Yeah I just started a new job two weeks ago so I've been pretty busy. 2nd shift sucks! Thought I'd like it not having to get up early, but you have no life...Oh well, it's money and it's gonna have to do for now.
Well according to the specs provided by Philips, CMH are by far better than both MH and HPS combined. If I keep my 250w hps I'm thinking about picking one up when it comes time to use it. As far as I know they only make 250w and 400w at this point. I think I saw the 250w for around $50, which is still much less than a 250w Hortilux bulbs.
I think there are a few reasons you don't see many people using them. For one, as far as I know they are only available in 250w and 400w. The more serious/vet growers usually use 600w and 1000w so they can't try them yet. Another reason I think is that some people just don't want to change. I agree, if something ain't broke don't fix it, but I'm willing to take a chance every now and then if I do my homework. I think another reason is the lower lumens. The 250w CMH only throw off 20,000 lumens. Your standard hps is around 28,000 and I believe Hortilux 250w claim to emit 32,000 lumens. Sort of an old school belief that more lumens the better isn't exactly the case. Even though the CMH only emit 20,000 lumens, the enhanced spectrum makes those lumens much more available to the plants. If you do a google search you should find the spec sheet from Philips.
Personally, I'd go with a CMH if I had the chance. Just to be clear though everything I read about them is from the manufacturer. But based on the research I've done and my general knowledge of electrical/electronics, I think they are superior to standard hps. They put out more blue than a MH and more red than a hps. Keep in mind though that even though they are called ceramic metal halide, they are meant to be used in magnetic HPS ballasts. I don't think they will work in MH ballast or digital ballasts unless the digital ballast is rated for CMH.
Here's the spectrum chart from Philips. The other one is a plant photosynthesis absorption graph.
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