Mars Hydro - FC-6500 EVO

The FC-6500 EVO is a 730 watt bar fixture producing 2080 µmol/s, meant for a 120 × 120 cm growing area in flower. The fixture folds for transport and weighs 16 kilos.

Sixteen kilos on a single tent frame

With the small models you hang the lamp and think no further about it. At this weight you should. A tent frame is not a concrete ceiling: the top rails carry a stated maximum between them, and that maximum covers everything suspended from them. Alongside the lamp that is often a carbon filter with an extraction fan attached, and those two together usually outweigh the fixture.

Three things make the difference. Spread the weight across two rails rather than one, so the load does not sit on a single point. Keep the lamp and the filter on opposite sides of the tent rather than on the same rail. And use ratchet hangers that let you lower things under control, because most accidents happen while hanging equipment rather than afterwards.

Above all, check your own tent's rating before ordering. Tents built on 25 mm frames carry considerably more than those on 16 mm poles, and that difference is invisible from the outside. If you are unsure, hanging the weight from the ceiling or from a rack above the tent spares the frame entirely.

Technical Specifications:

• Model: FC-6500-EVO
• Power: 730 W
• Light output: 2080 µmol/s PPF
• Efficiency: 2.85 µmol/J for the complete fixture
• Flowering coverage: 120 × 120 cm
• Current: around 3.2 A at 230 V
• Weight: 16 kg
• Dimmer: built in
• Construction: foldable, multiple bars
• Cooling: passive, wave-shaped heat sink without a fan

Frequently asked questions

Can my tent carry this weight?
Check your tent's rating and add the lamp, the filter and the fan together. A 25 mm frame carries a good deal more than a 16 mm one.

How many points should I hang it from?
Two, spread across two rails. A single point concentrates the whole load.

Is folding useful, or just for shipping?
Mainly for shipping and storage. During a grow the bars stay extended, otherwise you lose the even distribution.

Which diodes does it use?
Mars Hydro moved to another brand of diode during this range's production, so we name none. A later version of this model also exists with slightly higher stated values. We publish the figures belonging to the unit we sell.