Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) Thread

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the links, really like your grows man. Still reading through, but do you use the PSMH for veg/flower/both? And how does it compare to other lights? Do you think a 150 CMH would be enough for a 24x28x48 (lwh) box, probably have 4 small plants in there and LST them. Debating getting a 250 instead for that space, but I've already got a 150 so would rather use that if practical. Also, do you think a 400 would be adequate for a 34x44x76 closet thats mostly veggies and herbs with only a couple of seedlings there in veg towards the end of flower in the grow box? I'm renting so can't put any holes in the walls to vent the closet so probably won't be closing it up.
OK, well a 250W or 400W CMH use a HPS ballast ANSI S50/M168/O and S51/M169 where 150W CMH uses a Pulse Start MH ballast ANSI M142/E, M102/E.
So I use the same bulb all the way through.
A 400W HPS is usually a S51 ballast. It is all the same CMH spectrum. They do have a 4000 Kelvin or 3000 Kelvin so the 4k would be better for flowering. Doesn't matter much to me.:leaf:
I think a 250W would be better for that space than a 150W. Plus the penetration is better.
A 400W is great for a 3' x 3' if you can deal with the temps, but even another 250W would work since your renting.
Hope those threads are helpful. This one is the build journal. A Medicinal Refridgerator

Daniels:weed:
 

KawiZZR

Active Member
OK, well a 250W or 400W CMH use a HPS ballast ANSI S50/M168/O and S51/M169 where 150W CMH uses a Pulse Start MH ballast ANSI M142/E, M102/E.
So I use the same bulb all the way through.
A 400W HPS is usually a S51 ballast. It is all the same CMH spectrum. They do have a 4000 Kelvin or 3000 Kelvin so the 4k would be better for flowering. Doesn't matter much to me.:leaf:
I think a 250W would be better for that space than a 150W. Plus the penetration is better.
A 400W is great for a 3' x 3' if you can deal with the temps, but even another 250W would work since your renting.
Hope those threads are helpful. This one is the build journal. A Medicinal Refridgerator

Daniels:weed:
Ohhh, okay yeah that clears up the ballast thing much better, thanks. Might go ahead start my next grow with the 150 and see if HTG will give me a discount or something if I get two 250s or a 250 and a 400. It'd be hard to not get a 400 since they price it only a couple bucks more than the 250, but it'd suck to get one and be unable to vent it properly.
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Compare the Philips chart I posted to this one I found on the GE version.http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sheets/downloads/hid/106255_cmh_chromafit_sell_sheet_90445.pdf
bottom of page 2. Look where the 400 to 500nm range is in the solid 20's where the GE barely touches low 10's. 550 to 650nm is in the 40's for Philips where GE it's in the teens. It's not as good by those charts to me, but you can get the Philips bulb and use any HPS kit with the hood you want.
 

Timmahh

Well-Known Member
The lamp is made for us by GE.
look at the GE CMH 400w bulb, and that will be what the HGT bulbs likely are, or very close. As i understand it, they (any non Philips bulb) are not like the Philips exactly. Philips for one, are rated for an open hood, and the only ones with that rating. that means you dont need uv blocking glass on your reflector. if the bulb blows, it stays self contained. check the bottom pic on the AdvancedLighting site on the CMH info page. pic is worth 1000 words in that one.

im using a SS Econo reflector, with a SS HP-Elite HPS 400w ballast and the Philips bulb. got the bulb for 55.00. local shop ordered it in and matched the net price for me on it and the HPS Ballast. have a 2nd one on order. will run one in veg, and one in bloom.
once i move to my larger area when its ready, i think im going to use a pair of the 400w verticals and a 8x8 room.

im new to this growing MMJ thing, but so far, from what ive seen, im really liking the CMH bulb for sure.
 

KawiZZR

Active Member
Yeah for the reasons both you guys listed I think I'm gonna stick with the Philips bulb, seems like it'll be safer and more effective. Excited to step it up to a bigger light, still not sure what size combination I'll go with.
 

C.Indica

Well-Known Member
Is there any way to order a 150w Horizontal CMH?
And hopefully with the UV filter removed for the benefit of the ladies?

I keep hearing about people with 150w bulbs, but I can only find 250w or 400w.
Please help, I really don't want to get a 250w bulb, that's way bigger than I need.
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Is there any way to order a 150w Horizontal CMH?
And hopefully with the UV filter removed for the benefit of the ladies?

I keep hearing about people with 150w bulbs, but I can only find 250w or 400w.
Please help, I really don't want to get a 250w bulb, that's way bigger than I need.
Here it is http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM150-U-PS-4K-ALTO.aspx
It uses this pulse start metal halide ballast M142/E, M102/E. Not HPS like the 250w & 400w. They are universal so can be hor or vert.
 

lostNug

Well-Known Member
Im gonna go ahead and buy cmh bulb for my 400w mh set up this week. I will post results in my journal/thread
 
Hey i appreciate the thread. I am still kind of lurking but working towards a goal in the future. Thanks for the heads up information.
 

lostNug

Well-Known Member
Can anybody provide with the name or part number or where I can find 400w cmh bulbs that for work with the MH ballast?
 

