Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[speedracer-x]

If a new ballast lights the HPS but not the CMH, I'd suspect the CMH bulb is the problem. Have you tried shortening the cord between ballast and lamp?

Thanks for responding FreezerBoy. I have been having issues with this new ballast. The bulb goes beyond regular orange to really bright white with some pale orange thrown in, it runs MUCH MUCH brighter than a 250 normally does (do new ballasts burn bulbs much brighter than normal at first?). It burns MUCH MUCH hotter than a 250 normally does (hell you can touch the tip of a 250 normally, but I burned myself almost instantly when running the super bright white light producing ballast). It goes beyond the traditional orange color to the bright white with pale orange color and never goes back to that deep orange color that it normally should have. I turned it off because the bulb alone raised the temps by 10f degrees in a matter of minutes, ballast is in another compartment so it does not affect temps. I wanted to make sure that it would work with a regular HPS bulb first, it did not. It also did not light the CMH and I ended up shutting it down after approximately 30 seconds of just watching the element arc. I have since rewired the old ballast and the hps is burning fine, no luck on the CMH though

 

[00420]

00420 im going to say only use ANSI approved ballasts.. or conversion Marked bulbs..

opened the ballast box today to see what kind it was and its a venture on the sticker it says
bulb type
175mh m57
175mv h39
150mh m107 ( witch is the same as a 150w hps m102 )
ed17 is the bulb that is for m102,m107
it is a cw autotransformer (cwa)
the cap is a aerovox 10uf 400v.
i believe i can replace the cap and add a igniter to make it the 150w hps needed im gonna call venture in the morning

 

[cjk]

" CMH lamps perform best on electronic ballasts. The advantages of the combination of CMH and electronic ballasts include 10-20% greater light output (which also results in a corresponding higher efficacy) and limited color shift. "

i just read that on metal-halide-lighting.com. i have a 150 electronic ballast. will the cmh bulb not work?

 

[PurplePotion]

Alright.. Got my ballast ordered! Sorry for hogging the thread, but I'm a bargain hunter and like to spend the least $$ I can, haha.. figured it would be useful for readers as well. Saying that, I found a site that has the 400W bulb for $46.07 (http://www.storesonlinepro.com/store/1974975/page/1306742). Anyone know of cheaper (in the US)?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Thanks for responding FreezerBoy. I have been having issues with this new ballast. The bulb goes beyond regular orange to really bright white with some pale orange thrown in, it runs MUCH MUCH brighter than a 250 normally does (do new ballasts burn bulbs much brighter than normal at first?). It burns MUCH MUCH hotter than a 250 normally does (hell you can touch the tip of a 250 normally, but I burned myself almost instantly when running the super bright white light producing ballast). It goes beyond the traditional orange color to the bright white with pale orange color and never goes back to that deep orange color that it normally should have. I turned it off because the bulb alone raised the temps by 10f degrees in a matter of minutes, ballast is in another compartment so it does not affect temps. I wanted to make sure that it would work with a regular HPS bulb first, it did not. It also did not light the CMH and I ended up shutting it down after approximately 30 seconds of just watching the element arc. I have since rewired the old ballast and the hps is burning fine, no luck on the CMH though

First, I gotta be honest and say, I'm not an electrician. It just seems to me if two CMH capable ballasts are known to work and neither runs the CMH lamp then the lamp must be at fault. However, that the new ballast works in a fashion that frightens you makes me wonder if you have the right ballast.

Are you sure it's an S-50? Is it a quad or multi tap? Are you sure you hooked up the correct voltage wire? Did you cap the others to keep them from touching anything? If that doesn't help, you have officially stumped my band.

 

[speedracer-x]

First, I gotta be honest and say, I'm not an electrician. It just seems to me if two CMH capable ballasts are known to work and neither runs the CMH lamp then the lamp must be at fault. However, that the new ballast works in a fashion that frightens you makes me wonder if you have the right ballast.

Are you sure it's an S-50? Is it a quad or multi tap? Are you sure you hooked up the correct voltage wire? Did you cap the others to keep them from touching anything? If that doesn't help, you have officially stumped my band.

The people at businesslights had the 277 black wire open and the tan, purple, and orange terminated. I terminated the 277 black and used the 120v orange, and hooked it up per the diagram.

 

[BonsaiBud]

cjk: does it mention "soft start"?
I saw that Philips/GE make special electronic ballasts for the smaller wattage CMH (20-150 watt). They all cost ~$200 regardless of voltage. Perhaps that is why Simba says to just get a pulse-start magnetic (~$45 and fixable).

I would say go for it if "soft start" = "pulse start" and your ballast has one or the other. I'm gonna buy a couple cases of Ramen so I can start saving up for a 250 Retrowhite and ***regular old HPS ballast***. Seems too simple.

I am sold on this new one-bulb, no stretch lighting concept.

Now, if I have this right: 250 and 400 Retrowhite CMH bulb= any HPS ballast.
20-150 CMH (get the protected ones!) = pulse start magnetic ballast or expensive digital ballast. Am I right Simba?

