There is also one of a different manufacturer in the Greenbeamslighting.com store. It runs at a higher frequency and they are claiming higher light output and phenomenal lamp life.
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There is also one of a different manufacturer in the Greenbeamslighting.com store. It runs at a higher frequency and they are claiming higher light output and phenomenal lamp life.
can't edit yet... must be some trophy for most time lurkin'.
The only ballast phillips provides is p.n. Iztmh-210315-r-LF
input voltage only 200 or 277. price - $350 (!)
any help appreicated
There's that one, and the one from greenbeams (link above) which is a little more expensive. Thought there was a GE ballast, but can't find one listed (?)
The Philips one runs on 220v - the 200 - 277 is a range, if I understand correctly.
Hopefully as more lighting shops stock them the price will drop somewhat.
You are probably thinking of the GEL ballast (Global Energy & Lighting). They are the manufacturer of the Greenbeams ballast, and I believe that they are charging more for it than Greenbeams/Cycloptics. At this point, I would buy the Greenbeams ballast over the Philips - it's more efficient, and as I mentioned above, has a greater lamp life, overall output and sustains the output much longer.
And it's a lot sexier-looking, too.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Greenbeams ballast must also have some higher-tech dimming circuitry or something (?) because they claim to be able to run dimmed with no loss of bulb life or color shift, right? I read in either the bulb literature or Philips literature that running dimmed shortened the bulb life significantly (?)
EDIT: I'm sure I saw something, but damned if I can find it now that I'm looking. Maybe I'm thinking of something else...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Greenbeams ballast must also have some higher-tech dimming circuitry or something (?) because they claim to be able to run dimmed with no loss of bulb life or color shift, right? I read in either the bulb literature or Philips literature that running dimmed shortened the bulb life significantly (?)
EDIT: I'm sure I saw something, but damned if I can find it now that I'm looking. Maybe I'm thinking of something else...
You know, I remember reading that somewhere to, but I've also read that dimming doesn't cause a color shift and thought that it also said there was no adverse effect on lamp life. I'm going to have to go through my pdf files and see if I can find it.
*edit* The pdf for the Philips ballast (Philips CDM Elite Design Guide) says "Dimming the lamp has no impact on lifetime of the system". Now, to find the other....
**edit** I should have kept reading. Further down, the same document refers to the 210w lamp, and has this to say - "The MasterColor CDM Elite MW 210W system is similarly dimmable to 50%. Dimming for more than 25% of the time is not recommended as this will reduce the maintained (mean) lumens over life."
The complete section - "The MasterColorCDM Elite MW 315Wsystem is designed to be able to dim the lamp using a 0–10V interface. The system will always operate at nominal power during the first 10 minutes of operation, after which it can be dimmed. The lowest dimming level is 50% of nominal power. Dimming the lamp has no impact on lifetime of the system. Light technical properties of the dimmed lamp will not be according to the nominal specifications specified in this document. Upon switching to nominal power, the lamp will again perform as specified. The MasterColor CDM Elite MW 210W system is similarly dimmable to 50%. Dimming for more than 25% of the time is not recommended as this will reduce the maintained (mean) lumens over life."
I don't have any idea why the 210w lamp would suffer ill effects from dimming and the 315w would not, but that is what I would take this to mean. I suppose that they could also be differentiating between the operable life of the system and lumen maintenance. I've also read repeatedly that there was no impact on the light spectrum while dimmed, and that isn't what this says. There are a hell of a lot of documents from Philips about this system, and it appears as though the information was changing very rapidly, sometimes over a matter of weeks. It would be interesting to see what GEL claims when operating dimmed.
*edit* The pdf for the Philips ballast (Philips CDM Elite Design Guide) says "Dimming the lamp has no impact on lifetime of the system". Now, to find the other....
**edit** I should have kept reading. Further down, the same document refers to the 210w lamp, and has this to say - "The MasterColor CDM Elite MW 210W system is similarly dimmable to 50%. Dimming for more than 25% of the time is not recommended as this will reduce the maintained (mean) lumens over life."
The complete section - "The MasterColorCDM Elite MW 315Wsystem is designed to be able to dim the lamp using a 0–10V interface. The system will always operate at nominal power during the first 10 minutes of operation, after which it can be dimmed. The lowest dimming level is 50% of nominal power. Dimming the lamp has no impact on lifetime of the system. Light technical properties of the dimmed lamp will not be according to the nominal specifications specified in this document. Upon switching to nominal power, the lamp will again perform as specified. The MasterColor CDM Elite MW 210W system is similarly dimmable to 50%. Dimming for more than 25% of the time is not recommended as this will reduce the maintained (mean) lumens over life."
I don't have any idea why the 210w lamp would suffer ill effects from dimming and the 315w would not, but that is what I would take this to mean. I suppose that they could also be differentiating between the operable life of the system and lumen maintenance. I've also read repeatedly that there was no impact on the light spectrum while dimmed, and that isn't what this says. There are a hell of a lot of documents from Philips about this system, and it appears as though the information was changing very rapidly, sometimes over a matter of weeks. It would be interesting to see what GEL claims when operating dimmed.
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GreenThumb14
Member
The GEL 315w kit which includes bulb, ballast, socket is $500 + s/h
GEL makes the ballasts for Cycloptics.
That's what I recall you saying before. It sounds marginally higher depending on what socket and which lamp they provide. Sockets run from about $14-$50, and the lamps from $70 to !!! They are sure as hell a lot harder to get in touch with - I've called them 4 times, no one is ever available and they don't call back. I could see it if they knew it was for one ballast, but as far as they know I could be retrofitting every WalMart parking lot in the country. I ordered a lamp from Greenbeams on the evening of the 19th and it shipped by noon on the 20th.
