Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[Weed Killer]

Hello, very interesting thread, Rives opens our eyes once more! I have been able to find only the 4200 K version in my country. Is that ballast ok to run it?

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...sion-for-cdm-elite-mw/913700639466_EU/product

I guess the 4200 k version of the bulb can be used vertically bare bulb too?

Thank you

There is a bulb but is for enclosed use
http://www.ecat.lighting.philips.ca...olor-cdm-t-elite-med-wattage/928601164802_na/

 

[Jhhnn]

Hello, very interesting thread, Rives opens our eyes once more! I have been able to find only the 4200 K version in my country. Is that ballast ok to run it?

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...sion-for-cdm-elite-mw/913700639466_EU/product

I guess the 4200 k version of the bulb can be used vertically bare bulb too?

Thank you

For open fixture bare lamp use you want the T12 version-

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...m-t-elite-med-wattage/928601167302_NA/product

It has a protective inner quartz sleeve as does the mogul base version-

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...m-elite-mw-mogul-base/928601175501_NA/product

*Do not* use the unprotected T9 version in an open fixture-

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...m-t-elite-med-wattage/928601164802_NA/product

 

[weedlover_89]

Thank you for the answers guys! Unfortunately it seems that the T9 versions are available around here. I am thinking i could use an Aerowing reflector that i have http://mrhydro.co.uk/powerplant-aerowing-air-cooled-reflector/ in combination with the bulb to be sure.

What about the ballast i posted? Is it ok?

http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/prof/lighting-electronics/hid/hid-electronic-outdoor/primavision-for-cdm-elite-mw/913700639466_EU/product

 

[Unclecrash]

Hey Jhhnn. Im going to run 4 of the 315's two mogul and two pgz to get the different spectrum. Is the 942 you just posted the different spectrum Im looking for to add with the two moguls. All open rated I want to run.

 

[Unclecrash]

Got two of them running now I just hooked them up on the wall with the junction block. Need to here back from Homedepot on where my timer is. They sent out my zipperwall zipper in a huge box like it was suppose to have the timer in it too.

 

[Jhhnn]

Hey Jhhnn. Im going to run 4 of the 315's two mogul and two pgz to get the different spectrum. Is the 942 you just posted the different spectrum Im looking for to add with the two moguls. All open rated I want to run.

As I understand it, the mogul lamp is the same spectrum as the 942 PGZ.

The PGZ T12 lamp is available in a warmer color temp-

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...m-t-elite-med-wattage/928601167102_NA/product

942 & 930 PGZ lamps are avail for open fixtures (T12) and enclosed fixtures (T9) so be sure to order the right part #.

I'm using CDM Elite MW 315/T9/930/U/E lamps in my enclosed fixture simply because they were cheaper. I doubt that results will vary much from one lamp color temp to the other.

Ifthat's not confusing enough, they also make a lamp with an agro designation which is probably a lot like the 930-

http://www.lighting.philips.com/mai...lite-med-wattage-agro/928601172201_NA/product

 

[LastHurrah]

Hello ICers. I ran into this thread while gathering "current" equipment info for a grow I plan to start in about a month. I haven't grown in about 5 years and have to start from scratch on equipment. I was all set to do the "bare bulb vert" thingy when I stumbled in here. Can this bulb be used without a hood in a vertical/stadium setup? Has anyone done it yet? I don't post hardly but I must say Rives has made an excellent introduction for this bulb to me... thanks Rives! And thanks to everyone else for such an informative thread.

LH

 

[rives]

Welcome. I'm glad that you've found the thread helpful.

There has been some discussion from people about running bare bulb with 315's, but I don't recall hearing the results if anyone has followed through with it. My personal opinion is that a good reflector optimizes light distribution, but lots of people are very happy running bare bulb. If you are going to go that direction, make sure that you use the lamps that are rated for open usage - check jhhnn's post #842 above for more information. These lamp's internal pressures are vastly higher than other HID lamps.

 

[Unclecrash]

Guys should I be concerned that one of my ballasts runs @106f and the other is @ 95F I bought one from advanced and the other from some other guy. They are both the yellow orange label. but the advance all wires come out same end. And it has only one side heat sink capable.. It is running cooler than the other with heat sink cababilities on both sides. Im wondering if the one from the other guy is used and he sold as new. It looked like he might not of been happy that I offered him $140when he was asking $219 or possibly it got bounced a round cause the ears on one end look like it was dropped and the cover looked like someone hit it with a knife and possibly punchered the top but ,does not look like it went in .

 

[LastHurrah]

Thanks for the reply Rives! I checked out the Cycloptic site and "oh boy"... avalanche of info. It'll take me awhile to get my head around all of it. I'll be doing a tent for sure so using a hood (esp. vertical) robs height like a bandit but putting the pots on the floor with blumats (intention) gets some back. I'll keep watching to see how these develop over the next few weeks. Thanks again!

