Mars Hydro TS1000
(LED Grow Light)
Product Review

Mars Hydro has been around for a couple years now but I never really wanted to mess with them. They're more aggressive at social marketing than any company I've encountered. Focused on enlisting social media influencers, I had no intention of joining their 'army'. But eventually I realized that the TS1000 is a really popular product and people deserve to know if it's really worth it or not.

I purchased one of these units myself from Amazon just so I could give my honest opinion without having any sense of obligation. I don't want Mars Hydro to hold sway over my review on this product. To be honest, I expected to encounter a lack luster grow light. But as I broke it down, I came to realize it's a surprisingly good value, outperforming 100 watt LEDs while competing on price.

PRODUCT SPECS:
• Diodes: Unbranded
• Driver: Juson LPN-150N-54E
• Daisy Chain Dimmer Box
• Power Draw: 150W (145W actual)
• PPE (400-700nm): 2.18 umol/J
• Photon Efficacy (380-780nm): 2.27 umol/J
• Total PPF (400-700nm): 315 umol/s
• Photon Flux (380-780nm): 329 umol/s
• Spectrum: 3000K, 5000K, 660nm, 730nm
• Coverage: 3 ft x 3 ft Veg / 2 ft x 2 ft Bloom
• Distance: 12" - 24" from Plant Canopy

Spectrum Test Report

Buy the Mars Hydro TS1000 LED Grow Light from Amazon.com

The Mars Hydro TS1000 is a competitive 150W LED that is priced better than some 100W models.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: The TS1000 has evolved over the last two years. And it's certainly gotten better with time. Commendably, Mars Hydro upgraded the diode configuration, adding some Far Red. But more importantly the driver block was improved too. Earlier versions had high failure rates. But now the Juson driver performs much better. The resulting efficacy boost takes the PPE up to 2.2 umol/J (unlike the TS600 which falls flat on its face).

This 150W light is dimmable, allowing it to run head to head against 100W units like the SF1000. But the price actually comes in lower. So you get more light per dollar spent. If you don't need all of that light, you can dim it. But if plants get bigger, you can crank it up to emit an extra 100 umols of photons vs the SF1000. It's not the most efficient one out there, but it's still quite good if you're on a budget.

A GREAT ENTRY LEVEL GROW LIGHT

FINER DETAILS: In 2019 Mars Hydro was marketing the TS1000 with a PPE of 2.3 umol/J. But they were sitting on test reports showing a PPE of 2.0. Now the product is catching up to the hype. Even still, it's not perfect. The cabling is nice and long allowing you place the driver outside of your tent. But the barrel power connector just slips into the diode board and it isn't too secure. The solder points are exposed so be aware that it's not waterproof. At least the diodes themselves are coated for protection.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I've never been a big fan of Mars Hydro as a brand. They've made plenty of inflated or even false claims about their products. I can't vouch for the quality of their product support team. If you have issues, you might have a hard time. So I would likely purchase through Amazon for the best buyer protection options.

That being said, Mars Hydro has worked out some of the early production bugs. At this point, I think you have much better odds for success with the TS1000. It will generate plenty of light without breaking the bank. Coverage area is similar to what many 100W LEDs claim: 3x3 veg and 2x2 bloom. But at full power, the TS1000 would certainly give you higher yields than typical 100W units. So at the end of the day, I'm forced to recommend it. A good entry-level option for growers on a tight budget who aren't concerned about getting the absolute best efficacy in a grow light.

#QuantumLEDs #IndoorGardening #ArtificialLighting #GrowYourOwn #LEDGrowLights

Buy the Mars Hydro TS1000 LED Grow Light from Amazon.com