Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[rives]

was that the first time you've hit or come close to that 1gpw yield?

No, with the LEDs I usually hovered close to 1gpw, but that was with a pretty well-optimized system with lots of runs to get things worked out and 3 to 4 plants in a scrog. I was surprised with the 315 results because I knew that the plant count was down from where it should have been to fill the footprint, but I had screwed up on the cloning and was shy of where I wanted to be, but didn't have time to get more plants ready.

This was actually the second run that I had made with the 315s. The first run had also been over only 2 plants, but was in my larger tent (4x4) which was set up at the time with (2) 315s in it. I had run only one lamp for a good part of the time, but since there were 2 hoods set up in the tent the light wasn't centered over the plants. At some point, I decided what the hell and kicked on the second fixture for the remainder of the run, so any gpw figures were meaningless. This is what those girls looked like at 28 days, and I don't know if the second lamp had been turned on yet or not -

 

[Bubbagineer]

Elite Agro (2) 315w day 49 of flower

Elite Agro (2) 315w day 49 of flower

Yep, I can't tell the difference from the sun. Grows the fuck out of some weed too. Your garden looks lush Rives

I'm at 49 days or so of bloom. I wish I wouldn't have done a scrog.... what's the point if you still have to stake them fat girls up

 

[rives]

Wowzers. Those gals would need some extra support regardless of the style. Amazing light source.

 

[Bubbagineer]

The more photos i see, taken under a cmh lamp, the more i remember what you said sometime back about the cmh giving so natural a light - i know a good bit of how well a picture shows up is the color balance, but i'm talking photos from a number of different posters showing up looking natural the way your shot does. Whether your's, Avashin.miles or BubbaEngineer's, they all look "color balanced". I have no idea if everyone had their color balance set to auto - but the photos all look like they were taken under natural lighting.

thanks for the pix

Sorry, I missed the photo question. Actually I went back and looked at the pics I posted and I think maybe all of them were at lights off with a flash? Anyway, the comment on the color balance made me curious so here is a picture, under the lamps, with the color balance set to auto.

 

[Bubbagineer]

I can't seem to post another pic.... I was going to put up a pic with the color balance set to Daylight. This stating takes kickass pics... screw the flash. Thanks for bringing the topic up. This site has a grudge against apple products I think....

 

[k-s-p]

I can't seem to post another pic.... I was going to put up a pic with the color balance set to Daylight. This stating takes kickass pics... screw the flash. Thanks for bringing the topic up. This site has a grudge against apple products I think....

I'll try try to do one tomorrow. I'll do an unadjusted and then set the white balance manually in photoshop. Either way it's great light. I'm still using the 400w retro whites.

 

[Bubbagineer]

Photo color balance set to Daylight

Photo color balance set to Daylight

I love this setting. Screw the flash man. This setting works so well that I am able to get close enough shots of the trichs that I no longer need a loupe -sweet. Thanks for bringing the topic up.

 

[k-s-p]

meh

 

[acridlab]

In my opinion, the cmh bulbs are hands down the best, for supplemental lighting only... if ur in a small cabinet or similar, they would do the trick, but for a grow with 3 footers and taller, they simply don't have the penetration needed. And yes, magnetic hps ballast only, my sunsytem 400 watt switchable runs them, on the hps mode..if I only had 400 watts to play with I would stick with a ushio hps. Add a few cfls for lizards if u want the uvb. If u want to go all out, get some 1000 watters in hoods and drop some 400 cmh in vertically.,for supplement. Run them the whole cycle,not just the beginning or end.. this is the only way I will ever grow again.. well, until they improve the LEDs.. solis tek has something coming out soon covering that arena, but they will prolly b expensive..

 

[Luther Burbank]

Hey CMH crew,

I was looking at that Gavita 1000w DE but it doesn't look like I have the headroom for it, so back to my old love the CMH I go. I've always run the now discontinued 400z. Now it looks as if the main website to purchase them still has old ones in stock, but I see names I respect in here running the newer 315s. Can I get some education on the newer smaller size and whether they're superior to the older 400s?

 

[rives]

Luther, I never ran the older CMHs, but I know that Azeotrope did for many years. After my success with the 315s, I talked him into trying them out and he thought that they were vastly superior to the older lamps. It's been a very long time since I ran 400w HPS lamps, but either I've become a hell of a lot better grower in the interim or the 315w CDM is a huge improvement over the 400w HPS. They have also worked better for me then a fairly wide variety of high-quality LED fixtures of similar wattage, both commercial versions and DIY.

I don't know what kind of education you are looking for, but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help out if I can.

 

[Luther Burbank]

Rives, you've been helping me out for years man! I always thank you no matter what avatar I appear under. You're a blessing to this forum. Thank ya kindly!

I'm gonna wait to see if 7' ceiling are just too low to make the gavita 1000DE viable, but two 315w CMHs would cover a 4x4 tent well.

 

[rives]

Thanks for the kind words.

From what I've read about the 1000DE, if that's all the height that you have to work with, you'd better plan on a scrog! Two 315's does indeed work well in a 4x4. I'm interested to see how my current test of a single 315 in a 4x4 works out, but I'm kind of leaning toward getting one of the larger Bell 1000MV hoods and putting (2) 315's in it. The last time I ran two in the 4x4, they were each in a Bell 600MV hood. With the carbon filter at about the same level as the hoods, it was a pain in the ass. The thing that concerns me is that I don't know what kind of problems would be created in the light distribution with two lamps in a single hood.

 

[non]

whatabout those smaller 150w cdm-elite mastercolors used as shoplights? reason i'm asking because they're much more easily available but not open rated, would cool tube hold the possible blast?

 

[Frogtoss]

Holy fricken thread batman! This is HUGE!!! Never saw anybody talking about CMH in my other forum. Good stuff.

I own 2 of the 400w CMH's and was looking at getting 2 more. I'm glad I checked here first. Luther asked one question I had, But I haven't seen anybody talking 240v. Are these new 315's 120v only??

 

[redclover]

I'm doing a vert with the 860w CMH and loving it. $100 for an indoor sun!!!

 

[rives]

I own 2 of the 400w CMH's and was looking at getting 2 more. I'm glad I checked here first. Luther asked one question I had, But I haven't seen anybody talking 240v. Are these new 315's 120v only??

The Philips ballast are 240v only. Some manufacturer's are supplying their fixtures with an internal transformer so that they can be run on 120v.

 

[Bubbagineer]

2 x 315w elite Agro bulbs in open fixtures over 4x3 area

2 x 315w elite Agro bulbs in open fixtures over 4x3 area

Ok! looks like I can post pics again.... I swear this board don't like me.... do I offend lol (sniffs pits)

These 2 lights are kicking ass. I think I could handle the heat load from 4 of these over a 5x5 area..... that would rule. Pricey to re-lamp, but this is my hobby.... 2g/w here I come.

 

[Bubbagineer]

Rives, how high above the plants is the single bulb in your 4x4 tent?

Also, here's a close up of one of my girls. Folks that say the light doesn't have enough red - I dunno... can't see why they'd say that....

 

[redclover]

Ok! looks like I can post pics again.... I swear this board don't like me.... do I offend lol (sniffs pits)

These 2 lights are kicking ass. I think I could handle the heat load from 4 of these over a 5x5 area..... that would rule. Pricey to re-lamp, but this is my hobby.... 2g/w here I come.

What reflectors you using?! I'm thinking about 2 315s in a vert. Not enough red how? You should see the 860w...I have to apply banana boat when I enter tent.