Mars Hydro - FC-8000 EVO

The FC-8000 EVO is the largest model in this range: 800 watts, 2309 µmol/s of light output and an efficiency of 2.9 µmol/J, meant for a 150 × 150 cm growing area in flower.

One large fixture or two smaller ones

For a 150 × 150 cm space you can take this lamp, or two smaller ones adding up to roughly the same wattage. That is a real choice rather than a matter of taste, because the two arrangements behave differently.

Two lamps give you a more even field. You hang them apart, their cones overlap in the middle, and the edges receive more than they would from one fixture doing everything from the centre. You can also hang them at different heights, which helps when your canopy is uneven. Against that, you hang twice, wire twice, and have to keep two dimmers in step.

One lamp is simpler and usually cheaper per watt. You have a single hanging point on each side, one plug and one setting, and no way to accidentally light two halves of the room differently. For a square space this size, that is exactly what this model was drawn around.

The rule that survives: square room and an even canopy, take one. Long room, or several different crops side by side, and two smaller fixtures win.

Technical Specifications:

• Model: FC-8000-EVO
• Power: 800 W
• Light output: 2309 µmol/s PPF
• Efficiency: 2.9 µmol/J for the complete fixture
• Flowering coverage: 150 × 150 cm
• Current: around 3.5 A at 230 V
• Weight: 18 kg
• Dimmer: built in
• Construction: foldable, multiple bars
• Cooling: passive, wave-shaped heat sink without a fan

Frequently asked questions

Is one FC-8000 better than two FC-4000s?
In a square room yes, because this model was drawn around it. In a long room two smaller fixtures give you a more even field.

Why is the efficiency here slightly higher than the rest?
This model comes out at 2.9 µmol/J against 2.85 for the others. The difference is small and comes from how the fixture is built, not from a different kind of diode.

Will this lamp suit a 120 × 120 cm tent?
You would be giving more light than the canopy can use and dimming part of it away. The FC-6500 EVO is the one meant for that size.

Which diodes does it use?
Mars Hydro moved to another brand during this range's production, so we name no manufacturer. The stated values for the fixture are unchanged.