Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[Jhhnn]

Hi, newbie here...

I bought a 330w ballast that purportedly extends the lifespan of CMH bulbs by quite a bit. I was wondering if OC'ing a 315w Philips bulb would be a smart idea? The other philips bulbs suited for 330w have poorer specs than the 315w one.

Thanks.

A link or the make & model of the ballast would be helpful. It may be suitable for a philips CDM330 u/o/4k ea allstart lamp. They're built to run on conventional core & coil 400w MH ballasts.

Or you may have something entirely new that none of us have seen before.

As rives points out, the 210 & 315 mastercolour systems are unique & not compatible w/ other platforms. The voltage & current requirements of the lamps are entirely different than conventional HID.

 

[HUGE]

I've got my two 315w CHM in a 5'x10' tent, with a 600w hps inbetween them, that's going side by side a tent with a 1000w hps and a 1000w MH
will post pics here as time goes along, both tents are in week one right now...

Sweet test.

 

[willowz]

No, it would be a very poor idea.

The 315 lamp is uniquely designed to run at low frequency and virtually all of the other available electronic ballasts are high frequency. Also, CMH lamps run at extremely high internal pressures (2500-3000 psi) and can grenade in a spectacular fashion when they fail.

The DimLux Expert Series 630W Dual Full Spectrum provides an acclaimed 15% extra lumens by what I understand would be considered overclocking a bulb. I suppose 15W extra shouldn't cause much more of an issue than increased heat production.

Also in response to Jhhnn, I bought this manufacturers ballast for CMH bulbs that supposedly extends the lifetime of a CMH bulb by quite a lot...

Thanks.

 

[Jhhnn]

The DimLux Expert Series 630W Dual Full Spectrum provides an acclaimed 15% extra lumens by what I understand would be considered overclocking a bulb. I suppose 15W extra shouldn't cause much more of an issue than increased heat production.

Also in response to Jhhnn, I bought this manufacturers ballast for CMH bulbs that supposedly extends the lifetime of a CMH bulb by quite a lot...

Thanks.

Kinda threw me by saying it was 330w. That's a new entry in the market, clearly intended for 315 lamps.

 

[willowz]

Kinda threw me by saying it was 330w. That's a new entry in the market, clearly intended for 315 lamps.

How do you think they achieve the 50,000 hrs life span claim based on their advert? That's like amazing, IMO.

 

[Hammerhead]

Double D-Papillon 630W also has the power boost function. It also claim 50,000 hrs. I like the Dimlux version and it's a lot cheaper. All of my DE ballast have that but I have never used it. I would think it would shorten the life of the bulb drastically...


http://agradehydroponics.com/products/double-d-papillion-630w-philips-lec

The Double D Papillon is an adjustable, full-spectrum fixture and has a 6 step dimming system: 50%, 70%, 85%, 100%, 110% and 120%.

The average rated life of the GreenPower and Daylight bulbs are 16.000 hours with 80% light output remaining.

 

[rives]

The DimLux Expert Series 630W Dual Full Spectrum provides an acclaimed 15% extra lumens by what I understand would be considered overclocking a bulb. I suppose 15W extra shouldn't cause much more of an issue than increased heat production.

Also in response to Jhhnn, I bought this manufacturers ballast for CMH bulbs that supposedly extends the lifetime of a CMH bulb by quite a lot...

Thanks.

As Jhhnn pointed out, that is not a 330w ballast - the 330w lamps are an entirely different lamp family.

Your supposition notwithstanding, there is a hell of a lot more to consider than an additional 15w - for example, the operational voltage of the 330w lamp is 28% higher than the 315's.

Good luck.

*edit* - The GEL ballast is also rated at 50,000 hour lamp life. Their target market is replacing LED's for streetlights. Rumor has it that the ballasts are actually made in Germany.

 

[Hammerhead]

I agree there a big difference between those 2 bulbs.

 

[rives]

This is interesting.

I hadn't looked at the GEL stuff for quite a while, so I pulled it up to see if there was an obvious resemblance to the ballast that willowz purchased. They have stopped carrying the ballast that I was talking about and replaced it with what appears suspiciously like the Philips ballast. However, they are still claiming a 50,000 hour lamp life.

