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dbkick
Member
Any LFSW ballast will run this lamp.
I've been running the allstart 860 on a hortilux platinum for a month now with great results. This prompted me to find more LFSW ballasts but hortilux platinums are rare used and very pricey new then I came to the Baddass ballast from AN , I think it runs the 860 even better than the platinum and also has a dimming feature I intend to try out. Much cheaper than platinum too (although discontinued) you can see them on amazon for under 4 bills .
I'm sure you're probably right.
860's were, however, specifically designed to work on 1000w commercial MH core & coil mag ballasts, either probe or pulse start. Such ballasts have a sine wave output. Philips developed them & markets them as an energy efficient screw in replacement for 1000w MH lamps.
dbkick
Member
http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmea860.htm
The CDM860 was especially designed for 50/60hz sine wave
In English CMH prefers a 50,60hz Standard Magnetic Core
or electronic ANSI RATED <174hz utilizing a low frequency square wave (LFSW) (which does not exist)
and NOT for High Frequency Ballasts (these Literally Rattle the lamps apart)
This type of ballast exists now and seeing it first hand on core and coil and then on LFSW digital , make mine LFSW digital.
I would suspect a bad capacitor in his ballast, or an out-of-calibration meter.
dbkick
Member
I believe he ran 16 1kw core and coil and probably tested a few so......
I'll get his take on it. He may even show up, never know. I'm sure stranger shit has happened.
Probably so due to electrical inefficiency. Using a 1000w conventional lamp my system pulled 1140w at the wall & right at 1000 with an 860. The ballasts were right with a power factor of .97. Wall power is always higher than lamp power.
KingSkillz
Member
Anyone have a link for a decent cmh ballast bulb setup?
dbkick
Member
Allstart 860 on a AN baddass or hortilux platinum ballast. , Both ballasts have been discontinued but look for one from revolution micro soon.
Also watch for upcoming gear from hortilux white hps and DE.
dbkick
Member
Vert only on the allstart 860 so that means a nice SS Luxor hood or possibly an og or maybe you run bare. But vert and low freq and in a digital any low freq ballast is going to be square wave. I intend to use these ballasts in combination with other lamps including DE MH.
This Hortilux white hps really has my interest though and as of right now I can't find shit for info on it.......sorry, off topic again.
This Hortilux white hps really has my interest though and as of right now I can't find shit for info on it.......sorry, off topic again.
KingSkillz
Member
I'm seeing all different prices and setups. What's a more affordable option?
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
Hey guys,
I could really use some help here -_-
Trying to get the Philips 315w cdm here in Europe and keep coming up empty.
I located the PGZX18 bulbs which I would like to run with an open reflector. But I can't for the life of me locate a supplier for the fitting ballasts. All my ballast searches end up in 250w modules...
After a lot of searching I ended up looking into complete fixtures.
Sun System et al seem unavailable in Europe and shipping them from the US makes no sense (at shipping prices of over 200 bucks excluding import duty).
One of the complete fixtures available in Europe seems to be in the UK via the company "Maxibright". But they seem rather low-end quality wise from what my research tells me and would cost between 400 and 500 bucks still which is a premium price at which I would expect nothing but the very best which Maxibright doesn't seem to be.
Am a bit stuck now... The best deal for a complete fixture actually seems to be the D-Papillon 315w Luminare, Philips CDM-TP which I can get for 500 bucks all in.
Could also get a 1000w E-Papillon double-ended for the same price.
It was my understanding that the PGZ18 and PGZX18 bulbs from Philips are superior to the D- and E-Papillon though?
A Dimlux Expert 315w fixture would also be available for about the same price.
When I started to do research I was hoping to DIY a 315w fixture at about 300-400 bucks per fixture but coming up short on the ballasts, I don't even have to start looking for the sockets/connectors and hoods...
Any help would be appreciated, I am really drawing blanks here in Europe and am currently favoring the 500 bucks D-Papillon fixture which was not my favorite whatsoever when I started looking into things.
Cheers!
I could really use some help here -_-
Trying to get the Philips 315w cdm here in Europe and keep coming up empty.
I located the PGZX18 bulbs which I would like to run with an open reflector. But I can't for the life of me locate a supplier for the fitting ballasts. All my ballast searches end up in 250w modules...
After a lot of searching I ended up looking into complete fixtures.
Sun System et al seem unavailable in Europe and shipping them from the US makes no sense (at shipping prices of over 200 bucks excluding import duty).
One of the complete fixtures available in Europe seems to be in the UK via the company "Maxibright". But they seem rather low-end quality wise from what my research tells me and would cost between 400 and 500 bucks still which is a premium price at which I would expect nothing but the very best which Maxibright doesn't seem to be.
Am a bit stuck now... The best deal for a complete fixture actually seems to be the D-Papillon 315w Luminare, Philips CDM-TP which I can get for 500 bucks all in.
Could also get a 1000w E-Papillon double-ended for the same price.
It was my understanding that the PGZ18 and PGZX18 bulbs from Philips are superior to the D- and E-Papillon though?
A Dimlux Expert 315w fixture would also be available for about the same price.
When I started to do research I was hoping to DIY a 315w fixture at about 300-400 bucks per fixture but coming up short on the ballasts, I don't even have to start looking for the sockets/connectors and hoods...
Any help would be appreciated, I am really drawing blanks here in Europe and am currently favoring the 500 bucks D-Papillon fixture which was not my favorite whatsoever when I started looking into things.
