V3 and it's around 2700k to maybe 3000k. I don't see much need for a 450nm or 460nm blues. If I'm right though this spectrum should shorten the overall grow cycle by a matter of days maybe week. Shit for the price maybe I'll order it to have an extra solid option back up. I see unlimited setup options.
Amazing light holy hell!!! 😍
Do you think the bridgelux diodes are inferior to the samsung ones on the fc6500?
When you did the first par test on the fc e6500 what percentage was the dimmer at to get those results?
So we have dimming, hanging height and positioning of light bars in an array as ways to change the distribution and density of light in the tent. One more variable to control would be the angle of the light bars. In these tests all the LEDs on all of the light bars are pointing straight down. The LEDs are more densely packed at the end of each light bar. If they were also pointed out towards the closest wall a bit that would improve the lowest part of these PAR maps. If the outer bars could be angled out a bit, that would address the other "weak" part of the par maps. Great light. Great education on evaluating light fixtures. Thank you!
Love where the LED grow light industry is going. I wish I had waited before purchasing some of the early full spectrum LEDs....
Light spreads out in all directions, so unless there are lenses, the specific angle of the diodes will matter less than you may think. Lenses reduce the PPF, so they are not advised. These are all interesting things to think about. One of the issues though is that distribution here is fine from top to bottom, it is along the sides where it is somewhat lower. Grower Love!
@@DrMJCoco OK. I agree it may have less effect... No lenses. But the LEDs mounted directly to boards are not really "omnidirectional". They are not creating a sphere of light... only half a sphere. There is no light radiating back through the board. So if we angle the boards out, more light bounces off the tent wall... so less efficient overall, but the edges may get a boost in PAR relative to the center.
I wish I would have waited to buy my leds, I love the adjustable bars!!
No you don't man. Had the light 4 days and had heat and melting issues
If you are stacking these side by side let’s say 5 in a row the end LEDs it would make sense to go with the more even distribution position where they are odd offset (position2), and the LEDs in between to stay with them even the even distribution (position 1), since there side by side correct?
Would it be possible to post a PAR map for position 1 in a 4x4 space on your site? I was hoping to get an idea of what dimming setting I should target for my max in an undersized tent.
Thank you!
Can u do one on the optic led phatslim xl 104 watt has 372 samsung lm301h chips. I have two of those lights in my 4x4 with one electric sky es300 v2
My fce 4800 dose awesome in my 4x4 tent I run it on about 80% and still get 850 in middle to 450 ppfd in corners at 20 inches. Just ordered one of these bad boys.
Just got this for a 4.5x4.5 tent I can’t wait
It should be great!
thanks for your work
will you be retesting one of these now that they are 730w?
Nice Light 👍
How much power does it draw @ 50% dimming?
Can u test the spider farm se7000? Looks like a nice light, thanks!
Decent!!! :-) You going to test the others or just the e6500? My e3000 sitting in a FedEx warehouse in TN for days now. :(
Can you test Luxx it cost 2 times more than these Mars e6500 lights and it turns out they're rebranded chinese lights from sino well with a marked up price.
Hello doc! Just picked up a fce 6500, they state its 730w now, so perhaps an update for 2024? I will be running it in a 4x4. I run a fce8000 (that i won from you, thank you so much you're the man) at 75% power and about 20" or so from the canopy in flower, in my other 4x4. What should i run the fce6500 at in a 4x4 to get the even 1000? I was guessing about 80-85% power at 20"-25". Any help is appreciated ✌️❤️
Please please please do the covert led x-500 by hydrobuilder it has mixed results and recommendations in tent spaces as well as heat in a 5x5
Why do you think the par test mars hyrdo shows is alot higher?
Is this light to much for 4x4 space ?
Yes, yes... bring us the information. I have a fc6500 and was curious about this light. Thanks coco
I have an FC6500 and I would not upgrade to this unit because it has the same spectrum and non-Samsung diodes. The ability to adjust the bars is cool... But not worth an upgrade, IMO. If you were adding another, similar light, I would consider a Geekbeast with added far red and UV. I'm waiting on numbers for confirmation, but the Geekbeast looks like it produced more and with better frost and color than the FC6500 alongside it. That said, you can't go wrong with any of them really.
@@Des420 I have 4 sp3000 with a fc6500 in the middle and I dig what they do for me. I may just pick up another fc6500 and call it a day.
@@kingishstl88 I can see the appeal of sticking with the same brand.
@@Des420 yea, just to keep the uniformity.
