Can a 630 watt CMH match a 1000 watt HPS?

OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I'd love to get some of the new CMH lights but I've got good magnetics and lots of high end bulbs. No LED for me as I need the heat from the HIDs or I'd be running a heater and heaters don't grow pot near as well as lights. ;)

My grow space is in a very cool underground 6' tall crawl space. About an 8x8 room that I am adding an 8.5x6' grow room to for an 8x4 grow space in it. Cool as in a few degrees above freezing in the depths of winter and all my intake air comes from it.
 
SoOLED

SoOLED

Well-Known Member
that dual bulb 630 with bulbs mounted horizontal sockets is wrong.

you would be better off with two units and vertical sockets.

with out C02, they will be pretty close, with c02 the 1100 watt will work better for sure.

I really hate when they mount these CMH bulbs horizontal.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
that dual bulb 630 with bulbs mounted horizontal sockets is wrong.

you would be better off with two units and vertical sockets.

with out C02, they will be pretty close, with c02 the 1100 watt will work better for sure.

I really hate when they mount these CMH bulbs horizontal.
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I get why they'd be better spread apart, but what's wrong with horizontal mounting in a reflector?
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
OldMedUser said:
I'd love to get some of the new CMH lights but I've got good magnetics and lots of high end bulbs. No LED for me as I need the heat from the HIDs or I'd be running a heater and heaters don't grow pot near as well as lights. ;)

My grow space is in a very cool underground 6' tall crawl space. About an 8x8 room that I am adding an 8.5x6' grow room to for an 8x4 grow space in it. Cool as in a few degrees above freezing in the depths of winter and all my intake air comes from it.
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You're already running a heater lol- it's just cleverly disguised as a light bulb!

Low frequency square wave ballasts drive CMH lamps more efficiently than magnetic ballasts; the square wave is the key. The performance improvement is about 30%.

If you want more efficiency in your grow, insulate your space and draw warm intake air from your house.

Just don't think you're saving any money by running HID lights and not getting a heater, lol
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
thccbdhealth said:
Ohh Do share the performance of them.
Are those from gr owlights.ca?
Can the Ballast be placed remotely with a longer lamp to ballast cord?
I have a 315cmh, and after the exchange rate and shipping i paid about the same.
and I Think I want more light.
But I also need more time for experience with it.
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Just get another one and run them spread apart. Your light distribution will be better.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
cookie master said:
Phillips does have 830 watt cmh I think which plugs into a regular 1000 mogul and ballast. Not quite as advanced as the315 but probably pretty good bulbs.
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It's called the 860W CDM lamp and yes it's the same lamp tech. It runs fine on 1000W, it's just named as such because it can run at 860W on a magnetic ballast driven at 208V.

If you can find a 1000W low frequency square wave ballast it will also approach the efficiency of 315W units.

The drawback is that it must be operated in a vertical orientation, base up or down.

I ran them for years in my vertical grow setups and they definitely made the frost.
 
Flash63

Flash63

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
that dual bulb 630 with bulbs mounted horizontal sockets is wrong.

you would be better off with two units and vertical sockets.

with out C02, they will be pretty close, with c02 the 1100 watt will work better for sure.

I really hate when they mount these CMH bulbs horizontal.
Click to expand...
You do know this unit is double ended right?(one bulb)
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
MMJ Dreaming 99 said:
There are some newer Chinese double bulb 630 watt CMHs which are pretty cheap or around $360. The alternative would be a 4 board QB whihc would be closer to $560 but I am not sure the QBs can pull the same numbers as HPS.
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the hydro shops in reno tell me that commercial growers in northern Nevada are replacing their 1000 watt HPS lights with 630 watt CMH lights and getting similar yields and better quality. I wonder about the quality of those chinese ballast but if commercial BM growers like them they may be worth a try. I've been looking at a 315 watt CMH on eBay and been thinking about getting one and a 3ft by 3ft tent to try it out. these lights were developed for growing plants and some think they may be the next hot new grow lights
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
mauricem00 said:
the hydro shops in reno tell me that commercial growers in northern Nevada are replacing their 1000 watt HPS lights with 630 watt CMH lights and getting similar yields and better quality. I wonder about the quality of those chinese ballast but if commercial BM growers like them they may be worth a try. I've been looking at a 315 watt CMH on eBay and been thinking about getting one and a 3ft by 3ft tent to try it out. these lights were developed for growing plants and some think they may be the next hot new grow lights
Click to expand...
Commerical facilities including some here in Colorado have been growing with 315W CMH for years. Results are good. The 630W will not be better, because more heat and inferior light distribution.
 
MMJ Dreaming 99

MMJ Dreaming 99

Well-Known Member
ttystikk said:
Commerical facilities including some here in Colorado have been growing with 315W CMH for years. Results are good. The 630W will not be better, because more heat and inferior light distribution.
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+1 Better to have two 315 w with some separation than one 630 w.

The obvious big advantage with COBs/QBs over CMH is you do not have to change bulbs. Those CMH bulbs are not cheap.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
MMJ Dreaming 99 said:
+1 Better to have two 315 w with some separation than one 630 w.

The obvious big advantage with COBs/QBs over CMH is you do not have to change bulbs. Those CMH bulbs are not cheap.
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No replacing lamps or reflectors, better spectrum for growing, more efficient/less heat, better quality product.

And LED prices are coming down all the time. It's already cheaper at the end of the first year. Soon it will be cheaper off the shelf too.

HID; the bell, it tolls for thee...
 
MMJ Dreaming 99

MMJ Dreaming 99

Well-Known Member
QUOTE="ttystikk, post: 13751110, member: 324297"]No replacing lamps or reflectors, better spectrum for growing, more efficient/less heat, better quality product.

And LED prices are coming down all the time. It's already cheaper at the end of the first year. Soon it will be cheaper off the shelf too.

HID; the bell, it tolls for thee...[/QUOTE]

Yes. I know SE bulb companies have super output new bulbs. The local store has a budget DE Fantom or other brand at $329 trying to keep the business alive but COBs and QBs aka LED is getting better every day.
 
MMJ Dreaming 99

MMJ Dreaming 99

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
that dual bulb 630 with bulbs mounted horizontal sockets is wrong.

you would be better off with two units and vertical sockets.

with out C02, they will be pretty close, with c02 the 1100 watt will work better for sure.

I really hate when they mount these CMH bulbs horizontal.
Click to expand...
Vertical bulbs for CMH and also old school parabolic reflectors are the way to go. Much cooler. Horizontal generates heat.
 
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