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Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

rives

rives

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Carlos Danger said:
Illumination can you clarify and explain on the lamps rattling apart?
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This is why many lamp manufacturers specifically recommend against electronic ballasts - the very high frequency of their output literally vibrates the lamps apart. The internal bracing of many lamps is inadequate for the stresses imposed on them by these ballasts, and the Philips 210/315w CDM lamps were specifically designed for use with low-frequency ballasts.
 
C

Carlos Danger

Rives, you're a beast of information! Then what are the options here when my couple old 400w cmhs fail? Switch to a digital balast CMH or switch to HPS if I want to stay on magnetic? If the DNA lights were designed to address a gap in the market, one would think they'd make them fit for the ballast they're designed for.
 
rives

rives

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Carlos, I haven't pursued it that closely, but I thought that Philips was continuing to make available the 330w Allstart line, which makes use of magnetic 400w HPS ballasts. Personally, while I hadn't been impressed with digital ballasts for a long list of reasons, I've been very happy with my Philips 315w ballasts/lamps. I've used most forms of lighting over the years, and am grudgingly coming to the conclusion that this is the most efficient combination that I've used.
 
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Carlos Danger

All this talk of bulbs has me rethinking whether I should give vert bulbs a go, but that's another discussion.

If I'm following correctly, rives et al, prefer the newer Philips bulbs to the retrowhites? I was wondering if I should grab a few of the old ones before they're gone, but if the newers are improved, I'll wait and do more research.
 
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Carlos Danger

One more question - rives mentioned the digital ballasts and DNA lights will rattle themselves apart. Will this noticeably reduce the lifespan of the bulb or are we unsure of exactly how much of an issue this is as the line is new?
 
rives

rives

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Carlos Danger said:
One more question - rives mentioned the digital ballasts and DNA lights will rattle themselves apart. Will this noticeably reduce the lifespan of the bulb or are we unsure of exactly how much of an issue this is as the line is new?
Click to expand...

I didn't say that the DNA lights would have this problem - I was explaining what Illumination had referred to. The DNA/GEL ballasts are supposed to give much longer lamp life. Historically, this has been a problem with some lamps and some lamp manufacturers have recommended against using digital ballasts for this reason. Theoretically, DNA/GEL have figured out a technique that allows them to run high frequency without the destructive effects, but I don't know that that there is enough history on them at this point to judge and there is apparently some evidence of premature failures. One thing that we do know is that the 315w Philips lamps were designed to be run with the Philips ballast, which is relatively low frequency.
 
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Carlos Danger

Thanks for the clarification! Sorry for inadvertently putting words in your mouth. All good to know.
 
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Illumination

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rives said:
I didn't say that the DNA lights would have this problem - I was explaining what Illumination had referred to. The DNA/GEL ballasts are supposed to give much longer lamp life. Historically, this has been a problem with some lamps and some lamp manufacturers have recommended against using digital ballasts for this reason. Theoretically, DNA/GEL have figured out a technique that allows them to run high frequency without the destructive effects, but I don't know that that there is enough history on them at this point to judge and there is apparently some evidence of premature failures. One thing that we do know is that the 315w Philips lamps were designed to be run with the Philips ballast, which is relatively low frequency.
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I have heard from soild business contacts that Philips was issuing a product warranty invalidation if used on their ballasts so Philips gave them a list of what must change in theirs schemeatics operation as well as /certification..ULbeing one of hem of course...wow hope they have deep pockets...I woud runs the philips prsonally so I halotsa lamp stock ahead ballast with 8 years warrant left and more than that i lamp stock
 
whazzup

whazzup

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Illumination said:
DNA CLAIMS High Frequency design means low harmonic distortion
But truly it rattles the lamps apart.
300 http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...df+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
900 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:rBM79CDTO_QJ:ww
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DNA claims a lot of thing which they try to prove with totally inadequate testing methods (umols measured at a certain distance from the lamp for example, totally useless). We all know better than to use a low frequency lamp on a high frequency ballast.

Ask them to show their PPF and I'll show you mine ;)
 
D

drknockbootz

Member
Is there an american supplier for the papillon 315w ? Every hydro shop that has it is overseas.

Do you guys think I should stay away from dna dual 315w? Im having a tough time finding a reasonably prices 315w cmh in the states.
 
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