Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[Drek]

Can anyone give me some recommendations on the equivalent of a 250/400W bulb that would be used in a dresser grow? Would love to go the CMD/CMH route. I've been reading as much as I can but 300+ pages with years of history is a lot to dig through!

Also with that, what ballast would I need?

Much appreciated!
CLP

You can still find 250w and 400w bulbs. Also, the CDM naming convention applies to any Ceramic Metal Halide bulb, hence the model # for the (250) Retro: CDM250S50/HOR/4K/ALTO

This bulb is for horizontal use only. To use it, all you need is an open reflector designed for 250 or similar, and a 250w magnetic HPS ballast(in good condition).

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-146498-CDM250S50-Metal-Halide/dp/B002CYUEXA

There is a lot of reading in those pages, takes a while to go through it all.

 

[Jhhnn]

You can still find 250w and 400w bulbs. Also, the CDM naming convention applies to any Ceramic Metal Halide bulb, hence the model # for the (250) Retro: CDM250S50/HOR/4K/ALTO

This bulb is for horizontal use only. To use it, all you need is an open reflector designed for 250 or similar, and a 250w magnetic HPS ballast(in good condition).

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-146498-CDM250S50-Metal-Halide/dp/B002CYUEXA

There is a lot of reading in those pages, takes a while to go through it all.

Per Advanced lighting, that bulb is discontinued, so our querist would likely do better with something that isn't, like the CDM205/U/O/4K EA Allstart which runs on a standard magnetic 250w metal halide ballast. It's also rated for both vert & hor operation.

http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm

It'd require a really big dresser (more like an armoire) & serious cooling to justify a 330w or 315w, I think. On a 36x18 footprint, the 205 provides 45w/sqft. Given the superior spectrum of CMH, that's probably more than adequate.

 

[Drek]

Hey JH.

That's exactly why I invested in them, because they are discontinued. I got them for super cheap, and I already had an HPS 400w ballast and open hood. A person can still run a Hortilux Super HPS if they ever wanted to; the option is there fwiw.

Suppose it depends on how much a person wants to spend and what their circumstances are. I don't like spending more than I need to.

I got enough bulbs to last a long time, for great prices, so it was perfect for my situation.

 

[rives]

Can anyone give me some recommendations on the equivalent of a 250/400W bulb that would be used in a dresser grow? Would love to go the CMD/CMH route. I've been reading as much as I can but 300+ pages with years of history is a lot to dig through!

Also with that, what ballast would I need?

Much appreciated!
CLP

The standard Philips 315w CDM ballast will also run a 210w CDM lamp with the change of an internal switch. The 210w isn't as popular, and I don't think that they are offering it in an Agro version, but it might suit your growing space better. I haven't pursued it at all, so I don't know what lamp variants are available.

 

[redclover]

You can still find 250w and 400w bulbs. Also, the CDM naming convention applies to any Ceramic Metal Halide bulb, hence the model # for the (250) Retro: CDM250S50/HOR/4K/ALTO

This bulb is for horizontal use only. To use it, all you need is an open reflector designed for 250 or similar, and a 250w magnetic HPS ballast(in good condition).

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-146498-CDM250S50-Metal-Halide/dp/B002CYUEXA

There is a lot of reading in those pages, takes a while to go through it all.

Pending on your temps...led.

 

[Drek]

Retro Arc.

 

[spiralsmurf]

in case anybody is looking for a philips ballast, i found these on sale on ebay right now http://www.ebay.com/itm/301200780309

I messaged the seller and they said there are a few available and they'll be posting sockets too.

 

[rüdiger]

rüdiger - what's the model of these luminaries? looks interesting!

the oem plastik said 'Magneos'!
I found many models on philips homepage, different wattages.

The reflector is too small to distribute the light even, i try them just to see how my plants react and smoke.

when they do it, i build another fixture with gavita reflector for themor prepare a 315w in single parts myself...

but i dont pay 500€ for a light. they are crazy. single parts is much cheaper.

rüdiger

 

[RikkiTikkiTavi]

what do the spectally wise think about the sunmaster full nova spectrum compared to the philips cdms?

http://www.sunmastergrowlamps.com/SunmasterSpecSheets/80490.pdf

(blew a bulb so peeking at the spectrum of the bulbs the shop down the block has for a quick replacement tomorrow)

 

[rives]

I don't know that I qualify as being "sprectrally wise", but that SPD chart looks really flat from about 425nm to 625nm other than around 530nm which isn't a sweet spot for the plants. The CDM lamps have substantial peaks around 450nm and 620-650nm with the Agro having another one at around 680nm, all of which are right where you want them.

