Philips 315w CDM Elite (CMH)

[McKush]

The tip of the GB is easy to scratch since it extends just below the lip of the reflector. You have to be careful when you're installing the fixture. I found out the hard way but my bulb is still fine.

 

[Hammerhead]

It's not proprietary. Philips doesn't make a lamp just for them so standard Philips lamps from other sources should fit.

Cycloptics goes a step further, putting a spot of silver paint on the tip of the lamp to eliminate a hot spot created by their reflector but it's still a standard Philips lamp.

That company doesn't make bulbs they sale lighting systems. They had to contact someone to make bulbs or just buy bulbs already made by Phillips and slap there name on them. Many vendors do this for just about everything.. I know of no other bulb vendor we can get CDM 315 T12 4200 bulbs from. If you do please post where I can get 1 not made by Phillips. I can't find them.



The Phantom CMH Ballast got here today. Looks like a solidly built Ballast. I also have a welthink. It's not as nice. It looks just like the 400$ sunplix another color and SS cord. Anyone interested in these won't be disappointed.

 

[Jhhnn]

That company doesn't make bulbs they sale lighting systems. They had to contact someone to make bulbs or just buy bulbs already made by Phillips and slap there name on them. Many vendors do this for just about everything.. I know of no other bulb vendor we can get CDM 315 T12 4200 bulbs from. If you do please post where I can get 1 not made by Phillips. I can't find them.

The Phantom CMH Ballast got here today. Looks like a solidly built Ballast. I also have a welthink. It's not as nice. It looks just like the 400$ sunplix just another color and SS cord. Anyone interested in these won't be disappointed.

I think we're misunderstanding each other. You're right about all of the 315 lamps being made by Philips, AFAICT. Neither of us has offered anything to the contrary.

What we're seeing is marketing designed to give the impression that the offered product is exclusive to that fixture/ballast maker.

They also avoid mentioning Philips who apparently wants to disassociate themselves from cannabis cultivation. It's not part of the image they want atm.

 

[Bobby_Stainless]

Are these like the old 400w CMH?

 

[Tactical Farmer]

Are these like the old 400w CMH?

Ditto ?

 

[Jhhnn]

Are these like the old 400w CMH?

Better. It's a family of Philips lamps that have unique ballast requirements, none of which is compatible with older system parts.

Rives lays it out well in the first 4 posts.

In the meanwhile, more ballast & system makers have entered the market.

 

[Avinash.miles]

much much better imo
lame how philips is so sketchy...

 

[Jhhnn]

much much better imo
lame how philips is so sketchy...

It's... political, somehow. It's about corporate image.

Cannabis growers are Philips' bastard children that they don't want to talk about. They'll apparently punish distributors who do so nobody's naming names in their advertising.

 

[frostqueen]

It's... political, somehow. It's about corporate image.

Cannabis growers are Philips' bastard children that they don't want to talk about. They'll apparently punish distributors who do so nobody's naming names in their advertising.

Phillips is apparently run by old people who think it's still 1985, people who think cannabis growing and use somehow equals moral depravity.

I suppose they have every right to be that way, but JFC: talk about pointlessly screwing yourself out of a lot of money. To prove... what, exactly?

 

[rives]

Phillips is apparently run by old people who think it's still 1985, people who think cannabis growing and use somehow equals moral depravity.

I suppose they have every right to be that way, but JFC: talk about pointlessly screwing yourself out of a lot of money. To prove... what, exactly?

I think that there must be more to it than that.

Philips is a giant company (6.5 billion Euros in 4th quarter sales in 2014), and the portion of Agro lighting dedicated to cannabis production that they are potentially giving up is insignificant in the big picture. While no company is going to willingly step over a buck, there has to be something more tangible than personal prejudice that is driving the decision. I would think that the international treaties like the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is more likely at the heart of it.

 

[Bobby_Stainless]

Better. It's a family of Philips lamps that have unique ballast requirements, none of which is compatible with older system parts.

Rives lays it out well in the first 4 posts.

In the meanwhile, more ballast & system makers have entered the market.

I used to run the 400s religiously. Definitely need to look into these.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think that there must be more to it than that.

Philips is a giant company (6.5 billion Euros in 4th quarter sales in 2014), and the portion of Agro lighting dedicated to cannabis production that they are potentially giving up is insignificant in the big picture. While no company is going to willingly step over a buck, there has to be something more tangible than personal prejudice that is driving the decision. I would think that the international treaties like the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is more likely at the heart of it.

As I understand it, not very well, Dutch politics have taken a conservative turn the last few years so their corporations are trying to project a "good citizen" image within that framework. Grow light makers need to play along with that to get good prices on Philips parts, particularly CDM ballasts. They don't say CDM, they say LEC. They don't advertise the use of Philips ballasts, they just give us all the specs to let us know that they do.

It seems to be one of those "Just keep my name out of it" deals.

HUGE's shipment of Sunsystem LEC's w/ Philips ballasts basically confirms that.

 

[Avinash.miles]

yhea, why else would suns system re-name the entire technology from "ceramic metal halide" to "light emitting ceramic" except to conceal the source of the equipment (philips).

 

[Hammerhead]

We don't see any other vendor changing the name to LEC. They don't use Phillips dead give away.. It's obvious Phillips doesn't want anything to do with the cannabis market. At lest for now.

 

[psyphish]

I hate it when people call the 315w bulbs "LEC". I bought CDM fixtures and that's what I'm going to keep calling them.

 

[frostqueen]

Got one of my phantoms up and running with a welthink ballast. So far, so good! At least no fires or anything yet. Will post pics tomorrowish.

It has been many tomorrows... any pics? What do you think?

 

[MangoCat]

Hi CHEFy, at what voltage are you running your Welthink? Mine loved 240v; but would turn off after about 20 minutes with 120v power. That was with the 942 bulb.

 

[Jhhnn]

Hi CHEFy, at what voltage are you running your Welthink? Mine loved 240v; but would turn off after about 20 minutes with 120v power. That was with the 942 bulb.

I wouldn't trust it & would send it back. Lamp choice shouldn't matter.

 

[MangoCat]

Yeah, I sent it back a couple of months ago and am using the new ParGrow 240V. I'm thinking about trying the new Phantom ballast for my 120V veg application. Just waiting on a few reviews.

 

[Hammerhead]

I'm using a welthink and Phantom @120v no issues so far. I did have a 4200 bulb flicker. I tried another it was good so that bulb must have issues.