Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[theLumberjack]

thanks Jhhnn

The money I was going to spend on semi-enclosures … can always be put towards a better grow light.

Just wondering … for all those also renting and not wanting to drill holes in the ceiling for lighting mounts ...

Does anyone know of some good (fairly priced) grow light stands that could be used with these cmh lights?

Im guess the ones using remote ballasts are super light and you could use most anything. I would build a pvc frame maybe.... I had a few hanging from a tent structure that i didnt put the tent around. just to hold lights in veg. worked well

 

[pug1010]

Im guess the ones using remote ballasts are super light and you could use most anything. I would build a pvc frame maybe.... I had a few hanging from a tent structure that i didnt put the tent around. just to hold lights in veg. worked well

a pvc frame made out of 3" tubing with a few 'T's and 90 deg joints … would do the job well and wouldn't require too many tools - maybe even a smaller diameter if the span is less or as you mentioned … if using remote, lighter, ballasts. Something like this … just a bit higher …

 

[Jhhnn]

This clothing rack extends to 80" & would probably be a decent choice-

http://www.uline.com/BL_259/Double-Rail-Clothes-Rack

 

[pug1010]

This clothing rack extends to 80" & would probably be a decent choice-

http://www.uline.com/BL_259/Double-Rail-Clothes-Rack

Looks good and saves the effort of building one … not sure on price, but this one might also do the job …
http://www.superiorgrowers.com/growers-supply-aluminum-plant-grow-light-fixture-stands.html

You've got me thinking about looking for a clothes rack though, as it would save on the 'horticulture' premiums usually charged

 

[pug1010]

Jhnn … I checked out that uline link … it's great and they have a canadian side of things.

Something like this with height extenders would also be great …

http://www.uline.ca/BL_630/Rolling-Z-Rack

 

[frostqueen]

Just chiming in here to give a thumbs-up for white paint as a great reflective surface. I use bight white semigloss enamel bathroom paint; it has a mildew inhibiting compound in it, and is an easy wipedown compared to flat white.

Have we reached a consensus on heat per unit? I thought we had that figured out a while back. I'm interested in knowing total btu output in an enclosed room for 8 - 315s... I had ~6k btus written down in my notes, thought I'd put in a 12k mini split. Could go 18k I guess...

How are you Phantom owners liking your units? While I envy and fantasize about the Greenbeams, Phantoms are more in my budget range.

 

[Ez Rider]

Just chiming in here to give a thumbs-up for white paint as a great reflective surface. I use bight white semigloss enamel bathroom paint; it has a mildew inhibiting compound in it, and is an easy wipedown compared to flat white.

Have we reached a consensus on heat per unit? I thought we had that figured out a while back. I'm interested in knowing total btu output in an enclosed room for 8 - 315s... I had ~6k btus written down in my notes, thought I'd put in a 12k mini split. Could go 18k I guess...

How are you Phantom owners liking your units? While I envy and fantasize about the Greenbeams, Phantoms are more in my budget range.

I think ~6K btu/h is a reasonable figure. I'd go 18K on the mini, unless you've got an extremely well insulated room, or you're in a pretty mild climate. I'm going on the assumption you're running a closed, climate room.

 

[Hammerhead]

I have 1 Phantom, 1 welthink. Both have worked with no issues so far. Those Nanolux ballast look to be of the same quality as Phantom?. I was going to get 1 but been out of stock for a min.

 

[Muleskinner]

just finished moving everything to my new 4X4 flowering tent - I set up two 315's in there. The plants seem to be going wild, I'm starting to think there's something to this full-spectrum thing.

Two plants were under a 400w HPS and they definitely perked up more when moved to the 315's. No question the plants are absolutely blasted with light with two in a 4X4 area. The C99 is at week 3.5 and covered in trichomes including the leaves. I'm already starting to think the pinkish HPS light looks "weird"!

FWIW, the plants seem to stretch the same as they did under Hortilux HPS. I'm using Cycloptics ballasts with horizontal reflectors and Colosio adapters. I just got an Econowing reflector and it works great! btw Jeff at Cycloptics is a great guy to do business with, highly recommended.