Cheers!
dbkick
Member
A lamp that claims to be superior to the philips lamp would be the solis tek 315. Hydrofarm phantom cmh are cheap here anyway at 170 US dollars. I've done just what you're looking to do with a SS luxor and an OG hood, both being vertical positioning of the lamp.
I know the 315s are universal positioning but I've read that there's a +500 kelvin shift in spectrum running horizontal .
Well, a quick search turned up this one. You should probably be able to go to any electrical supply house (for electricians, not growers) and order one. The availability used to be much more widespread in Europe than in the U.S. because the 315's were introduced there, but I have no idea what the current availability is.
http://www.lampshoponline.com/philips-hid-pv-315-s-cdm/
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
Thanks db and Rives!
Jeez, Rives, I actually had that ballast picked out already but one of the websites had stated that it was only for 250w bulbs.
Got so confused...
Your confirmation that this ballast fits is worth gold, thanks mate!
I found the same ballast at another place for 175 bucks.
Believe the cheapest price for the PGZX18 bulbs I saw was somewhere around 130 bucks so bulb+ballast around 300 bucks.
The socket should be cheap (I assume <15 bucks).
I have 2 reflectors available.
An old hammer reflector (your absolute average standard reflector from every cheap lighting kit) and an azerwing/adjustawing reflector. Large version. Just missing the cords to adjust the wing size but I am sure I can fix that.
Will either try to make them work (I believe there was a DIY reflector tutorial somewhere in this or the cdm threat?) or try and source a reflector for 100 bucks.
@400 bucks a fixture I can afford to get 2 of them and will just run a 400 or 600 watt mh in veg (I hope my 15 year old magnetic ballast in storage will work with a MH
).
If I have a thinking error or am forgetting something please let me know. Otherwise thanks a million, I felt so lost in this forest
Jeez, Rives, I actually had that ballast picked out already but one of the websites had stated that it was only for 250w bulbs.
Got so confused...
Your confirmation that this ballast fits is worth gold, thanks mate!
I found the same ballast at another place for 175 bucks.
Believe the cheapest price for the PGZX18 bulbs I saw was somewhere around 130 bucks so bulb+ballast around 300 bucks.
The socket should be cheap (I assume <15 bucks).
I have 2 reflectors available.
An old hammer reflector (your absolute average standard reflector from every cheap lighting kit) and an azerwing/adjustawing reflector. Large version. Just missing the cords to adjust the wing size but I am sure I can fix that.
Will either try to make them work (I believe there was a DIY reflector tutorial somewhere in this or the cdm threat?) or try and source a reflector for 100 bucks.
@400 bucks a fixture I can afford to get 2 of them and will just run a 400 or 600 watt mh in veg (I hope my 15 year old magnetic ballast in storage will work with a MH
).If I have a thinking error or am forgetting something please let me know. Otherwise thanks a million, I felt so lost in this forest
Swapping out the lamp socket on an existing reflector should be very simple if you are at all handy with tools. The mounting pattern for the PGZ18 is slightly narrower than for mogul sockets, but the holes can easily be slotted with a small file. The wiring is simple since there are only two of them and the sockets usually come with high-temperature pigtails already installed. You might want to put a spacer between the socket and the mounting plate if the reflector was made for a larger lamp - the light distribution is usually better if the lamp center aligns fairly closely with the reflector center.
I think that the 315s would veg every bit as well as 4-600w MH if you use the same area for both, and you wouldn't need to swap anything out midway.
I think that the 315s would veg every bit as well as 4-600w MH if you use the same area for both, and you wouldn't need to swap anything out midway.
Very good info for European growers. Just having the part # for the euro version is a huge step in the right direction.
Socket adapters are also available for the DIY challenged-
http://lighting.mitronix.com/item/all-categories-adapters/all-categories-adapters-adapters/k513b
Oddly enough I discovered the pic of my DIY twin 315 reflector when I googled images of "pgz mogul adapter"-
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=299165&page=76
Should I be flattered?
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
Yes you should, means you made headway and shared your results with others.
More of you and less of other jokesters and we are going in the right direction
Thanks folks, Jhhnn is right too, just having the part number in EU is a huge step forward.
Currently a bit swamped with stuff but in the coming week or two I will have a closer looksy and try to finalize my lighting plants and bring them to fruition.
@rives
I am not sure if my budget will allow for 3 315w fixtures. I would like that to be sure, also for the reason you stated: uniformity in the grow room.
Would much rather have 3 315w fixtures that are the same and where I can swap out parts easily or keep backups and use them for either fixture than having a 400 or 600w MH mixed in there on a magnetic ballast.
But the budget man ....
But I think I will just up the light budget to 1-1.5k and then 3 315w fixtures should be feasible.
Will have a closer look and might come back to pester you guys for more advice later
For now thank you all so much!
More of you and less of other jokesters and we are going in the right direction
Thanks folks, Jhhnn is right too, just having the part number in EU is a huge step forward.
Currently a bit swamped with stuff but in the coming week or two I will have a closer looksy and try to finalize my lighting plants and bring them to fruition.
@rives
I am not sure if my budget will allow for 3 315w fixtures. I would like that to be sure, also for the reason you stated: uniformity in the grow room.
Would much rather have 3 315w fixtures that are the same and where I can swap out parts easily or keep backups and use them for either fixture than having a 400 or 600w MH mixed in there on a magnetic ballast.
But the budget man ....
But I think I will just up the light budget to 1-1.5k and then 3 315w fixtures should be feasible.
Will have a closer look and might come back to pester you guys for more advice later
For now thank you all so much!
