i'm not an electrician by any means but a quick search says that mars hydro fc e6500 draws 275 watts from the wall.
take that as you will

Thanks for that info. I'm not sure what search engine gave you that info, but the lamp pulls 730w from a 120VAC input.

IamN2pot said:

Thanks for that info. I'm not sure what search engine gave you that info, but the lamp pulls 730w from a 120VAC input.

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Have you put a measuring device on it? It sounds as if it's over-driven if its actually running at 730w. Can you do it? Sure ... but it will shorten the use-able life of the already very long life these LEDs have and run at a lower efficiency.

You can use the dimmer. You don't have to drive it that hard. You're better off setting your ppfd between 800-1000 at the canopy than trying to drive the LEDs hard.

MIGrampaUSA said:

Have you put a measuring device on it? It sounds as if it's over-driven if its actually running at 730w. Can you do it? Sure ... but it will shorten the use-able life of the already very long life these LEDs have and run at a lower efficiency.

You can use the dimmer. You don't have to drive it that hard. You're better off setting your ppfd between 800-1000 at the canopy than trying to drive the LEDs hard.

Click to expand...

That's what I thought.
Using the dimmer was the whole idea from the start. All thing being equal, LOL, I intended to run it at about 60-65%. That "should" give me something very close in wattage to the SF4000 I want to replace, but with a much better/even PPFD map??? and the option to go to a 5x5 tent in the future. That said, the fit in a 4x4 tent sucks, IMHO! Can you say SQUEEEZE.....
I went out on a $2 limb yesterday and bought the PPFD app that Shane promotes for my phone, and have been doing PPFD maps in my 2x4 with a 4' x 4 T5, converted to/with Phillips 24w 5000k LED's that I mapped last night and I'm doing my seedling under. I'm also mapping my SpiderFarmer SF2000 today. I was playing last nigt and discovered that opening the tent flap decreases umoles(?) (PAR) by 10% @ 22" hanging height. I'll get those PPFD maps posted later today, for what they are worth. And speaking of "for what they are worth", here is the PPFD map for MY SF4000. THings have changed.... (click on the PPFD map, it's clearer outside the post?)