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With mag ballasts, the input & output frequencies are the same & they're sinusoidal. The transformer just changes the voltage. Grower's electronic ballasts developed for HPS have sinusoidal high frequency output in the 100K range. Philips developed the 315 lamp & 100hz square wave electronic ballast as an entirely different specification, a new system. Other makers now offer lamps & ballasts conforming to that system.
CMH lamps were originally developed as high efficiency screw in replacements for commercial mag fixtures. Philips markets a whole line of CMH lamps for 250w, 400w & 1000w MH fixtures at 205w, 330w & 860w respectively. GE makes a CMH retrofit lamp for 400w HPS fixtures. None of them have the high efficiency of the 315 system.
growershouse has some double ended 945 watt CMH tubes that work with some digital ballasts (not all) designed for DE
I just got 2 of them and two more are on the way today.
Growers Choice dimable and with a Super Lumen setting as well.
The Super Lumen draws 715 watts
Thanks for the info every1.. Looks like I will have to start saving up for 3 of the 630 dual bulbs as I already do the hps/mh combo with my 600's.
Americangrower - Just to be clear. Some CMH bulbs will operate on a mag ballast. Most of those are meant as retrofits for HPS mag ballasts and some for pulse star mh mag ballasts.
The 'electronic' ballasts that most were using a few years back for hps and mh bulbs were extremely high frequency standard sign wave form output and are NOT to be used with CMH bulbs.
CMH Bulbs (and nearly all modern hid bulbs) do very well on current/recent tech digital ballasts that produce a square wave form output somewhere around 150-177hz. Some are better near 100hz. The newer start/ignition control with these ballasts will allow for longer bulb life. The digital ballasts are available in nearly every wattage.
The 'electronic' ballasts that most were using a few years back for hps and mh bulbs were extremely high frequency standard sign wave form output and are NOT to be used with CMH bulbs.
CMH Bulbs (and nearly all modern hid bulbs) do very well on current/recent tech digital ballasts that produce a square wave form output somewhere around 150-177hz. Some are better near 100hz. The newer start/ignition control with these ballasts will allow for longer bulb life. The digital ballasts are available in nearly every wattage.
led05
Chasing The Present
Re the Image -
The Max V Out of 4KV and U-Out 300V matches identically old Lumatek Electronic Ballasts -
Do old Lumateks run the CMH bulbs well, anyone?
Thanks
The issue with Lumateks and CMH was not the actual output in terms of kv pulse or output voltage. It is the wave form and frequency. The Lumatek put out a smooth/rounded wave form a an extremely high frequency. Like 2khZ or more.
The CMH Bulbs should be run on a square wave form between 100hz and 200hz. The ignition sequence with the CMH specific digital ballasts are significantly better.
The CMH Bulbs should be run on a square wave form between 100hz and 200hz. The ignition sequence with the CMH specific digital ballasts are significantly better.
The GE CMH bulbs are running on a 77 Hz squarewave digital ballast.
The spectrum is amazing as is the efficiency.
The Solis Tech MH bulbs are running on a 120 KHz sinewave digital ballast.
The spectrum is amazing as is the efficiency.
Matching the bulb and ballast seems to be key, more than which brand.
The spectrum is amazing as is the efficiency.
The Solis Tech MH bulbs are running on a 120 KHz sinewave digital ballast.
The spectrum is amazing as is the efficiency.
Matching the bulb and ballast seems to be key, more than which brand.
digging
Member
I have some questions with regards to CMH lighting I am hoping you guys can help answer please.
When would someone use a 315 watt CMH light compared to a 630 watt CMH light in vegg ?
Is the decision to use a 315 watt CMH over 630 watt CMH is based on the height you are vegging a plant out to ? If so at what height in vegg would you change over from 315 watt CMH over to a 630 watt CMH light ?
What real world foot print does a 315 watt CMH create in vegg, and what real world foot print does a 630 watt CMH light create ?
At what height would you keep a 315 watt CMH light above the plant canopy in vegg, and at what height would you keep a 630 watt CMH light above the canopy for vegg ?