I think the Phantom ballast would be just as good - probably the same ballast inside. It does have the Hydrofarm plug so you need an adapter. If I was ordering a half dozen or more ballasts I would ask Jeff for a discount, I'm sure he'd get you close to the price of the Phantoms. Jeff's list price for a ballast, Philips Agro bulb, and Colosio adapter is $329. That's only about $220-$230 for the ballast, I think Phantoms are $200??

 

[dbkick]

I have 1 Phantom, 1 welthink. Both have worked with no issues so far. Those Nanolux ballast look to be of the same quality as Phantom?. I was going to get 1 but been out of stock for a min.

The phantoms seem to run really hot, do the welthink get as warm, I know phantom cmh I can get for 170 US compared to 240 US for the welthink.

 

[frostqueen]

I think ~6K btu/h is a reasonable figure. I'd go 18K on the mini, unless you've got an extremely well insulated room, or you're in a pretty mild climate. I'm going on the assumption you're running a closed, climate room.

A very mild climate, and it's in a basement, so concrete walls. Yep, I'm shooting for full climate control; mini split, dehumidifier and CO2.

 

[Hammerhead]

They all run hot. My 630 is a bit cooler not by much. Nanolux is 150$

 

[oti$]

I have a sun system lec fixture with the ballast built in and a phantom. I like the remote ballast on the phantom, it helps keep the veg tent cooler. I really like my phantom and it cost much less than the sun system.

* the sun system was bought at the hydro whore, so that was part of the huge price difference. I saw the exact phantom set up I got on line for+-$270 being sold at the local shop for 500 0lus tax...

 

[Ez Rider]

A very mild climate, and it's in a basement, so concrete walls. Yep, I'm shooting for full climate control; mini split, dehumidifier and CO2.

That being the case, I'd go with the 1-ton, unless you're planning to upsize in the future. A QUALITY 1-ton system should perform very well in those conditions.

 

[Ez Rider]

They all run hot. My 630 is a bit cooler not by much. Nanolux is 150$

The phantoms seem to run really hot, do the welthink get as warm, I know phantom cmh I can get for 170 US compared to 240 US for the welthink.

I have a sun system lec fixture with the ballast built in and a phantom. I like the remote ballast on the phantom, it helps keep the veg tent cooler. I really like my phantom and it cost much less than the sun system.

* the sun system was bought at the hydro whore, so that was part of the huge price difference. I saw the exact phantom set up I got on line for+-$270 being sold at the local shop for 500 0lus tax...

Interesting. The "par-grow" ballast from cycloptics runs extremely cool and quiet. They're remotes, but I still run them in the tent. The "overhead" on a 240v ballast is only ~25w.

 

[Muleskinner]

The Cycloptics ballasts do seem to be a notch higher in overall quality of build - the outer case and paint job are very nice. Another bonus is that they're designed to stand up on one end, so you benefit from air flowing through the vertical fins. If you put the ballast on the floor this is good and makes it last longer.

They're only slightly warm to the touch - much cooler than my 400w Lumatek ballast. not going to make any difference whether it's inside the tent or out

 

[KingSkillz]

Looks like cmh is a no brainer. Thanks for the information.

 

[KingSkillz]

I went to cycloptics website. Says you need to be a authorized dealer. Any place you can order 1or 2 at a time?

 

[Hammerhead]

you can get them at any hydro store.. Many of us use Growers house.

Interesting. The "par-grow" ballast from cycloptics runs extremely cool and quiet. They're remotes, but I still run them in the tent. The "overhead" on a 240v ballast is only ~25w.

I can't keep my hand on any of the remote Ballast for long there hot. The LEC 630 I can but these are built into the fixture and they use Phillips Ballast.. I'm using the 630 in my dr150. Its just to big and heavy IMO for tent use. I think 2 separate 315 would work much better. The 630 is for a room install IMO.

 

[Muleskinner]

I went to cycloptics website. Says you need to be a authorized dealer. Any place you can order 1or 2 at a time?

no dealers needed, just go the "store" page and make your order...

https://www.cycloptics.com/store