Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[Poker_Toker]

Pardon me for poking my nose into a question I wasn't asked. I have a 4" Elicent which is quiter than the 6" Vortex. From a "stealth" standpoint, I would call it DANGEROUSLY loud. If you can put the fan in the attic or behind locked doors, the noise can be controlled with speed controllers, mufflers and sound isolation boxes. If people are allowed into the room where the fan lives, you'll need something to take the rap for the noise. Such as several large aquariums or a rack full of computer servers.

I ordered a speedster speed control to go along with the fan, i plan on running it at 1/2 speed to reduce noise. I also plan on using straight pipes for exhaust, not those expandible ones that "whoosh".

the cab will be in me and my gf's bedroom and i want it to run from 8pm to 8am and be off during the day in case of a snoopy landlord. We sleep with a fan on at night and have done so for 3 years so that is enough id say to cover up the noise. My rent is including hydro and i am planning on running a small veg/clone/mother cab with a 175mh on 18/6 and a 400w cmh on 12/12.

I did the math and a 400w setup should be about 9 bucks a month at 12/12 at 5.3c per kwh, are you guys running that cheap? i think i am worring for nothing

 

[Guest]

Wow, I have finally finished reading this WHOLE thread. I took notes on what I felt was important. Amazing information. I recommend anyone that has skipped all previous pages to read it.

Thanks Simba and all others doing a test grow. I plan on getting a 400W CMH with an HPS ballast soon. I am building the other aspects of a grow at the moment. I can't wait to try this out.


CLIFF NOTES UP TO THIS PAGE:

CMH lights actually do work better than traditional HIDs, namely HPS.

 

[FreezerBoy]

i want it to run from 8pm to 8am and be off during the day in case of a snoopy landlord.

I don't have an answer here, I'm asking the question. Can plants go 12 hours without air exchange? Are they in danger of poisoning themselves?

 

[Guest]

The risk with leaving the fan off for 12hrs is mold/mildew/fungus. Stagnant air and a rise in humidity due to the fan not running can facilitate those probs at the least.

 

[Guest]

Any new pics using these lights?

 

[hurricane]

@vbp6us

Heres a few ladies growing under the CMH 400. I took a year off from growing, and when I came back people were talkin about this lamp so i'm using it This picture is the current ladies at day 10 of flower, with 1 week of veg(half of that just adjusting to the room).

I have to say my favorite part about this light is i put 4x27W "daylight" CFL bulbs in my bedroom, they are almost the same color as the CMH. If i turn those on, then open the closet i dont get this crazy different colored light streaming out the window. With HPS it always looked like a streetlamp in my window while i was working, now it looks just looks normal.

Hurricane

 

[Military]

Azeotrope- ... SOOO ok Azeo... Heres a quick question, I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE HOW ARE IN MY SAME SHOES

All mentioned below is already purchased and on hand..


I got a

400watt HPS
AND
400watt MH conversion

2 bulbs, 1 ballast.

I was/will be doing a light cycle as such..

Ill be using BOTH lights throughout the life of my ladies. BUT not at the same time

I was going to have either or.. ONE light plugged in for a week, then swap it with the other the next week, and so on and so forth. So every week all way till harvest the plant would be getting a different light, SO atleast SEMI cover the entire light scale that the plant needs...

SO, that just my lighting nothing more needs to be said just so we keep this simple..

SHOULD I ????

A- Sell my bulbs and just but a 400watt CMH bulb?

B- Keep my equipment that I currently have(mentioned above)?

C- Keep my equipment that I currently have(mentioned above) for a while,
then maybe after a grow or 2 but myself a CMH for Comparing?

(might be leaning a little more toward C, BUT tell me what "YOU" think, Or anyone else at that matter)


I've read in many places, but many PRO's saying that the MH is best for vegging, BECAUSE of its blue scale, and that the plant likes/needs the blue scale more so during vegging..
Then in flowering the plant likes/needs the HPS bulb more because of its red scale.


SO the above statement is what confuses me.. I know that even if you combine both the HPS and MH that the light scale of the mix still doesn't compare to the CMH bulb. So, was this bulb simply invented to offer a best of both worlds of the 2 bulb types that is cheaper SINGLY then the 2 HPS and MH bulbs combined..


Thanks, really interested what you think and others think. This could be a huge help to the HPS, MH, and CMH war

 

[Guest]

Military -

Keep the ballast and order/obtain a CMH (remember that they are position specific) and you will be set. No need to switch bulbs. The full spectrum is the closest match to the sun and discussions in regards to more blue for veg and more red for flower are crazy. Crazy because the plants use all of the spectrum all of the time for many things including but not limitted to: hormone production, resin production, root growth, stem slongation and girth, Photosynthesis.........

Best regards,

Azeotrope

 

[Loudcall]

Military -

Keep the ballast and order/obtain a CMH (remember that they are position specific) and you will be set. No need to switch bulbs. The full spectrum is the closest match to the sun and discussions in regards to more blue for veg and more red for flower are crazy. Crazy because the plants use all of the spectrum all of the time for many things including but not limitted to: hormone production, resin production, root growth, stem slongation and girth, Photosynthesis.........

