yes, it is pretty funny as the spectral quality (incl. UVA and UVB) does not come near the plasma lamp
.Also let's not forget that MH is also still a very hot light source. In professional climate rooms we install more and more plasma lighting.
You need to see the CDM more as a replacement for a plasma lamp + HPS lamp. So for a 1000W HPS + 1 plasma light you need to buy at least 4 CDM fixtures to get the same light levels. 1060+270=1330W for 2400 umol incl. UVA and UVB, CDM solution 4x550-1400W for 2400 umol, so the combination HPS/plasma is still a tiny bit more efficient. Also take the annual 4 lamp (and reflector) changes against one 1000W HPS. For large production purposes the 315 is just a bit too small. In a 6x3m space you would need about 26.000 umol for 1000 umol m-2 s-1 average, which translates in 32 fixtures (taking the reflector losses into account) compared to the 8 plasma and 8 HPS fixtures.
The plasma lamps are slowly increasing in efficacy, the new models use only 270W which is an efficiency increase of 10% already. Larger models are expected Q1 2014.
But.. for small grow rooms and mothers and low rooms they certainly have their place in the market. More small lamps give a good efficiency at close distance. The spectrum is really nice, and plants grow very well under them. Nothing wrong with CDM, on contrary. It just has a different place in the market and will not kill plasma at all.
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