Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[HempAlchemist]

wow amazing read! hat goes off to all that contribute!
sad to hear that there will not be any 400w< lamps but overall im sold
looking to replace a 250w HPS in a DIY cooltube-like reflecor.
if i was to run just the CMH:
1. approx how close to canopy should i have lamp
2. i remember reading somewhere simba was talking about a new version coming out that would push out more lumens, did this ever happen?
3. seems like the color temp i should be looking for is the 4k, is that correct?
4. i live in an area with old wiring and often see power fluctuation. this doesnt seem to hurt my HPS lamp, but does cause a noticeable shift in light output. this last only a fraction of a second but i see it happen a few times a week. will this cause a misfire for a CHM?

thnx for any help, really interested in these lamps but need to be safe at the same time

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Philips has both a 250watt and a 400watt CMH. Both use magnetic HPS ballast.
It is the 600 and 1000 that are reportedly not being built.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

wow amazing read! hat goes off to all that contribute!
sad to hear that there will not be any 400w< lamps but overall im sold
looking to replace a 250w HPS in a DIY cooltube-like reflecor.
if i was to run just the CMH:
1. approx how close to canopy should i have lamp

I hate to be vague, but, a lot of it is how one's grow is setup. Ventilation plays a big role, as in, the better you can keep the radiant heat away from the canopy, the closer you can keep the light. I have a couple of batwing style relfectors and optimum distance is from 7-9 inches. For somebody else, maybe 5.

2. i remember reading somewhere simba was talking about a new version coming out that would push out more lumens, did this ever happen?

I haven't really kept up with it, but, my best guess, is no. The lamp was designed as a brighter light for those large commercial buildings could retro fit their existing reddish-yellow HPS lights for brighter blue white of a MH light. And major change in the commercial sector is slow.

3. seems like the color temp i should be looking for is the 4k, is that correct?

Yes! It has the best overall spectrum.

4. i live in an area with old wiring and often see power fluctuation. this doesnt seem to hurt my HPS lamp, but does cause a noticeable shift in light output. this last only a fraction of a second but i see it happen a few times a week. will this cause a misfire for a CHM?

thnx for any help, really interested in these lamps but need to be safe at the same time

I'm not an electrician, but, (lol the vagueness again) it might. in the hotter months when a lot of power is used, I've noticed that when the A/C powers on that the lights wink off and on and has caused enough of a power drop to cycle the lamp itself off...at times. Then it takes a cool down for the lamp to ignite again. It wouldn't hurt to try and dedicate as much of a 15 amp circuit as you can to just your grow.

 

[schwagg]

Philips has both a 250watt and a 400watt CMH. Both use magnetic HPS ballast.
It is the 600 and 1000 that are reportedly not being built.

i'd love to see a 600! in my dreams till then i guess.

 

[HempAlchemist]

messn- thanks for the replay, yea know i didint give any real details on my grow setup so lamp distance will very. guess i was really looking for a minimum distance; like any closer to the plants and they will get light-bleached. currently my 250w HPS is about a hand distance from the tops with a few being closer/farther. as for my circuit, i have my grow on a 25amp circuit (the house is old and from what i was told that use to be the standard?) which is only being shared with my computer, my reptile tank (great excuse for buying grow equip!), and a few house lights. this totals approx. 10amps out of my 25amp. this should be more than enough i think, but i'm not formally train electrician. was reading about a hot-restart switch/circuit (not sure what it was called) does anyone have a diy for one of those?

 

[onehitjake]

Besides vertical and horizontal fitting are these lights the same type of CMH?

http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400...R-4K-ALTO.aspx

http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400...O-4K-ALTO.aspx

I'm getting a S51 ballast to handle it and was wondering if I should get the vert or hori?(the fixture i have is for horizontal)

Thanks in advance!

I noticed something recently about the vertical position bulbs I ordered from there. The packaging is listed as vertical orientation, however the bulb itself is labeled twice. Read one side and it says vertical, flip it over and it reads horizontal.

