Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[rives]

Is there a single post that has all the parts to build that ??..Might be my best option that wont cost me 300$...Could you let me know the major components. I would need a 120-240v ballast. I can figure out the rest.

No, the information isn't in a post. I'd be happy to tell you what is in it, but I won't be home for another week. The 120v ballast is going to be an issue - the Phillips' that I use is rated 200-277v. The Welthink ballast is rated from 100-265v and doesn't need an enclosure, but I haven't used one. Reports are that they are "ok", but don't put out quite the same light levels as the Philips, and I'm sure aren't the same quality.

 

[Hammerhead]

Got to be 120v so I can move them from 1 room to the other. I just need the ballast part #. Maybe that's why the 120v cost so much.

 

[rives]

An option would be to use a transformer to kick the voltage up. Amazon sells them for about $30. Part numbers for the Philips stuff is in post #2.

 

[Hammerhead]

What about this 1.. It says 120-277v

http://www.ballastdiscount.com/meta...etal-halide-ballast-210-315w-ps-200-277v.html


I also found this 1

https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/PHBC3150

 

[rives]

What about this 1.. It says 120-277v

http://www.ballastdiscount.com/meta...etal-halide-ballast-210-315w-ps-200-277v.html

I dunno. The only difference is the "M" on the suffix, the spec sheet says 200-277v. It may be a new ballast or they may have the description screwed up - it also says that the lamp wattage is 205, and that it is a core and coil ballast.

Googling that part number shows other vendors are still calling it out at 200-277v. The word earlier was that Philips was not trying to come out with a 120v version because the low-frequency design of the lamp/ballast would make a 120v ballast very large.

 

[Hammerhead]

There are 2 1 is cheaper. Both have the same part#. the only thing diferant is the input voltage,

http://www.ballastdiscount.com/metal-halide.html?cat=190


I sent them a message asking what the difference is.

 

[rives]

I think that they have the description messed up. They are calling it an All-Start MH core & coil quad-tap ballast, which is a completely different animal.

You might give them a call, but I think that it is just a screwed up listing.

 

[Jhhnn]

Wow, great info! Thanks. I'm working with 8 foot ceilings, and my preferred canopy is 48"-54". So I'm looking at about 30"-40" typical distance if I bolt to the ceiling (which is my intention).

I am all about adopting this concept of lighting the entire 12x6 area evenly (2 feet open at the front) and getting away from thinking in terms of fixture footprints. I hang 1" foam boards - 2 x 4 feet - from the ceiling to reflect light back in at the front. I like Cycloptic's concept of wall reflection. I use Solar White bathroom epoxy on the walls, semigloss. Bright as hell. Not a big fan of films on the walls.

It'll probably end up being Phantoms for me. I do envy Greenbeams owners, but I don't think I'll take it quite to that level. 8 Phantoms in two rows of 4 should do it nicely. I am ufortunately not one to start measuring PPF and crunching numbers. Possibly to my loss, but so it is. Close is close enough for me. I have spent too many years now chasing that 5% improvement to great time and expense.

People I know are telling me to just go with the 942 in both veg and flower. I have a dedicated veg area, so I suppose I could even do both if it were worth it.

If bringing in 240v weren't relatively easy for me & if I weren't a chronic DIY'er the phantom ballasts would look good to me. Afaict, their rep is good & the warranty is 3 years.

You'll have 35w/ sq ft from multiple sources which should be fine. I'm getting great results w/ 37. Light will come at the plants from all directions leading to nice bushy growth & good buds well down into the foliage.

You're right about films being a PITA. Benjamin Moore flat white, two coats over white primer. Once & done.

 

[frostqueen]

If bringing in 240v weren't relatively easy for me & if I weren't a chronic DIY'er the phantom ballasts would look good to me. Afaict, their rep is good & the warranty is 3 years.

You'll have 35w/ sq ft from multiple sources which should be fine. I'm getting great results w/ 37. Light will come at the plants from all directions leading to nice bushy growth & good buds well down into the foliage.

You're right about films being a PITA. Benjamin Moore flat white, two coats over white primer. Once & done.

Good to hear. I might run a 240v circuit anyway; it's just 25 feet or so. It would come from a dedicated 240v subpanel I don't use in the garage.

I do envy the Phillips ballast; it's obviously the benchmark, just as the Greenbeams is a reflector benchmark. But under $200 for plug and play 120v/240v ballast is just what I'm looking for. And the full 315 phantom package with bulb is currently going for $320 for black friday at Hort Source for those ready to pounce. Sadly I have budget issues for another 6 weeks or so. : (

What do you guys think? 930s in flower, or 942s in both veg and flower? I know that's been debated elsewhere...

 

[McKush]

I like the 942 but you could do a mix with more than 1 fixture. Dont imagine their is a huge material difference between the two

 

[Jhhnn]

Good to hear. I might run a 240v circuit anyway; it's just 25 feet or so. It would come from a dedicated 240v subpanel I don't use in the garage.

