Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[Gloomshade]

Thanks Gloomshade and this run had several problems that came up as you will read. I mean hell I was only at the garden once a week so they pretty much had to fend for themselves. And I did that with several totally random strains many of which are pretty average yielding. I try to have a productive garden but am in no way a cash cropper. I think 2gpw plus is easily within reach with these lights.

I wish. I'm running 4 of them. Growing 4 plants each one has a 1m2 scrog. Each one has its own light... My last 4 plants have all been around 2 ounces, all female C99's, which i've discontinued. Currently converting from dwc back to coco dtw, pretty much attempting a carbon copy of a guys grow that yielded about 15 ounces for 1 light. Simple feed, one rez for both veg and flower. H&G coco nutes.

 

[Jhhnn]

Just dropping a pic of my supersun 2 modified to fit two 315 lamps-

https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=52773&pictureid=1477964

Less than perfect & a bit of a PITA to accomplish but it & the ballast panel are mounted up & tested, ready to go. Not that it means much in terms of plant growth but it appears to be about as much light as my former 1000w system while using 460w less power. If it grows nearly as well I'll be very pleased.

 

[Koondense]

Nevermind, looking at it now.

Could you post a link please, I can't find it.
Thanks

 

[Gloomshade]

Could you post a link please, I can't find it.
Thanks

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=299402


its in his sig =)

 

[Koondense]

Yeah I scrolled thru this one, gotta do it once more obviously

Thanks

 

[Mronyc]

Hello i was wondering what would be perfect tent size, for one 315w cmh bare bulb system.
Is 1mx1mx2m too big?

 

[Mronyc]

Forgot to mention it would be vertical grow tent.

 

[rives]

Hello i was wondering what would be perfect tent size, for one 315w cmh bare bulb system.
Is 1mx1mx2m too big?

I don't know about the bare bulb part, but it is probably just about right for a reflector system. I have one tent that is 30" x 30", and it could be a bit bigger. My 48" x 48" tent is a little large for a single lamp.

If you are going with a bare lamp, make sure that you are using the T12, double-envelope lamps.

 

[Scrappy-doo]

I wish. I'm running 4 of them. Growing 4 plants each one has a 1m2 scrog. Each one has its own light... My last 4 plants have all been around 2 ounces, all female C99's, which i've discontinued. Currently converting from dwc back to coco dtw, pretty much attempting a carbon copy of a guys grow that yielded about 15 ounces for 1 light. Simple feed, one rez for both veg and flower. H&G coco nutes.

You using the cycloptics hoods? I think those would easily pull a unit per light. 5x5 space with the light placed 30" from the canopy after stretch. I don't think personally I'd go smaller than that for a bloom room the way I run them. I don't really see the benefit of mounting them to the ceiling. Seems like all it does is create the need for another light in the same space. By the recommendations I should have used 6-8 lights for my 5x10 and the way I set them 3 was more than enough.

 

[Gloomshade]

You using the cycloptics hoods? I think those would easily pull a unit per light. 5x5 space with the light placed 30" from the canopy after stretch. I don't think personally I'd go smaller than that for a bloom room the way I run them. I don't really see the benefit of mounting them to the ceiling. Seems like all it does is create the need for another light in the same space. By the recommendations I should have used 6-8 lights for my 5x10 and the way I set them 3 was more than enough.

I'm running the Sun Systems 315s. I think I've been running them too close to the canopy. Had a lot of plants with brown leaves n stuff on them. Still chasing my tail to work out why not 100%, but when the problem followed me in a switch from DWC to Coco it occurred to me the nutrients may not be to blame. Its almost like having the light too close just makes the leaves work overtime and burn themselves out.

Looking forward to a time when i can keep a plant green from start to finish, and then change NOTHING, and keep doing the same over and over.

 

[dyna mo humm]

I am very interested in changing over to these 315w LECs but I need some advise from you experienced users. It appears like 3x3 @ 12" over canopy it the sweet spot from what I've read. That's where my questions come in.

The 3x3 really isn't conducive to my set-up/room.
I have 2 rows with a center aisle, each 'row' is 4' x 15'. I don't want to completely change/trash my set up just upgrade/change the lighting. What would you guys recommend for both number of lights and spacing?

My original idea was 5-7 lights over each row, upon further research it would seem I should be closer to 10-12 over each row. The cost starts to get pretty high at that point. 20-22 lights at $400-$600 ea. ain't pocket change in my book. Anyhow I'm now thinking of maybe a DIY type light/fixture. I found remote ballast here https://www.cycloptics.com/node/34
and was thinking of using a reflector like this
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-light...-ii-aluminum-wing-reflector-with-cordset.html
I'd either swap out the socket for the pin type base or use them mogal style adapters
I would definitely use the 'jacketed' bulbs.

So would that work?
Or am I better off just not being a cheap ass and nut up for either sunlight supply, boulders, or cycloptics?
Thanks

 

[Scrappy-doo]

My last run was with 3 cycloptics units in a 5x10. Imo you can easily have a full garden with 4-5 lights for each row in that space.