Best regards,

Azeotrope

Right on man, I was sold on buying one(400watt) and I simply love it....You dont need a street lamp to make great bud!!!!

 

[MPL]

I never ever for one second thought this thread would be this long, nor even still be on the front page.

 

[FreezerBoy]

NOT A SCIENTIFIC COMPARISON

Different chambers, different wattages. 150 HPS vs 250 CMH. Each plant is 18 days old (how convieniant) While the camera angle isn't exact, it's close. Note the red verticals indicating that both 5" net pots are "visually" the same size. Note the HPS is in a warmer area, never suffering the 50-60 degree nite temps the CMH gets in the garage.

HPS is much taller but, thin and scraggly. CMH is shorter and thus more dense. Both have equal numbers of internodes.

While the CMH has more red than HPS, it also has more blue than a MH. It appears the CMH plant is choosing to ignore the red at the moment, a choice the HPS plant can't make.



So far, I'm very happy with the switch to CMH.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Military -

Keep the ballast and order/obtain a CMH (remember that they are position specific) and you will be set.

I know squat about switchable ballasts. Are they Digital? Cause, that's a no no with CMH. Isn't it?

 

[FreezerBoy]

I never ever for one second thought this thread would be this long, nor even still be on the front page.

For what it's worth, this thread and the original NGB cab ROCKED my growing world. Thanks for starting the thread.

 

[MPL]

Thanks.

The NGB thread did the same to me, and this thread obviously did as well because I now am using a 400w CMH.

I'm glad I started it because I strongly believe in sharing knowledge. It helps everybody in the end.

For what it's worth, this thread and the original NGB cab ROCKED my growing world. Thanks for starting the thread.

 

[ixnay007]

I got a 400 watt CMH a few eeks ago (I run a 250 setup) for a friend, he's finally had a chance to try it out, but we've had a few problems..

1. Getting the bulb to screw in properly, we're in europe, so it's probably a question of E39 base E40 socket, but were not going to damage the bulb screwing it in tightly by hand, right?

2. We've been able to get it to fire once, probably due to the fact that it's really hard to get the bulb all the way into the socket, but since that, no luck, is it possible that it is now nonfunctional? It (now) sounds like there's a little bit of broken glass rattling around inside it, but it wasn't there before we got it to fire up..

Any sort of experience with things like this?

 

[simba]

ix,

actually this recommendation is for all worldwide any Lamp..
It will Prevent this issue..
(youll feel when it gets to tight) and when you go to unscrew it will SLide out Smother than ever

Get some Dielectric Grease AKA spark Plug boot protector grease..
Rub it on the Base (screw part ONLY)
if you get any on the glass get it completely off using a grease cutter..

 

[ixnay007]

Dielectric grease..

Ok then

Off to the auto parts store this evening.

 

[Military]

fabulous Ya Thanks guys Now I just gota sell my MH conversion bulb and HPS bulb and one of my Cool Tubes
Well thats $110 back for me

and only gota spend about what.. $60 for the CMH O ya Saved me $50

THANKS GUYS!!!

Blah hope it fits in my tube :-S



EDIT>>> Also one more thing, If im not mistaken i think i read somewhere on this thread the the CMH is cooler then the MH also? This true?


2Edit>>> Dam it.. After looking at eBay, theres no way I could compete with those people... People are selling 400watt HPS and MH bulbs for like $10...with $10shipping.. Wtf assholes lol Fuck that then Ill just keep my MH and HPS bulbs.. let them get dusty i guess Theres goes a wasted $30 and $35

God fucking people on eBay piss me off so god dam much.. Sorry I gota vent I mean WTF IT DOESN'T COST $15!!! TO SHIP A LIGHT BULB THAT WEIGHTS... hold getting out scale....236.1grams thats almost 9oz OMFG ONLY like .9oz over 1/2pound!!! THATS WITH THE BOX!!

FUCKING PENNY GRUBBING ASSHOLES THAT WILL COST ABOUT $5 IF THAT UPS GROUND SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD FUCKING PISSES ME OFF!!!

When i sell shit on eBay my Shipping is ecalculated to the buyers shipping address using UPS So i don't fucking add anything ridiculous onto my shipping charge!! MOTHER FUCKERS!!

Ok.. im done venting now

 

[Microwido]

Yes the CMH is cooler. I currently have 2 400w cmh's a a reflector with no active cooling and it is doing fine, albeit it does get pretty hot. The Refelector top is hot to the touch, but will not burn.


On another note, Advancedtechlighting has sent me a replacement bulb, and they have top notch service.

Cheers to them for great service, thank you Tom!

Oh and all of the CMH bulbs have what sounds like something clinking around at the base, but you cant see anything in there. Nothing to worry about, part of the design, im guessing its metal on a flange that allows it to swing around and hit the internal base.

 

[nano]

ok, i just remembered that I had a 430W ballast. I know your not supposed to use different wattage ballast/bulb, but they dont have a 430CMH, could i still use a 400CMH on that particular ballast?