@@Des420 I'm trying to order that geekbeast light but don't know who to trust on ali site..Do you by chance??
Is this light to big for a4x4?
My Mars Hydro LED light started flickering due to wires in the main wire harness connector burning. The connector was very hot to the touch. After sending a lot of pictures and info to Mar Hydro (Janice), they stopped communicating. I am afraid to use it because I don't want to burn my house down! Where is their customer support and warranty?
For the best possible par map im curious if your looking for highest average ppfd, or for the arrangement that leads to having the fewest squares below 500?
It has got to balance both! I give some rough guidelines for criteria I am looking for in the instructions above the form. Grower Love
I watched all your videos
How hot does it get?
this light is currently on Amazon for $699 plus they offer a $70 coupon making it $630, a great deal for a powerful light. This thing would be amazing in a 4x4 tent.
Can you test the photontek 465W
Good stuff DrC.
How many BTUS heats?
What would happen if you took 18 bars from 3 fixtures and mounted them on the rails for 2 fixtures and tested that in a 4x8 and 5x10 grow space?
Fry an egg on the floor get cataracts and skin cancer just watering ur plants
I'd slide them all towards the middle and then space them three inches apart and completely crush my 4x4. That light would definitely brighten my day! 😎
Please test and review Phantom photo bio led 680 watt?
Looking at Mars website the FC E6500 is now listed as a 730W light. Do you plan on doing a review/light test on this newer more powerful version of the light?
I’m currently getting ready to move back to my legal state and I’ve been using this time to upgrade things. I got 2 of these bad boys for my 4x8 tent I just bought too! My old 4c4 and ts2000 will be a veg/clone tent
thank you!!
Mr Dr Mj Coco please update and make articles & tutorials about Harvesting-Drying-Curing.
If a lad wanted to add in a another extra LED bar would the Driver be able to run it . I would say that she would be a right good light then . Maybe u might know. Thanks ken
The driver and the cables are set up to power the 6 bars. You could always add other bar lights with their own driver. Keep in mind that this light already produces more light/photons than most lights made for 150x150cm coverage. Cheers
Seriously considering this for a 5 x 5.
Was curious if you knew what the story on the mars hydro fc6500 (730w) with the samsung301H diodes was? If you do how does that compare to the 8000. Mars reading looked super interesting comparing then but I've seen no one but themselves do a breakdown. My understanding is the 301h's are Samsung top tier, any thoughts?
also, great breakdown
I have the FC-8000. It is amazing, have it in a 5x5. Going to be getting two more, maybe one more and one of these FC-E models as well. The smaller FC versions are the older design that folds still.
$599 now on Mars Hyrdo's site, seems too good to be true lol... Been looking to grown at home(growing in a large shop atm) and this light seems perfect. I love that I can adjust the bars to get the coverage I would want/need.
Im curious to see how this stacks up against the fold 8s
I’ll let you know in 3-4 months. I already bought 2 of these face-6500’s and I may buy two fc-6500’s so that I can do a side-by-side. However, I may just buy two more of these bad boys if I see more of these great reviews.
this says it is recommended for 5x5, I got a 4x4, will this fit and work?
It will fit in the tent, but it is a lot of light - too much unless you have supplemental CO2. You could run it at about 85% power - or you could get the FC-E4800. Grower Love
Hey Doc, any chance you got some HLG reviews coming up? Curious what you think of the Scorpion Diablo
He said HLG didn't want him reviewing any of their lights...... Iwonder why
@@stevep4236 Really? Very interesting.
Unfortunately, HLG has made it clear that they do not want me to test their lights.
@@DrMJCoco just that in itself helps me eliminate them from my grow light list. They're trying to dodge the drug test before the big fight
@@DrMJCoco HLG’s not willing to send you fixtures? Kind of bizarre flex by HLG and makes me question; whatcha hiding? Is HLG able to legally dictate your ability to experiment and document? If not, I’m certain folks would happily do a go fund me or some community funding to get lights into the hands of folks like you that share the knowledge to clear the murky water of led lighting. I appreciate the science, effort and the time you spend on these videos to bring the facts to cultivators so we can make educated decisions.
Guess who won’t be buying an HLG fixture?
I used the code. Thanks
I thought the 6500 have 8 bars and 6 bars for the FC e 4800
Thank you ..
Why on the mars hydro website the 3000 and the 4800 are listed to have ir and uv but the more expensive 6500 doesn't. Did they just not add them to the stronger light?
Yes, FC-E6500 doesn't have uv, ir.