 

[dyna mo humm]

Thanks for the reply scrappy.
I did skim through your journal, I must have missed your room dimensions. The numbers you posted were quite impressive. It beats my all time gpw record (1.24) by a pretty good margin. I also saw it looked like you had a few problems along the way, so even those numbers could probably be higher. Nevertheless, very good job bro.

I might just go with my original lamp numbers then. I could always add more
I'll have to gave some more thought to those Cycloptics units......

 

[Jhhnn]

I am very interested in changing over to these 315w LECs but I need some advise from you experienced users. It appears like 3x3 @ 12" over canopy it the sweet spot from what I've read. That's where my questions come in.

The 3x3 really isn't conducive to my set-up/room.
I have 2 rows with a center aisle, each 'row' is 4' x 15'. I don't want to completely change/trash my set up just upgrade/change the lighting. What would you guys recommend for both number of lights and spacing?

My original idea was 5-7 lights over each row, upon further research it would seem I should be closer to 10-12 over each row. The cost starts to get pretty high at that point. 20-22 lights at $400-$600 ea. ain't pocket change in my book. Anyhow I'm now thinking of maybe a DIY type light/fixture. I found remote ballast here https://www.cycloptics.com/node/34
and was thinking of using a reflector like this
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-light...-ii-aluminum-wing-reflector-with-cordset.html
I'd either swap out the socket for the pin type base or use them mogal style adapters
I would definitely use the 'jacketed' bulbs.

So would that work?
Or am I better off just not being a cheap ass and nut up for either sunlight supply, boulders, or cycloptics?
Thanks

I'm sure that would work. Going that way, you might as well just use mogul 315's & make it easy. They're open fixture rated. You don't have to do it all at once, either.

What are you using now? I ask because I have the general impression that two 315's are the ballpark equivalent of a single 1000w in terms of results. I hope they are because I'm in the process of finding out. All I'm sure of so far is that week old seedlings are doing fine. I'm mostly trying 'em out because of heat reduction & because they're the closest to natural sunlight currently available.

 

[dyna mo humm]

I'm running 1k hps now. I have 3000w(3 lights) over each row, for a total of 6k in the flowering room. I read the same thing about a 2 for 1 replacement. I'm primarily looked to reduce operating costs. 6 lights, AC, Dehuey, fans, etc... ain't cheap to run. The initial investment in the lights should be recovered in pretty short order. The reduced wattage of lamps plus a reduction in cooling costs. I'm hoping for a net reduction of about a 40% in power usage. It all sounds and looks good on paper but I won't really know until/unless I do it.

 

[Jhhnn]

I'm running 1k hps now. I have 3000w(3 lights) over each row, for a total of 6k in the flowering room. I read the same thing about a 2 for 1 replacement. I'm primarily looked to reduce operating costs. 6 lights, AC, Dehuey, fans, etc... ain't cheap to run. The initial investment in the lights should be recovered in pretty short order. The reduced wattage of lamps plus a reduction in cooling costs. I'm hoping for a net reduction of about a 40% in power usage. It all sounds and looks good on paper but I won't really know until/unless I do it.

You could put six 315's over 1 row & see what happens. It'd be an honest side by side, for sure.

 

[dyna mo humm]

You could put six 315's over 1 row & see what happens. It'd be an honest side by side, for sure.

The 'problem' is that 3 x 3 footprint
I am afraid I won't get good coverage on the last foot of each tray, or 6" per side, however you want to look at it. I'm thinking I'll run 6 over the row and if yields are close to what people are saying I could either add 3 or 4 of those LED light bars to cover last foot OR widen rows to 5' and add a double/second row

 

[Jhhnn]

The 'problem' is that 3 x 3 footprint
I am afraid I won't get good coverage on the last foot of each tray, or 6" per side, however you want to look at it. I'm thinking I'll run 6 over the row and if yields are close to what people are saying I could either add 3 or 4 of those LED light bars to cover last foot OR widen rows to 5' and add a double/second row

The footprint is a function of the reflectors rather than the lamps. Just pair two 315's end to end & put them in the same spot as a current 1000w. keep the lamps in a line across the center of the & space. Because of very limited space & my need for two stage cooling, I did that with two PGZ 18 lamps in my existing reflector. You have more room, so you can just use 315 mogul lamps in standard reflectors.

You can also get scientific & use a light meter to determine best spacing for you but you can easily over-think this.

Rough it in & finish it later, if you know what I mean.

If you have 240v & are willing to do a little wire splicing & electrical panel assembly, you'll probably get the best price from Tom at ATL along with genuine Philips ballasts.

These would be handy if you do, let you keep the reflector cords stock-

https://www.hydroponics.net/i/249988

Check my albums to see how it can be done w/ 2 Ceramatec ballasts. Philips ballasts would be similar.

If you don't have 240v, then the ballasts & reflectors you originally suggested would be the simplest & cheapest way to go.

PGZ 18 to mogul adapters are way overpriced, particularly considering that the lamps you want come in mogul format.

 

[OIBI]

Anyone on here ever used a hydrofarm radiant v 8" verticle ac hood? I have a chance to get one at around wholesale pricing and considering replacing my 36" parabolic for veg with this. Combined of course with a 315w cmh.

 

[Unclecrash]

Just talked to Thomas yesterday said there caught up and shipping on time. I just ordered my first kit.