150w CMH Bulb & Ballast: Best Equipment & Where To Buy? (K+)

[Stone]

I'm looking to buy a 150w CMH bulb & ballast set. I'll be using this as a veg light in a 24"L x 30"W x 30"H space (w/ one side mostly open), for plants to be flowered under a 600w Lumatek.

I'll most likely be using the bulb in an open fixture hood, and from my research it looks as though Phillips Master Color is the only CMH rated for open fixtures.
So I believe I'll be going w/ a150w Phillips Master Color, mainly for this reason.
If anyone knows of any other brands that have this rating, or are superior in any way, I'd love to know...

What's really giving me troubles is finding a compatable ballast. I understand I'll need a 150w HPS core & coil, in order to be compatable with the CMH bulb.
What specs should I be looking for?

If anyone could recommend a site or two where these items could be picked up at a reasonable price, I'd be very greatful. K+
I wouldn't mind ordering each from a seperate site, if it meant getting the best equipment/price.

So come on all you CMH heads, recommend some equipment that fits the bill so I can get growing & test out this new technology w/ you.

Thanks In Advance,
Stone

 

[NorCalFor20]

for a 150w cmh you need a pulse start metal halide ballast/not an hps... 250w+ is HPS ballast anything less than 250w is metal halide...
before you go with the 150w cmh i think 150w is too small to veg and flower same plants under a 600w hps, it would be possible to go from 400w to 600w hps but not 150w to 600w they will be tiny in veg then be overwhelmed by the 600w hps in flower. my suggestion is call htgsupply.com request the 400w hps kit without bulb which comes to 100$ + 20 shipping includes a ballast fully assembled with all cords and hood is pre wired all you do is plug in 400w cmh bulb and go. so you can get the 400w cmh bulb with a ballast, wires, reflector etc. everything you need for 180$

not bad for 400w and not hot at all

grown with 400w cmh

 

[DHarvester]

D.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to NorCalFor20 again."

 

[FreezerBoy]

150w cmh you need a pulse start metal halide ballast/not an hps

What he said! Whichever bulb you choose, check the ANSI code for acceptable ballasts.

 

[Stone]

NorCal,
Thanks for the reply, Bro. I'll hit you with some pos. rep when I build a few more posts...
I was thinking the 150 was a little low, but on the other end, you don't think 400w in a 24" x 30" x 30" space is a little overkill?

How much cooler is you CMH running vs a HPS?
l've heard everything between 2-10F.
I was planning to run a few 6500k cfl to fill under the canopy, I suppose I could drop those & go w/ the 400.
Good info on the ballasts, don't know how that slipped by me.

Awesome looking plants you've go going there, very healthy!
Were those under CMH thier entire life?

 

[NorCalFor20]

no i don't think the 400w is overkill for that space i am using about that much space in that picture. Id say in my closet a 400w hps would make temps around 90-95 and the cmh is about 80-85 tops with my venelation setup.

i am using a total of 550w as of today in my closet, the 400w cmh 2x 25w cfls, 2x 50w cfls , i added some cfls for bigger nicer colas.

also yes they were started under fluros for maybe 3 or 4 days then the CMH arrived and i got started.

heres some more pics, kind of like a time lapse from the beginning to where i am now....

 

[messn'n'gommin']

I'm looking to buy a 150w CMH bulb & ballast set. I'll be using this as a veg light in a 24"L x 30"W x 30"H space (w/ one side mostly open), for plants to be flowered under a 600w Lumatek.

I'll most likely be using the bulb in an open fixture hood, and from my research it looks as though Phillips Master Color is the only CMH rated for open fixtures.
So I believe I'll be going w/ a150w Phillips Master Color, mainly for this reason.
If anyone knows of any other brands that have this rating, or are superior in any way, I'd love to know...

What's really giving me troubles is finding a compatable ballast. I understand I'll need a 150w HPS core & coil, in order to be compatable with the CMH bulb.
What specs should I be looking for?

If anyone could recommend a site or two where these items could be picked up at a reasonable price, I'd be very greatful. K+
I wouldn't mind ordering each from a seperate site, if it meant getting the best equipment/price.

So come on all you CMH heads, recommend some equipment that fits the bill so I can get growing & test out this new technology w/ you.

Thanks In Advance,
Stone

You didn't say how big your flower area is, but it occurred to me that if you get either the 250w or 400w CMH for not just vegging, but also to try and incorporate it into your flowering area with your 600w HPS, you're going to get the blues and reds of the CMH, but all that extra red from the 600w'er. I think that would be impressive.

Namaste, mess

 

[Stone]

Messn',
I have a flower area of slightly larger than 3' x 6' w/ high ceilings. I'm just prepping the area now to sex & flower around 50 8"-14" plants from seed consisting of ~8 strains.
I'll be using just the one Lumatek 600 for flower this go 'round due to high summer temps. However, I'm considering adding another come winter if I deem it necessary.
I plan to use the CMH in a seperate veg area that will be holding mothers & supplying clones to the flower room.

I'm leaning to the 250 right now, b/c all of this will be in the same walk in closet & I hate fighting temps...

Inside Sun seems to have some great deals on refurbed 'econo' packages.
And the hunt continues...

I love seeing plants at all stages of growth like that NorCal. Hope she finishes as well as she started. How many weeks out are you?

 

[NorCalFor20]

Right now im on day 28 of flowering here are a few newer pics.

 

[NorCalFor20]

i think you need at least a 400w light but you might get away with a 250w cmh and some fluros but you might wish you had gotten the 400w when you see how cool it is. How tall do you plan of vegging your plants in your veg area that has the 30" ceilng? With a 30" tall area you have 22-24" of growing space. The first 6 inches might be too hot for small seedlings, after that your ok.

 

[smoketrichs]

advancedtechlighting.com

 

[SrgtKilroy]

I bought my 150 W CMH from this Hungarian growshop. It's a GE ConstantColor CMH 4200K and - yes - open rated!
Since I am using 150 W all the way, I just ordered an Osram Nav-T lighting kit with it and had my discount there.
Works great so far, never had a lamp this close to my plants! There's virtually no stretching and my babies grow like, well, you know. Hope I don't run into heat problems when I switch to sodium as my cabinet is quite small...

 

[Sparky 6]

I bought my 150 W CMH from this Hungarian growshop. It's a GE ConstantColor CMH 4200K and - yes - open rated!
Since I am using 150 W all the way, I just ordered an Osram Nav-T lighting kit with it and had my discount there.
Works great so far, never had a lamp this close to my plants! There's virtually no stretching and my babies grow like, well, you know. Hope I don't run into heat problems when I switch to sodium as my cabinet is quite small...

Awesome Srgt! Got pics?

It'd be great to see a grow journal of your grow. I plan to make a 150w CMH soon myself for veg stage. What HPS light are you switching it over to?