Perhaps they started manufacturing and labeling them the same at some point? This ought to wash away any fears of orientation I suppose.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I have contended, without proof, that they are indeed the same lamp.
After reading the patent for them that Philips holds, I am almost certain of it.

 

[DIAMOND MOFO]

late to the party here. i read on the first page of this thread that one should use 6'-8' socket cables when using the mastercolor 400w. why is this? what would be the harm if I used a 20' cable or 15'? THANKS

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

The longer the cord from the ballast to the bulb the harder it is for the ignitor to strike the bulb.

 

[Guido Sarducci]

If you need 15'-20' then wire it up temporarily and give it a shot. If it doesn't work then shorten it a few feet and try again. Repeat until satisfaction.

I have 4 x 400w CMH sets with cheapo ballasts with about 20' of cable each and they all work just fine. But I used heavy gauge wire on mine...

 

[MPL]

Wow this thread is still going strong!

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

Wow this thread is still going strong!

Hellz yeah, CMH rocks!

 

[simba]

Different Lamps DONT use different orentian other than speced. (it does affect lamp life, output and SAFTEY
Sorry not been around Busy busy.
But someone pointed this out to me.(must make correction)

I have contended, without proof, that they are indeed the same lamp.
After reading the patent for them that Philips holds, I am almost certain of it.

 

[guanito]

hey Simba!

nice to see ya!

best regards

 

[MoleMcHenry]

Advanced Technology Solutions out of business?

Advanced Technology Solutions out of business?

Freezerboy here. There is no problem with ATS or their service. Hiccups happen. Mole, who now HAS his lamp, was simply impatient. That said, back to the thread...

I wanted to warn people about buying CMH bulbs from Advanced Technology Solutions. In the past, I've ordered CMHs from them without problems. They sent orders quickly and communicated well.

However, they've gone MIA on my most recent order. It took them 5 days to send a fedex tracking number and 5 days after that, the tracking page says the order *hasn't even been picked up by Fedex*. My calls and emails to them go unreturned.

As of right now, I suggest buying from other retailers and not Advanced Technology Solutions. I'll post an update when/if I hear from them.

 

[someotherguy]

I wanted to warn people about buying CMH bulbs from Advanced Technology Solutions. In the past, I've ordered CMHs from them without problems. They sent orders quickly and communicated well.

However, they've gone MIA on my most recent order. It took them 5 days to send a fedex tracking number and 5 days after that, the tracking page says the order *hasn't even been picked up by Fedex*. My calls and emails to them go unreturned.

As of right now, I suggest buying from other retailers and not Advanced Technology Solutions. I'll post an update when/if I hear from them.

i recently had a similar problem so i understand where
you're coming from.

all i can say is 'be patient', they are very busy right now
but they will make things right, guaranteed!

btw, if you look at any of the e-mails they've sent to
you you will find a phone number to call Tom directly,
just leave a message letting him know about your
problem with a return number and he WILL call you
back.

like i said, i had some problems in the beginning also
but they went way out of their way to make it right
so i have full confidence in them and would buy again
any time.

peace, and stay safe, SOG

 

[MoleMcHenry]

Hi, thanks for the reply sog.

The thing is, I did call Tom's number and leave a polite message. But I haven't heard back. Same with my emails.

I understand being out of stock, and in that case, they should announce it on their web site to help their potential customers make an informed decision. As it is, they have taken my money, won't return my communications, and haven't sent me my order (at least according to the fedex tracking page).

So I stand by my original suggestion to ICMag: Do not buy from Advanced Technology Solutions; buy from a company that treats its customers fairly.

 

[J R]

MH - I have ordered from ATS twice and have had exemplary shipping, service, and questions answered. Something is not right??

 

[someotherguy]

MH - I have ordered from ATS twice and have had exemplary shipping, service, and questions answered. Something is not right??

like i said above, in time they WILL make everything right.

peace, SOG

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I just ordered another 400 watt CMH bulb. It came as usual; in about 8-10 days.
This one didn't come pre-burned like my first one did in 2005....anyways...it works fine....

both of them do