SWUSAZ

Active Member
Not sure but I do not believe they exist. Check advanced technologies their site seems to have the most information on CMH that I have seen.
 

SWUSAZ

Active Member
Well I had my first bulb go out after a day and a half run time. The customer service at http://advancedtechlighting.com/cmhfact3.htm (Tom) I believe was the guys name, was to say the least EXCEPTIONAL. He said a RML and a new bulb would be out this morning and was very admit about the Phillips policy and that they wanted every bulb that fails so they can play CSI on them to ensure 100% quality assurance on this product line. All seems fine a bit tight on the LED footprint with the 6 in veg but the ladies sure love it.
The gentleman and I talked for over a half hour on the phone and I sent him these pic's of the bulb. 100_0001.jpg100_0002.jpg He talked about the <1% fail rate and that these bulbs are designed to take rain etc and no cooling for the most part, as they are intended to replace the MH, HPS line Phillips produces. Also we talked about vibration frequency and the Ideas about the digital ballasts that even Phillips has not developed to perfection for the CMH lines. He was quick to point out that those trying to use the digital ballasts even those that are said switchable will always lead to bulb failure (trial and error will tell) Yes I explained to him that I was using an Extra sun new mag ballast for HPS and he said that is what should be used and we then conversed about premature fails can be caused by a lot of bulb bumping while installed. The pic's are not that good but the exterior of the bulb was intact (safety feature by design___Yeah it worked) and the coil around the arc tube did it's job. Talked about cooling the bulb and a 100 to 200 CFM in a sealed hood was way adequate for the bulb. Very happy with the light it produced and the service was the best experience I have had in dealing with any company hands down I would refer those interested in the CMH to these folks. Thought folks would be interested.
 

lostNug

Well-Known Member
Well I had my first bulb go out after a day and a half run time. The customer service at http://advancedtechlighting.com/cmhfact3.htm (Tom) I believe was the guys name, was to say the least EXCEPTIONAL. He said a RML and a new bulb would be out this morning and was very admit about the Phillips policy and that they wanted every bulb that fails so they can play CSI on them to ensure 100% quality assurance on this product line. All seems fine a bit tight on the LED footprint with the 6 in veg but the ladies sure love it.
The gentleman and I talked for over a half hour on the phone and I sent him these pic's of the bulb. View attachment 1732255View attachment 1732256 He talked about the <1% fail rate and that these bulbs are designed to take rain etc and no cooling for the most part, as they are intended to replace the MH, HPS line Phillips produces. Also we talked about vibration frequency and the Ideas about the digital ballasts that even Phillips has not developed to perfection for the CMH lines. He was quick to point out that those trying to use the digital ballasts even those that are said switchable will always lead to bulb failure (trial and error will tell) Yes I explained to him that I was using an Extra sun new mag ballast for HPS and he said that is what should be used and we then conversed about premature fails can be caused by a lot of bulb bumping while installed. The pic's are not that good but the exterior of the bulb was intact (safety feature by design___Yeah it worked) and the coil around the arc tube did it's job. Talked about cooling the bulb and a 100 to 200 CFM in a sealed hood was way adequate for the bulb. Very happy with the light it produced and the service was the best experience I have had in dealing with any company hands down I would refer those interested in the CMH to these folks. Thought folks would be interested.
sorry to hear about ur bulb man. i just spend almost an hour talking to Tom on the phone last night also hahah. hes a smart dude. told me evrything i could ever know about lighting, i learned more from him then i have my whole life.

so my 330CHM for MH ballast is going to be shipped out today. im getting it expedited cuz i cant wait any longer or my girls are gonna get to big, so im gonna hopefully be able to put them into flower on thursday. hopefully i have no issues

Danielsgb: thanks for the link. i would order it from there cuz it is 15 bucks cheaper but that company does not preburn their lamps like advanced does (i called and checked), so id rather pay extra 15 bucks to have a bulb that i know will work

Tom also clarified for me that they will not selling anythin higher then 330w CMH bulbs for the reason that anything higher wattage then that just becomes less efficient and more dangerous. They have been producing CMH bulbs up to 2500 watts!!! for industrial use but they say that selling anything higher then 330w it becomes a lot more dangerous for the everyday consumer that does not know all the safety precautions. So people hoping to have 600 or 1000 watt CMH bulbs dont get your hopes up. Its not gonna happen. How he explained to me is that running multiple 330w CMH systems is much more efficient and safer then having a single 1000w CMH.

Can anyone post harvest or flowering pics with their CMH? wanna see more!
 
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