 

[simba]

vin ya the 250 and 400 cmh retro are the same size as standard 250 400 hps..

speed something is wrong with the ballast have you called the shop

that ballast i cant personally say go for it.. it needs m102,m107 for the CMH 150 watt.. yall need a different ballast.. for CMH 20-150 watt


CJK, " CMH lamps perform best on electronic ballasts. The advantages of the combination of CMH and electronic ballasts include 10-20% greater light output (which also results in a corresponding higher efficacy) and limited color shift. " and must be marked Ceramic.if not there not.. for cmh
as far as that yes but very expensive and when you do the math for initial cost vs life savings vs etc.. so almost not worth it unless you have 20+ ballasts..

purp they provide you no help so cheaping out will hurt you.. pay the let the stores stay around.. its not like its 100+ like eye horti..


bonis YUPS
Now, if I have this right: 250 and 400 Retrowhite CMH bulb= any HPS ballast.
20-150 CMH (get the protected ones!) = pulse start magnetic ballast or (expensive digital ballast marked Ceramic). Am I right Simba?

advancedtechlighting.com has 20-150 watt electronic ballasts has for years but dont push them..
only sells to those who need for there application (typically commercial is it) they carry VS brand.. P cost is about 120-150 vs the 45 for a Pulsed start obv choice to me..

adv tech also starting to carry the GE 250-400 watt Ceramic electronic ballast but no really promoting to consumer..
electronic ballasts are more for commercial till the price comes down..

 

[PurplePotion]

Thanks simba, I'll take your advice and go with advancedtech.. seems everyone on here has had great customer experiences with them. Only ~$10 difference.. which is well worth good customer service in the event that something isn't right.

 

[vindiesel]

just put my socket in new reflector and plugged in 250 CMH for 1st time. fired right up on HTG. holy fuck is that shit bright!!!

 

[simba]

just a bit.
your plant is thinking the same thing all that energy..
its the same for you and the plant more energy at easier to absorb nm's

 

[00420]

thx dg for the sticky this thread deserves it

thx to you simba as well your really putting your time into this......

 

[Skunkman_Vienna]

reply @ resellers in europe:

skunk,
http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm
ships world-wide

i got problems with the customs,and its also difficult and expensive to ship it back if the
bulb dont work.as far as i read,thats not an uncommon problem.

does anyone know why there are no resellers in europe ?
they also dont have the 400w in their catalouge-only the smaller wattages

i mean,philips is selling the bulbs oversea and "forgetting" a ~300 million people market.
there must be some kind of (technical ??) reason.

 

[Poker_Toker]

thx dg for the sticky this thread deserves it

thx to you simba as well your really putting your time into this......

yea thanks to everyone here that kept me from wasting lots on a lumatek and made me realize that cmh even on a magnetic ballast is the wave of the future and i do believe a lot of the 600 and 1000 guys will be picking these up like hotcakes when they become available. Staying with a magnetic ballast and this bulb saved me enough to buy a 6" vortex over a lumatek with horti bulb. Even at 53 bucks for a bulb that is still less then enhanced spectrum mh and hps bulbs that dont even put out the whole light spectrum like these do.

For those that dont want to read this thread and all the pros and cons, just save yourself the time typing questions up and order a cmh because there is no cons, all pros here

 

[Tactical Farmer]

EDIT:

1. How much is shipping for bulbs from advanced ?

2. Found this light system at HTG its there brand, any problems with it running CMH ? Also are the more expensive ballasts worth the extra cash ?

http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47929

Thanks

 

[PurplePotion]

If you click on add to cart, it obviously displays that they don't carry it anymore. Edit that out so people don't get confused haha

 

[simba]

SKunk CMH Is the END OF MH AND HPS>. in all applications.. thats why the retrow white aren't sold World wide by philips keep the best for our selfs..LOL
it comes down to PROFIT>> IE HPS AND MH are more PROFITABLE>> you relamp MH twice as often as CMH and cmh
in USA philips doesnt even Push CMH retro whites. for that 1 reason..
you dont understand the Game behind Lighting.. these companies have the cmh but its not a Profitable item.. all the boys and girls that do relamping and crap will loose big $$$.. less fixtures less relampings over building life.. cut cost dramatically and thats why there not world wide.. as you said it usa is small so its just so they have a hold on the product.. for later..
look at video projectors they use HID XENON with a life of 2-4k hours if they used cmh 20k hours and better output MOre even.. comes to MONEY FOR RETURN PURCHASE IE RELAMPING>>

u got probs with customs.. i didnt know any thing was HUng up on route.
i Know for a fact Adv Tech ships in accordance with Customs and Never had any thing Hung up.. or Regected by customs past normal times for others..


Tact that bulb shop in HI stopped selling them for that.. it was accident price and been off for over a year..
why adv tech charges 53.. cause thats low and not to low that Actual store fronts can cary them and make enough to stay in business..
cheeping out to much HURTS YOU> IE CHINESE MADE GARBAGE. usto be OK
if you buy these at the hydro shop Adv tech is Sujested retail price is 65-69 so they can make a good Profit and continue bringing u products. better than EYE BLUE for 100+
or vs life light and HH hydro ripping you off for the cmh at 70-90USD
53 online at adv tech and 65-69 at a brick store is a great deal for these even Philips SRP is higher than Adv techs SRP for the stores..

 

[PurplePotion]

Ballast should be here tomorrow, ordered the bulb today. I'm not sure if my ballast kit comes with the mogul base.. if not, is it a standard base I could pick up at HomeDepot or Lowes??

 

[threeeleven]

I'm planning to grow in an odd shaped area, 18.5"x18.5"x72".... I was wondering if it would be at all possible to cool the area lit by a remotely ballasted 250W CMH using a few of 85cfm 120mm pc fans for exhaust with passive intakes.. let me know what you think...

 

[FreezerBoy]

Ballast should be here tomorrow, ordered the bulb today. I'm not sure if my ballast kit comes with the mogul base.. if not, is it a standard base I could pick up at HomeDepot or Lowes??

If not HD or Lowes, many industrial lighting supply shops are open to retail sales.