From my readings people @hammerhead have expressed they are getting the same yield with a 630 watt CMH lighting as they did with a 1000 watt HPS. Recently there are 1000 watt de CMH lights being sold. When would someone start to use a 1000 watt de CMH light over a 630 watt CMH light ?
Does it come down to height of the plant one is growing ? If so at what height would someone replace their 630 watt CMH light with a 1000 watt CMH light ?
At what height over the canopy would be best for both a 630 watt CMH light as well as the new 1000 watt de CMH light ?
What is everyone's thoughts about the newly released 1000 watt de CMH light ? Is this new 1000 watt CMH light a game changer ?
How will this new 1000 watt de CMH light compete and compare to the gavita de 1000 watt lights ?
Please don't factor in cooling as I have the ability to cool to what ever is required. I am looking for the optimal specs in my above noted questions to get the most out of CMH lighting
Thanks in advance for everyone's help with answering my questions.
When would someone use a 315 watt CMH light compared to a 630 watt CMH light in vegg ?
Is the decision to use a 315 watt CMH over 630 watt CMH is based on the height you are vegging a plant out to ? If so at what height in vegg would you change over from 315 watt CMH over to a 630 watt CMH light ?
What real world foot print does a 315 watt CMH create in vegg, and what real world foot print does a 630 watt CMH light create ?
At what height would you keep a 315 watt CMH light above the plant canopy in vegg, and at what height would you keep a 630 watt CMH light above the canopy for vegg ?
From my readings people @hammerhead have expressed they are getting the same yield with a 630 watt CMH lighting as they did with a 1000 watt HPS. Recently there are 1000 watt de CMH lights being sold. When would someone start to use a 1000 watt de CMH light over a 630 watt CMH light ?
Does it come down to height of the plant one is growing ? If so at what height would someone replace their 630 watt CMH light with a 1000 watt CMH light ?
At what height over the canopy would be best for both a 630 watt CMH light as well as the new 1000 watt de CMH light ?
What is everyone's thoughts about the newly released 1000 watt de CMH light ? Is this new 1000 watt CMH light a game changer ?
How will this new 1000 watt de CMH light compete and compare to the gavita de 1000 watt lights ?
Please don't factor in cooling as I have the ability to cool to what ever is required. I am looking for the optimal specs in my above noted questions to get the most out of CMH lighting
Thanks in advance for everyone's help with answering my questions.
brown_thumb
Active member
Personally, I like redundancies. I would much rather have two separate 315w fixtures than a single 630w because if one fails, I still have one 315w light running until I can swap the failed fixture/lamp.
I'm running 2 - 630s, and my son is running 2 also We love the hell out of them. I have one of mine dialed down to 490 watts over the smaller plants for now. They cover a 4x4 tray no problem, and seem to be doing a better job then our 1000 watt sodiums, and Halides did. My son is still running a couple sodiums also, but will likely replace those with CMH later. Major energy savings, less heat, and the plants seem healthier too
digging
Member
I have some questions with regards to CMH lighting I am hoping you guys can help answer please.
When would someone use a 315 watt CMH light compared to a 630 watt CMH light in vegg ?
Is the decision to use a 315 watt CMH over 630 watt CMH is based on the height you are vegging a plant out to ? If so at what height in vegg would you change over from 315 watt CMH over to a 630 watt CMH light ?
What real world foot print does a 315 watt CMH create in vegg, and what real world foot print does a 630 watt CMH light create ?
At what height would you keep a 315 watt CMH light above the plant canopy in vegg, and at what height would you keep a 630 watt CMH light above the canopy for vegg ?
From my readings people @hammerhead have expressed they are getting the same yield with a 630 watt CMH lighting as they did with a 1000 watt HPS. Recently there are 1000 watt de CMH lights being sold. When would someone start to use a 1000 watt de CMH light over a 630 watt CMH light ?
Does it come down to height of the plant one is growing ? If so at what height would someone replace their 630 watt CMH light with a 1000 watt CMH light ?
At what height over the canopy would be best for both a 630 watt CMH light as well as the new 1000 watt de CMH light ?
What is everyone's thoughts about the newly released 1000 watt de CMH light ? Is this new 1000 watt CMH light a game changer ?