Strange.

http://www.gel-usa.com/#/ceramatek/315W

 

[willowz]

In this case,

What bulbs would anyone recommend from the CMH family for 330w and 400w respectively? Are the 330w and 400w bulbs significantly inferior to the 315w CMH Philips Elite bulb?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[rives]

You will find lots of information on both of those lamps in the big CMH thread. I've never run a 330w, and it's been about 25 years since I ran a 400w, so I can't be of much help other than to say that the 315 is a newer, vastly improved design. If you pull up the spec sheets, I think that you will find that the lamp life and lumens per watt are very different. Check out advancedtechlighting.com for some information on all of them.

 

[Hammerhead]

How are they able to fire both CDM and CMH bulbs with that Sunplix ballast?...



EDIT: I found out whats going on. I see that's not a CDM ballast but they have CDM in the title. that's deceptive.

 

[rives]

How are they able to fire both CDM and CMH bulbs with that Sunplix ballast?...



EDIT: I found out whats going on. I see that's not a CDM ballast but they have CDM in the title. that's deceptive.

Not sure what you are looking at - it looks to me like it is supposed to be for the 315w CDM lamps and they got carried away with all of the other crap. The low frequency portion is correct for the 315, but it certainly can't be compatible with the 315 and MH and HPS. The web site for them is "under construction" and no help.

Stud horse price on it, though! At $162 for a Philips ballast and figuring $75 for a lamp (roughly 3 lamps for the cost difference), it's going to take one hell of a long time to pay back....

 

[willowz]

Not sure what you are looking at - it looks to me like it is supposed to be for the 315w CDM lamps and they got carried away with all of the other crap. The low frequency portion is correct for the 315, but it certainly can't be compatible with the 315 and MH and HPS. The web site for them is "under construction" and no help.

Stud horse price on it, though! At $162 for a Philips ballast and figuring $75 for a lamp (roughly 3 lamps for the cost difference), it's going to take one hell of a long time to pay back....

I feel like an idiot for ordering their ballasts. Could you let me know via PM where can I get a 162 Philips ballast? I need to save money and got all carried away with the hype...

Thank you!

 

[Hammerhead]

It says on top of that Sunplix ballast its a CMH ballast. This wont work with CDM Bulbs ?

 

[willowz]

Anyone have any experience with these ballasts?

http://growershouse.com/phantom-cmh-315w-ceramic-metal-halide-digital-ballast

Thanks.

 

[Avenger]

I think Global is confused on the definition of 'average rated life'.



Their data saying 90% lumen maintenance at 20,000 hours doesn't even jive with Philips published data. I think Global has one too many zeros in the hour number for this data point.

Philips data on the ballast list 50,000 hrs as the rated life. But the lamp is 20,000 hrs average rated life.

 

[rives]

I feel like an idiot for ordering their ballasts. Could you let me know via PM where can I get a 162 Philips ballast? I need to save money and got all carried away with the hype...

Thank you!

I can't PM you until you get 50 posts, but if you go to the first page of the thread, post#2 gives a couple of ballast suppliers. I know that people rarely read from the start on a long thread, but the first page gives a lot of information on available options.

It says on top of that Sunplix ballast its a CMH ballast. This wont work with CDM Bulbs ?

It gets confusing, but there are a number of terms for these lamps that are used interchangeably - CDM, CMH, and LEC are all pretty common. I think that the ballast will work with CDM lamps, but.....

Anyone have any experience with these ballasts?

http://growershouse.com/phantom-cmh-315w-ceramic-metal-halide-digital-ballast

Thanks.

Those have only been introduced recently and I don't think that anyone on here has put one into service yet. If you go up a couple of pages, someone recently ordered the complete Phantom fixture but they haven't reported back yet.

*edit* Hell, I can't find it. I may have been thinking about Beta or CHEFfy, but I think that they are just using the Phantom hoods.

 

[willowz]

Rives, what are your thoughts about the Philips 315w 98v T12 Clear PGZX18 Mastercolor CDM-T Elite Agro HID Light Bulb? It seems in most ways to be superior to the 315w CMH bulb. And the price is marked down by a wide margin making it a worthwhile long term investment.

Thanks.

 

[Avinash.miles]

sunplix ballasts are made for the 315w's i just recieved a catalogue from them...
anyone have one in hand yet? PF? or just seeing pics like me?