LH

 

[Avenger]

Guys should I be concerned that one of my ballasts runs @106f and the other is @ 95F I bought one from advanced and the other from some other guy. They are both the yellow orange label. but the advance all wires come out same end. And it has only one side heat sink capable.. It is running cooler than the other with heat sink cababilities on both sides. Im wondering if the one from the other guy is used and he sold as new. It looked like he might not of been happy that I offered him $140when he was asking $219 or possibly it got bounced a round cause the ears on one end look like it was dropped and the cover looked like someone hit it with a knife and possibly punchered the top but ,does not look like it went in .

Where are you measuring this temperature?

Here is a picture from the oem guide that shows where the Tc point is located. The recommended max temp at the Tc point is 85C(185f), and 80C is the temp at Tc where they figured the nominal ballast life. So anything below this should mean the ballast has a good chance of lasting the 60,000 hour rated lifetime.

regarding the difference in heat traces, I have noticed this as well. Inside the one with traces only on one side, the other side has a factory installed heat sink inside the ballast box. I would assume this is the most critical heat sink, so on the ballast with heat traces on both sides, I'd recommend adding your own heat sink to the corresponding trace at least.

 

[Jhhnn]

Thanks for the info, Avenger. Unclecrash's ballasts are well within spec making the temp difference between them insignificant.

 

[Unclecrash]

Thank'S guy's .Where can I get the heatsinks for them. Is there a heat sink glue? I know they make a paste but that won't hold them. Thomas says itwill help extend the life and and any heat savings is a + even if just a few degree's.

 

[Jhhnn]

Thank'S guy's .Where can I get the heatsinks for them. Is there a heat sink glue? I know they make a paste but that won't hold them. Thomas says itwill help extend the life and and any heat savings is a + even if just a few degree's.

Heatsinks won't reduce the amount of heat created- they'll just pass it into the air more effectively so that the ballasts run cooler. Heat flows into the sink via conduction & the sink offers greater surface area for convection into the air.

Just mounting the ballasts tightly to a larger aluminum plate increases surface area a lot, like this-

https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=57519&pictureid=1443401

With both sides open to airflow the surface area is much larger than the ballast by itself. What I used is a sliding casserole dish cover from Goodwill- $1. It's bowed slightly upwards, so the screws pull the ballast down tight for good contact.

 

[Avenger]

I took another look at the two different configurations this morning. On the ballast with heat traces on one side only, the Tc point is located in a different spot than the pic I showed in the previous post.

Here is a blurry image enlargement off the ballast box showing the Tc location for this ballast configuration.

and just some pics comparing the two ballast configurations.

 

[GoldenSyrup]

Lamps still haven't turned up so I think I might just have to wait until the next lot of plants go in so they can have CMH start to finish instead of Gavita - CMH - Gavita to CMH-CMH-CMH-CMH

 

[LastHurrah]

WHAT'S THE IDEAL SMALL SETUP?

WHAT'S THE IDEAL SMALL SETUP?

I'm back again guys, with a headache this time. Here's my setup: 5x5x7 Gorilla Tent (really "is" 60"x60"x81"), 53"x53" (4x4) tray, 24" - 36" carbon filter with appropriate sized fan...

I want to hang an "open fixture" rated bulb vertically in the middle of my six plant limit, but would settle for a flat garden if it was my only option with this bulb. I think I should order the Philips MasterColor CDM-T Elite 315/942 T12 U (universal?). This has the PGZX18 base.

Now I need a ballast and I want to run 120v. What is the concensus on best ballast for reliability (non-China)? Would be great if it can be mounted remotely for more flexibility. Is there a current "deal" out there that anyone is aware of?

Thanks again folks! I gotta get some beans going... White Russian and PeakSeedsBC's C99 get the first nod as soon as I can get this lighting nailed down. I can't wait.

LH

 

[GoldenSyrup]

Ok so here is my problem.

The lamps have arrived but my plants are just coming to their second week of flower, I'll be losing 300w by putting 4 315s in instead of 2 600se gavitas and 1 315w.

I'm a bit concerned about the drop in wattage and umol/s (2746umol total or so I think down to 2184). Is the added plant usable spectrum going to make up for this? Or should I wait until this crop has done and then use it throughout? I'm just a bit concerned that the plants aren't going to like a drop in light!

 

[Jhhnn]

Ok so here is my problem.

The lamps have arrived but my plants are just coming to their second week of flower, I'll be losing 300w by putting 4 315s in instead of 2 600se gavitas and 1 315w.

I'm a bit concerned about the drop in wattage and umol/s (2746umol total or so I think down to 2184). Is the added plant usable spectrum going to make up for this? Or should I wait until this crop has done and then use it throughout? I'm just a bit concerned that the plants aren't going to like a drop in light!

I really dislike working awkwardly over the plants, taking chances of dropping the light on 'em or something stupid.

I was in a similar place when my CDM stuff arrived, elected to grow on through with the old hardware.

 

[GoldenSyrup]

As much as I don't want to admit it Jhhnn I think you might be right. As you say I don't necessarily want to be fucking about with lighting units over my plants...

Ah well they're not going anywhere, i'll get them going in for the next crop and report back here.