Double ended reflector suggestions?

jerrymaine

Active Member
Hello all,
I am about to pull the trigger on a new lighting setup, and would love to have some input. I am currently considering different options for an air-cooled double-ended reflector. I will paste links below. The reflector will be in a 4x4 space, and I am going with a 630w (dimmable) CMH. I looked at Sun Systems but could only find an 8" reflector, I am going with 6". It seems to me the options are Hydro Crunch and Hydrofarm Phantom. The Phantom AC/DE are significantly more expensive, but I know sometimes you get what you pay for. But I am not one for chasing diminishing returns, either. Any input about or experiences with with these reflectors would be appreciated!

Hydro Crunch D940003010

Hydrofarm Phantom PHR6010

edit: I cannot post links, apparently because I haven't received enough likes? :cry: Story of my life!
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I was taught that you don't want to use air cooled reflectors on DE lamps. I was told this causes the ARC tube temperature to drop and that causes issues with spectrum.
 

jerrymaine

Active Member
Renfro, I greatly appreciate your input on this. I was curious why so few air-cooled DE reflectors are available. I also noticed that one of the two that I mentioned is discontinued! I have heard this before, but for some reason I thought it was just a lamp longevity thing. So for growing in a 4x4 tent, the whole DE CMH thing is basically out the window, is it not? I have considered building a lung room but I'm just not ready at this time. I guess I could look at using a splitter and using two 315w lamps (already purchased dimmable 630w ballast), but that is so not ideal for my situation.
 
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Renfro

Well-Known Member
You would need a good AC unit to cool the tent if you used 1kW DE HPS, 630 DE CMH maybe not so bad.
 

jerrymaine

Active Member
I was attracted to the efficiency of the CMH. I've heard great things about what they can do. Cooling a 1000w in a tent can be rough in any case, but I figured I could get away with 630w more easily, and have arguably a better light..but not if I can't air cool it! :x



Edit: I just found the Sun System AC/DE 8" reflector. It has "patented sealed optic technology (that) allows removal of heat generated by the lamp without cooling the lamp". They are expensive, and I'd have to get duct adapters, but it just might be a solution.
 

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
I have run 630 de in an air cooled reflectors where the air doesn't hit the bulb kinda like an acde hood. I honestly wouldn't buy it again. I like the 315 cmh with Phillips bulbs for cmh. I ran 2 of the de 630 in a 4x8 thinking and believing the hype they would be equal to a 1k hps. They were not. Also I first bought them from Alibaba and both ballast quit working I replaced one of them with a square wave ballast from growers choice. The growers choice bulbs were okay but I accidentally broke one and really unsure how it broke as I barely tapped it installing it in another reflector. Then the other growers choice bulb i had quit working after 6-7 months. The Chinese bulbs that came from Alibaba worked as good and I didn't have any issue with them. I ended up just running one in the middle of the 4x8 in between two 600 hps. And pulled what I would from 3 600hps.
Could have been my cheap knock off acde copy reflectors didn't have as good a foot print but I just didn't care for the de 630.

Saw you already bought a ballast which ballast is it? Since I saw you mention a splitter got me thinking it's the same company I bought from the first time. EBM lighting, hopefully you will have better luck than me if that's the case. They offered to warranty my ballast but shipping was so much that I just replaced one of the lights with a growers choice ballast and hung a 600 hps over the area.

What is the height of your tent and why are you so sure you can't cool it with out an air cooled reflector. I know a guy that runs the 630 in adjustawing reflector and swears by the light. He uses the spreader from the same company to minimize hot spots.
 
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