I have tested 10 of the best grow lights for a 4ft x 2ft or 1.2m x 0.6m grow tent and compare them for PAR output, efficiency and value for money.
The 4ft x 2ft or 1.2m x 0.6m grow area will deliver a good yield for personal use in a compact grow space which will fit neatly in an alcove or corner of your room.
To maximise the potential yield from the space you need about 200 to 300 watts of high efficiency LED lighting. Ideally the light fixture will be suitably sized to cover the area evenly i.e. the fixture is rectangular and close to the physical size of the grow tent.
A PAR chart (chart showing the PAR intensity across the specified grow area) is shown below for each model so you can judge the best solution for your grow space.
Spectrum
All of the lights have a mixture of mid temperature white LEDs with 660nm reds to improve their electrical and photosynthetic efficiency. Therefore all of the grow lights tested are full spectrum and suitable for growing from seed to harvest.
Grow light comparison method
The comparison chart uses the results from Shanes PAR output and efficiency tests to calculate and compare the total cost of each fixture. The 3 year costing includes the cost of the fixture and adds the electricity costs at 23c/KW hour over 14 hours per day average. The cost displayed is to deliver an average PAR of 800µmols/m²/second over 1m² grow area over a 3 year period.
MIGRO ARAY 4
The MIGRO ARAY 4 delivers a very even spread across the grow area with the lowest hanging height of all the lights tested. The high efficiency LED driver can be located outside of the grow tent to minimise heat in the grow tent and has on board dimming so you have full control for all stages of growth.
The MIGRO ARAY 4 is excellent build quality and uses the highest quality and efficient white LEDs by Samsung and Osram 660nm reds.
The MIGRO ARAY 4 is also a modular system and can be upgraded to larger grow sizes by simply adding on additional fixtures.
Spider Farmer G4500
The Spider Farmer G4500 is the highest wattage grow light on this list at 430 watts consumed. It delivers a very high average PAR of 1,378 µmols/m²/second. You need to run CO2 in a sealed grow room with air conditioning so that the plants can use all of the light in this setup.
The G4500 provides very high PAR intensity and uniform coverage for 2'x4' of growth area at an affordable price.
The Spider Farmer LED grow light also features dimming and daisy chain function as well as detachable driver, making it ideal for all stages of plant growth from seed to harvest.
HLG 350R Diablo
The HLG 350R diablo is designed for a 5ft x 3ft space but will also fit into a 4ft x 2ft space. It is amongst the most efficient grow lights on the market and uses the highest quality Samsung and Osram LEDs combined with a Meanwell LED driver.
The PAR chart below is for a 5ft x 3ft space. In a 4ft x 2ft space the HLG 350R would deliver an average PAR of about 1,160 µmols/m²/second which is in the range where elevated CO2 would be required to utilise the high PAR intensity.
If you want a very high PAR intensity and you are running CO2 in your 4 x 2 the HLG 350R diablo is an excellent solution
MARS HYDRO SP3000The MARS HYDRO SP3000 is a high quality led grow light designed for a 4 x 2 grow area. It consumes 300 watts and has on board dimming with daisy chain control
The system efficiency is good and the light spread is excellent over a 4ft x 2ft area.
Viparspectra P2000
The P2000 LED grow light by Viparspectra is a high quality 200 watt fixture with onboard dimming and good coverage in a 4ft x 2ft space.
The P2000 delivers a relatively low system efficiency and is one of the lower wattage grow lights in this selection hence it has a lower average PAR intensity
The lowest priced grow light on this list makes this a great light for those on a tight budget.
Bavagreen 260W with UVA and Far Red
This grow light from BavaGREEN has added 380nm UVA, 660nm Red and 730nm Far Red. The UV, red and far red can be switched on separately.
It delivers an ok average PAR intensity but does not cover the whole grow area evenly.
Positives are great spectrum, good efficiency and low price.
Negatives are lack of protection of the LEDs, general build quality and lack of setup information. For these reasons I do not recommend this light.
Spider Farmer SF2000
The SF2000 by Spider Farmer consumes 200 watts, has on board dimming and daisy chain control. It is a rectangular 'quantum board' style light of very simple construction.
It is one of the lower wattage and efficiency grow lights in this selection and delivers a relatively low average PAR intensity and spread.
FEIT Electric 175w LED grow light
A test and review of the Home Depot grow light, the FEI Electric 175W LED grow light. A low system efficiency result of 1.77 PPFD/Watt and a high running temperature means I cannot recommend it.
It is also very expensive for what it is in the Home Depot and Amazon shop. However you can pick one up for much less on Ebay where it is priced more suitably for its performance
Chilled 330W ultra
The highest efficiency grow light in this selection. A very well built light that runs incredibly cool
The Chilled Tech ULTRA has surpasses the previous record by the HLG Diablo at 2.68 µmols/watt (usable PPF/watt) system efficacy.
Not a cheap light but it has so many LEDs packed into it I think it is good value for what it is. However it is hard to justify the additional up front cost for this efficiency when it is not paying back in three years.
Comments
James Brandimarto
Thank you for the great videos and reviews. I’ve watched most of them. I just purchased p2000 and 2 xs2000. My next upgrade will definitely be Migro. My girlfriend loves your accent. Lol.
September 12, 2023
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