Mars Hydro Mars II 400 LED Grow Light

The Mars II series was updated in Spring 2018. The obvious updates include different diodes, a new PCB, and a new logo. There could be a few updates on the fans, drivers, or heatsinks, but we are not aware of any of these.

The Mars II 400 fixture is best for growing plants that require a lot of light in small spaces, acting as a supplementary light, or growing in medium size spaces on a budget. Let’s dive a little deeper into the specs on this popular fixture.

Mars Hydro Mars II 400 LED Grow Light Video Review

Mars II 400 Build

The Mars II 400 measures 14" x 14" x 3.5" and weighs about 13 lbs. The fixture contains high-power LEDs mounted to a metal-core printed circuit board. The board is backed by an aluminum heatsink and cooled by two cooling fans. The drivers will accept an input voltage of 85-265VAC. All of these components are encased in a black metal housing.

The light has two switches on the rear of the unit - one grow switch and one bloom switch. There is a socket for the 3-prong power cord and another socket for daisy-chaining this unit to other Mars lights.

The upgraded Mars II 400 is a compact, affordable fixture that is designed to replace about a 250 watt MH/HPS grow light.

Wattage Draw

The Mars Hydro Mars II 400 is rated for 110 or 240 VAC power. It draws about 162 watts at the wall and 1.39 A at 120V, and around 0.69A at 240V. When the grow switch is on, the unit draws 106 watts and when the bloom switch is on, the light draws 55 watts. The unit only emits 638 BTUs of heat.

Diodes and Spectrum

Mars Hydro uses 5-watt High-Power Epistar LEDs in their Mars II series grow lights. These are a good balance between cost and light output.

The diode wavelengths used in this unit include:

• 440nm
• 460nm
• 630nm
• 660nm
• 730nm (Far-Red)
• 2400W-3000K (White)

The spectrum contains mostly blue and red with some green and some far-red. The nearly 2:1 ratio of red to blue helps drive yields, while still adding plenty of blue light to ensure good quality flower.

The grow switch is recommended for Veg since it contains more blue to help keep plants stout while reducing energy consumption. During Flower, it is recommended that both switches are turned on for maximum intensity. Some people think that they should only turn on the Flower switch during the bloom stage, but this is incorrect since the light output would be low and not assist in large flower development.

Coverage Area And Hanging Height

The flower footprint of this fixture is recommended by the manufacturer for a 6.25 sq ft area or 2.5’ x 2.5’ at 18" above the canopy. The Veg footprint is recommended for a 4.5’ x 4.5’ area at 24” from the canopy. However, based off of the wattage draw, I would be comfortable telling you the Flower footprint might be closer to a 2’ x 2’ area and the Veg footprint around a 3.5’ x 3.5' area.

Mars II 400 PAR

Mars Hydro tested the PAR on this unit. You can see those readings below:

18" above the canopy

15" above the canopy

12" above the canopy

Mars Warranty

In the rare case that you have a problem with your fixture, all Mars Hydro lights come with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. The fixture comes with a warranty card just in case you need it!

In the US, the fixtures are shipped from California or New Jersey. Mars Hydro products are also shipped from Canada, the UK, Germany, and Australia. The warehouse in Germany serves pretty much every country in the EU. If you are in any one of these countries, there are no duties/taxes since the items ship from within your country. The lights even ship with your local plug type.

Price on Mars II 400

The price on the Mars Hydro Mars II 400 in the USA is only $164.99 + free shipping and no tax. Prices are a little different for other countries. 

Summary

The Mars II 400 is the perfect fixture for a full-cycle grow. Or you might consider using it in larger spaces as a supplementary fixture. Either way, it will add an efficient spectrum and some good light intensity to your grow! Buy it now, below!

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