315w Agro -

315w 930 -

 

[RikkiTikkiTavi]

thanks rives.

 

[nr nodes]

what do the spectally wise think about the sunmaster full nova spectrum compared to the philips cdms?

http://www.sunmastergrowlamps.com/SunmasterSpecSheets/80490.pdf

(blew a bulb so peeking at the spectrum of the bulbs the shop down the block has for a quick replacement tomorrow)

This lamp is based on the Venture 775 I posted. They configured the Sunmaster line for typical hydro-market wattages, and supposedly made a slight wireframe upgrade due to prevalence of e-ballasts.

The flat/broad SPD of these lamps mimics direct overhead sunlight, with some additional power from ~400-450nm. The CDM lamps offer that additional kick above 650nm, which facilitates the higher flowering performance (and yields) than other metal halides.

My veg test plants love the 775, and I'm using it to light a 5x7 area.

 

[nr nodes]

Green light is important too:

 

[Dr.Nonagon]

I was thinking about trying out a CMH in vertical in my micro cab. 250w I think would be the max I could use, it only seems a bit hotter then the 150W
However I noticed this on the Phillips data sheets regarding the failure rates of the 250w

Is this the wrong bulb to use? 50% failure at 8000 hours seems pretty bad. That's like 400 days at 20h a day.

Is there any reason to use the 830 over the 942?

 

[rives]

I was thinking about trying out a CMH in vertical in my micro cab. 250w I think would be the max I could use, it only seems a bit hotter then the 150W
However I noticed this on the Phillips data sheets regarding the failure rates of the 250w

Is this the wrong bulb to use? 50% failure at 8000 hours seems pretty bad. That's like 400 days at 20h a day.

Is there any reason to use the 830 over the 942?

View Image

Look into the 210/315w CDM Elite lamps. There is an internal switch in the ballast that allows you to choose between the power settings, and they can be dimmed. They also have a MUCH longer life.

I can't help you with the 830 question, I'm not familiar with them. In the other lamps, the 930 is more of a flowering spectrum and the 942 leans toward the vegging side.

 

[SB7]

Well that 'splains' your hole problum, Rives... if u'd bean runin' HPS, then you woodn't kneed to veg at all.. as everyone knows its the ownly bulb that wukrs fer growin' dope.
MH CMH it's all triple veg time BS, anyway .. Hu de hell wood want two 'speriment wid nu stuf anyways ? jk.

 

[rives]

Well that 'splains' your hole problum, Rives... if u'd bean runin' HPS, then you woodn't kneed to veg at all.. as everyone knows its the ownly bulb that wukrs fer growin' dope.
MH CMH it's all triple veg time BS, anyway .. Hu de hell wood want two 'speriment wid nu stuf anyways ? jk.

 

[cannaisok]

Have seen 210/930 in action, t9 and t12, want to say that the t9 is indeed a LITTLE brighter, but safety is more important for bare bulb, but i would not buy a t12 for a closed fixture, thats clear. I saw its bright light and very happy plants under it but can anybody tell me how deep is this light powerful enough for big nugs!? is it more like hps or more like HOt5? How many inch away could you put the platz away using vertical barebulb!? peace cannaisok

 

[jorgeblen]

D-papillon has new 630w version, it is actually a two lamp system, facing each other in one quite small reflector, and one single ballast (dimmable). Looks very nice, anybody had a chance to see it too?

 

[Jhhnn]

Thought I should post about my ongoing deal acquiring six 330 cdm's from Ebay, posted earlier. After the USPS hammered the first batch, the guy reshipped to make up the difference, but he shipped three 860's by mistake. I offered to pay for 'em, too, but he came back with another apology, told me to keep 'em & has re-re-shipped three 330's.

He's a Prince & will receive excellent feedback when this all finishes up. Making it right when things go bad is a lot harder than when it goes well from the start.

I test fired the 860's last night. Dunno how it relates to PAR value, but they are extremely bright in terms of what the eye sees, that same sort of golden sunshine as the 330's. I barely glanced at the pigeon egg sized ceramic element, had a white spot in my vision for at least 10 minutes or so. With free $100 lamps, I may have to buy a vert hood for my scheduled rework.

My autoflowers for seed project isn't quite what I'd hoped. The 330 worked well in veg, I think, but the promix ultimate seed starter mix sux- there's very little nutrition in it. I'll go back to light warrior next time. Then I up-potted to recycled soil that I made too hot, got clawing & some tip burn, flushed 'em rather thoroughly. They're under the dual arc now. Yield won't be very good, but I don't really need it, anyway. I'll pick the best male in a few days, segregate him to delay pollination. I'll have f1's of Spyder & (Ultraviolet X Spyder) for the future.