How will this new 1000 watt de CMH light compete and compare to the gavita de 1000 watt lights ?
Please don't factor in cooling as I have the ability to cool to what ever is required. I am looking for the optimal specs in my above noted questions to get the most out of CMH lighting
Thanks in advance for everyone's help with answering my questions.
When would someone use a 315 watt CMH light compared to a 630 watt CMH light in vegg ?
Is the decision to use a 315 watt CMH over 630 watt CMH is based on the height you are vegging a plant out to ? If so at what height in vegg would you change over from 315 watt CMH over to a 630 watt CMH light ?
What real world foot print does a 315 watt CMH create in vegg, and what real world foot print does a 630 watt CMH light create ?
At what height would you keep a 315 watt CMH light above the plant canopy in vegg, and at what height would you keep a 630 watt CMH light above the canopy for vegg ?
From my readings people @hammerhead have expressed they are getting the same yield with a 630 watt CMH lighting as they did with a 1000 watt HPS. Recently there are 1000 watt de CMH lights being sold. When would someone start to use a 1000 watt de CMH light over a 630 watt CMH light ?
Does it come down to height of the plant one is growing ? If so at what height would someone replace their 630 watt CMH light with a 1000 watt CMH light ?
At what height over the canopy would be best for both a 630 watt CMH light as well as the new 1000 watt de CMH light ?
What is everyone's thoughts about the newly released 1000 watt de CMH light ? Is this new 1000 watt CMH light a game changer ?
How will this new 1000 watt de CMH light compete and compare to the gavita de 1000 watt lights ?
Please don't factor in cooling as I have the ability to cool to what ever is required. I am looking for the optimal specs in my above noted questions to get the most out of CMH lighting
Thanks in advance for everyone's help with answering my questions.
I know Hammerhead personally. You can believe what he says , except for any crap he talks about me . PM him and ask him directly. He will be glad to answer all your questions. He has lots of free time, and enjoys fielding any question.
. PM him and ask him directly. He will be glad to answer all your questions. He has lots of free time, and enjoys fielding any question.dat130ysmurf
New member
any experinces using de 1000w cmh? i'm trying to find out if it's possible that they are too intense and caused damage to my plants... i have some pics to upload.... specifically trying to get in touch with @hammerhead, but haven't posted enough here to pm... any input is appreciated... thanks in advance
dat130ysmurf
New member
cmh light damage?
cmh light damage?
After hearing all the hype about cmh, decided to give em a try.... got cultilux de 1000w cmh and put them up in half of a flower house to compare them to de 1000w hps, which were already running.... the plants looked fine when they first went in but within a week began to look shiny and started curling and twisting along with some leaves dying... all plants were effected, but the further from the cmh, the less damage....the recomended distance from lamp to canopy is 36-42"... i measured 48" from lamp to canopy....... the plants furthest from the cmh were only damaged on what appeared to be the very edge of the cmh footprint, as the side of plants along the greenhouse wall were healthy..... i pulled all of the cmh out and put hps back in and the plants are beginning to recover.... definitely not what i expected....still considering de 630w cmh, but not so sure after my experience.....any advice, suggestions, comments?
cmh light damage?
After hearing all the hype about cmh, decided to give em a try.... got cultilux de 1000w cmh and put them up in half of a flower house to compare them to de 1000w hps, which were already running.... the plants looked fine when they first went in but within a week began to look shiny and started curling and twisting along with some leaves dying... all plants were effected, but the further from the cmh, the less damage....the recomended distance from lamp to canopy is 36-42"... i measured 48" from lamp to canopy....... the plants furthest from the cmh were only damaged on what appeared to be the very edge of the cmh footprint, as the side of plants along the greenhouse wall were healthy..... i pulled all of the cmh out and put hps back in and the plants are beginning to recover.... definitely not what i expected....still considering de 630w cmh, but not so sure after my experience.....any advice, suggestions, comments?
Attachments
dat130ysmurf
New member
they shouldn't be too close together... according to a 5x5 footprint, i actually need to add about 4 more fixtures on each side to get adequate coverage, but don't have enough power to support doing so... i'll get a measurement of distance between fixtures... i'll take measurements from reflector edges and post em up... thanks for the input