@@MarsHydro_official do u guys still make the sp3000 with the ir and uv?
@@growjaysimpson4646 SP3000 has no uv and ir now. Only FC3000, FC4800 and FC-E3000, FC-E4800 have.
@@MarsHydro_official you guys have great lights. I appreciate the reply. I have a viparspectra 2500 but I think the sp 3000 would work great in my 4x3. If I may ask, why did u guys move away from the ir and uv? Without em your lights still produce amazing results I'm sure, but I'd rather have then then not.
@@growjaysimpson4646 Thank you. Some of our customers would like to control uv&ir lighting time so we removed them from some models like SP3000 and FC6500, FC-E6500.
One possible(?) idea: if the bars had a slight tilt towards one support or the other, alternatively. I suggest that this might throw more light towards the side with the higher end.Doing this in an alternating pattern might average out in the middle and throw more to the sides. As a side note, I have to wonder if the ladies would better appreciate a little side bias to the lighting as opposed to just straight down.
To be clear, I'm suggesting a tilt or pitch of maybe +/- 5 degrees off level, or some small but optimum angle causing slightly better side lighting. This may assist in photon penetration through the full depth of the canopy.
Just spitballin' here.
yeah I agree, my best results with hps lights always came from the area in between fixtures, where the plants are getting angled light through the canopy from 2 fixtures
This light fixture needs one more light bar strip for the middle if you move the outer bars .
Just bought 4 for my 10x10 tent
Hello!
Thank you!I have a question.
When should the fan be turned on after germination?
(fans to blow air around within the grow area)
Thanks!
Are mars hydro aNd spider farmer same company. They are practically identical with products.
I believe the same company that makes Marshydro stuff has several brands.
Can I use the FC-E6500
in a 4x4?
Yes, without CO2 you should max out around 80% on the dimmer, and it will get excellent coverage. Grower Love
Hey bro I’m building a 5x5 grow and was wondering which light do u think is a better buy the Mars hydro fc-6500 or the fc-e6500 ?
FC 6500...the fce6500 uses cheap diodes and driver and has less diodes.
Fce
Fce has more diodes
Deciding between this and the Growers Choice E720.....Optic 650s look legit also
Don’t forget photontek, or the new geekbeast
I Enter & Hopefully I WIN!
To me it's a 4x4- 4.5x4.5 max light
I just mentioned to another guy that there is a 56" x 56" tent out there. I think that would be great for it. Drops you down to 21.8 sq ft.
When will you release the video for the best par map ??
I have run the tests. But I am in middle of moving so the video got delayed. As soon as I get my stuff unboxed I will get the video done. Sorry for the delay. It was pretty interesting running the tests and I look forward to sharing the results and announcing the winner. Grower Love
Thank you ! Very much appreciated
By the way, who won this giveaway?
It took a bit longer than I thought - and I am still working on a video about the tests - but there is a winner! I announced on IG: instagram.com/p/CTnZRkCB5KQ/
Nice 👍🇧🇧🇨🇦
Try fc-e3000 at 3x3 and 2.5x2.5 tent.
So for the price of a Gavita 1700 you could buy 2 of these and pack them both on one set of side bars giving you 1284 watts.
Cheap diodes and driver though. And customer service of Marshydro, good luck
nice
If you can add two then you can add two UV bars
great for 4 x 4
👊
“With infinitely adjustable bar positions, there may very well be an alternative arrangement and hanging height that would produce an even better PAR map. I am curious what bar positions and hanging height you think would be the best.”
I don’t know, what does the science say? 😉
Giving users more choices of adjustable positions, which stimulates people's imagination, and may also bring more doubts as to which position is the best.
@@geeklightofficial2252 exactly. I own the GeekBeast; your 6 bar arrangement is spot on. I’m sure you tried various arrangements before settling on what you have right now.
@@Tara-Maya Yes, GeekBeast took about 3 months of optical simulation to get the best LED layout. GeekBeast Plus has only half lamp beads, but the PAR distribution obtained is almost the same as FC-E6500
our Monsterboard pro 7200 par map is also excellent，It is a very interesting lamp
We labeled FC-E6500's 6 bars with the recommended position. But if you have other thoughts, you can try your own ideas.
@@MarsHydro_official hi, with due respect, i’m more interested in the scientifical information rather than people’s ideas and thoughts, as that’s bro science.
At the end of the day, with obvious requirements in place, we are looking for even PAR distribution. Placing the bars in different positions will certainly help to achieve that, but that’s your job. :)
Thankfully GeekLight already did it for us.