I do envy the Phillips ballast; it's obviously the benchmark, just as the Greenbeams is a reflector benchmark. But under $200 for plug and play 120v/240v ballast is just what I'm looking for. And the full 315 phantom package with bulb is currently going for $320 for black friday at Hort Source for those ready to pounce. Sadly I have budget issues for another 6 weeks or so. : (

What do you guys think? 930s in flower, or 942s in both veg and flower? I know that's been debated elsewhere...

Having not used them, I can't speak to the 942's. 930 T9's work great, seed to harvest. If the difference is significant I doubt that it's major. 930's were the better price at the time. Had 942's been cheaper, I'd have used them.

Everybody's purposes are a little different. I went to 315's primarily to cut the electric bill & reduce the amount of heat generated by my former 1000w system. Quality certainly hasn't suffered & yield is more than adequate using blumats & Ace's soil mix, also recent adoptions. It's pretty much fuss free. I put work up front in mixing the soil & setting up the hardware, then mostly let 'em fly. I'm contemplating seeding fems directly into 5 gal fabric pots w/ blumats in hopes of eliminating transplanting altogether. If that works well, I'll have moved up to pretty damned easy.

 

[Hammerhead]

Don't forget that site has some of the most expensive shipping charges I have encountered. That 315+ship+ tax= 410.50 to ship 1 to cali..

 

[Avenger]

drop shippers?

their ups ground quote is about twice what ups quoted me at standard rates. must be a heck of a handling charge.

 

[frostqueen]

Don't for get that site has some of the most expensive shipping charges I have encountered. That 315+ship+ tax= 410.50 to ship 1 to cali..

Agreed. Shipping charges are absurd. I'm in Oregon, so no tax, and end up at about $375.

 

[Hammerhead]

I just bought the conversion kit at Growers house. Its also on sale with ship no tax. Total came to 227$. there is a site wide 10% off that came to a 22$ savings on this CMH conversion kit. I already have a reflector and bulbs. That Mogul to PGZ adapter and ballast are the 2 things I needed. At that cost getting 2 is very possible.

http://growershouse.com/ceramic-science-315w-cmh-light-conversion-kit


Everyone that is using these bulbs make sure you get the proper bulb. I have noticed many vendors are not putting the bulb type.. For an open fixture you need a U/O bulb.. Enclosed fixture you need a U/E bulb. This is a safety precaution if the bulb explodes..

Has anyone herd that Phillips is going to stop making these bulbs ???.. Is there any alternative to the Phillips bulbs ??

 

[rives]

Has anyone herd that Phillips is going to stop making these bulbs ???.. Is there any alternative to the Phillips bulbs ??

From what I have been able to gather, Philips has been trying to tighten up on lamps used for pot growing, hence the DE supply problems. As far as I know, they are doing this by tightening up on their distribution network and exerting better control over who gets the lamps rather than stopping production of them. This might impact the 315 Agro lamp, but I doubt that it would affect the others - they are primarily architectural lamps.

 

[Hammerhead]

I was aware of the De lamp issue. I had no idea they where doing the same with these CMH bulbs.. I have 2 new Argo 930. I went to look for 1 942 there not easy to locate unless you want to pay 100$+ for 1.. I need the open fixture bulb. Some vendors are clueless to this.. they think the UO/UE can be used with no issues. You probably can use either but if the UE has an extreme failure you could have a fire.

I did find 1 942 for 78$. The price has def gone up from the last time. I got this to go with the kit. Still leaves me with 2 930 Argo bulbs if I have a failure. Not the same K temp but should work fine to veg with. So the total cost for that kit plus 1 942 CMH bulb was $304.99

 

[Jhhnn]

From what I have been able to gather, Philips has been trying to tighten up on lamps used for pot growing, hence the DE supply problems. As far as I know, they are doing this by tightening up on their distribution network and exerting better control over who gets the lamps rather than stopping production of them. This might impact the 315 Agro lamp, but I doubt that it would affect the others - they are primarily architectural lamps.

I figure they're responding to the current conservative turn of Dutch politics. Dunno how it plays out in the greater scheme of Philips marketing but they're giving away the market segment to the competition. It means that only DIY'ers will be using Philips ballasts.

 

[frostqueen]

I figure they're responding to the current conservative turn of Dutch politics. Dunno how it plays out in the greater scheme of Philips marketing but they're giving away the market segment to the competition. It means that only DIY'ers will be using Philips ballasts.

It's weird; living in Oregon and seeing massive billboards for recreational cannabis everywhere and being able to walk into any dispensary (there are more clubs than Starbucks here now) to buy any one of 50 types of weed, that there are still so many places where people can go to jail for simply having a roach, or a company would be stupid enough to reject millions of dollars in business over the 'immorality' of cannabis production.

It's a gold rush here; there are real estate companies that now openly specialize in building grow warehouses to suit. Electricians openly advertise 'grow room electrical upgrades'. City inspectors stroll through basements full of cannabis plants to approve these improvements without even batting an eye.

It's a crazy world we're living in.

 

[Terps]

it's only crazy that it isnt legal globally.