I had a nice long talk with the GEL folks a while back and they do have a better tech for these bulbs than the Philips or Venture ballasts. The Philips runs at a set and tested frequency (square wave form). GEL has an active resonance sensing set-up that allows their ballast to run at a much higher frequency and not suffer the arc tube failures that result from excess resonance. The bulbs last longer on them as well because running at a higher frequency allows their ballast to use smaller ignition pulses to ignite/excite the charge in the tube.
Therefore there is less wear on the electrodes. They are also able to maintain optimum output using less wattage in total. Less waste in the form of heat.
Therefore there is less wear on the electrodes. They are also able to maintain optimum output using less wattage in total. Less waste in the form of heat.
The Greenbeams light is intriguing..
Any idea about RFI/EMI interference from the GEL ballast?
Would like to try a couple of these in an apartment grow, but have concerns about any effect there might be on FM radio or cable TV signals. Had a 600w digi ballast before that would create loud whistling noises in the FM radio band even several hundred feet away from the light fixture and ballast. Needless to say the ballast was quickly retired and substituted with an old style magnetic one.
The low energy consuption and reduced heat from the Greenbeams set would be worthwhile as long as there is no problem with the neighbors TV/radio.
Any idea about RFI/EMI interference from the GEL ballast?
Would like to try a couple of these in an apartment grow, but have concerns about any effect there might be on FM radio or cable TV signals. Had a 600w digi ballast before that would create loud whistling noises in the FM radio band even several hundred feet away from the light fixture and ballast. Needless to say the ballast was quickly retired and substituted with an old style magnetic one.
The low energy consuption and reduced heat from the Greenbeams set would be worthwhile as long as there is no problem with the neighbors TV/radio.
tenthirty
Member
I'll have one of the GB ballasts tomorrow and I'll do some tests over the weekend and I'll let you know. So far I'm running the Phillips ballast and I see no RF problems with it.
GreenThumb14
Member
Ya, just like Accendo. They are hard as hell to get a hold of and buying can be even more difficult. I don't get how the hell these people make money if they aren't making their product easily accessible.
I have the cell phone # for rep in Idaho, Zeb Temple... His e-mail, too... Let me know if you want it.
I could justify paying for their 315w kit or the 375w kit (at like $550 or $600) but even that is pushing it. I mean, how much money would be saved over using a retro white or Allstart 330w with a factory rating of 100lm/w on mh mag ballast? I think it would take quite some time to make that initial investment up.
I'm hoping that CMH will go mainstream and we'll start seeing more retail digital ballasts, say from Lumatek, etc.
Thanks tenthirty!
These lights are givin' me wood!
As I understand it, these ballasts are all 200v-277v, no? Any chance for a 120v ballast version at some point in the future?
As I understand it, these ballasts are all 200v-277v, no? Any chance for a 120v ballast version at some point in the future?
I am putting together a single 315w Agro in a Bell Lighting hood in a 32" x 32" tent, but it isn't running yet. I'm currently running two of the 315w 930's in a 4' x 4' tent - I've only got two plants in there and it didn't need two reflectors, but I was all set up for it, so..... Those two plants filled up more than half the tent, though. Pictures are back a couple pages.
Tenthirty has been running a single Agro in a Greenbeams luminaire over a 3' x 3' table, but his tent is bigger than that. He likes it well enough that he just ordered a second one and I believe is replacing his LEDs with it. I would think that a 3' x 3' tent would work even better because the reflective walls would be closer, bouncing more of the side light back to the plants.
Hey guys,
I was just at the Denver Max Yield Show and ended up coming across these guys.
http://dnalightingsolutions.com/
They are partnering with Growlite (because the bulbs can apparently only be fired vertically). They have the 900w bulb which looks like a traditional MH 1000 and they have kits that you can add to your mogul socket and have up to 3 315's. In 4-6 weeks they should have their units out with their ballast. Since it is going to be a generation 1 item, I am going to get one and test it to see how reliable they are.
FYI...the spectrum that it throws out is amazing. I saw the guy at the show use a spectrometer in front of my face. The spectrum they actually throw out is a little bit better than what is on the site. I will keep you guys posted, but if they are reliable...it might be the holy grail.
I was just at the Denver Max Yield Show and ended up coming across these guys.
http://dnalightingsolutions.com/
They are partnering with Growlite (because the bulbs can apparently only be fired vertically). They have the 900w bulb which looks like a traditional MH 1000 and they have kits that you can add to your mogul socket and have up to 3 315's. In 4-6 weeks they should have their units out with their ballast. Since it is going to be a generation 1 item, I am going to get one and test it to see how reliable they are.
FYI...the spectrum that it throws out is amazing. I saw the guy at the show use a spectrometer in front of my face. The spectrum they actually throw out is a little bit better than what is on the site. I will keep you guys posted, but if they are reliable...it might be the holy grail.
Thanks rives!
How's the heat from these lamps?
Can you run them with any digital ballast? I got a Gavita Digistar (http://www.gavita-holland.com/index...item/digistar-600-230-eu.html?category_id=249).
How's the heat from these lamps?
Can you run them with any digital ballast? I got a Gavita Digistar (http://www.gavita-holland.com/index...item/digistar-600-230-eu.html?category_id=249).
I've got two of them running in a 4x4, vented hoods, no A/C, and have had maximum temps of about 79 degrees. I'm running a 6" fan split into two 4" runs for the hoods.
No, as far as I know, the only ballasts that will work with them are either of the two mentioned in the posts back a page or so. Philips or GEL (they make the Greenbeams ballast).
GreenThumb14
Member
Do you have any more info on these guys? Is it a ballast + light kit? Price? Their website is leaving a lot to be desired lol.
