315 cmh vs led

Norml56

Well-Known Member
Yh I get what your saying, but what I'm saying is judging an area to cover by watts is useless. It's the reason why a led that draws only 100 watts at the Wall is equal to a 250w HPS etc. If you look online it will say stuff like you need 500/600 watts in a 4x4 but you don't at all I've proved this wrong time and time again with what I've grown under the lights I'm using.
I believe those numbers are created to give you the most even equal coverage of the space. So your plants in the far corners are getting just as much light as the ones directly under the lights. I don't believe you always need that much light since people rarely utilize the entire tent, but it gives you a better idea of how much you will need if you choose to do so.
 

tstick

Well-Known Member
So, what's the best CMH setup? I know the best bulb is the Philips (according to testing)...but what about the reflector and ballast? Please give me some brands to look at. Thanks
 

Norml56

Well-Known Member
I'm running a Prism right now which is the cheapest. Been running for 2 years without issue. $99. Phantom II and Nanolux both have 315 ballasts for a bit more. I can't speak to how good they are but they are bigger name brands. I went with the low profile reflector from Sun System. Honestly, I think I could've just gotten the cheap wing reflector and been just as happy.
 

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
So, what's the best CMH setup? I know the best bulb is the Philips (according to testing)...but what about the reflector and ballast? Please give me some brands to look at. Thanks
I've used these 2.


Using this combo now.
Next, all strips. No CMH.

20201005_163324.jpg
 
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PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
So, what's the best CMH setup? I know the best bulb is the Philips (according to testing)...but what about the reflector and ballast? Please give me some brands to look at. Thanks
Sunsystem , off the top of my head only one I can think of that uses a Phillips 240v ballast and runs the bulb vertically (optimal for Phillips cmh bulbs)
 

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
Sunsystem , off the top of my head only one I can think of that uses a Phillips 240v ballast and runs the bulb vertically (optimal for Phillips cmh bulbs)
I love my sunsystem fixtures but full price on them is 400+. I got a deal...
 

farmingfisherman

Well-Known Member
I love my sunsystem fixtures but full price on them is 400+. I got a deal...
Yeah I bought the Sun system Boss 315 and it was costly. I bought it because I thought the ability to dim was a good thing but from what I understand it isn't. Looking back I wish I'd bought a cheaper branded 630. This go around I'm planning on mixing in two HLG 260's with the 315 cmh but I'm planning on having to dim them down, especially since I don't use co2.
 

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
Yeah I bought the Sun system Boss 315 and it was costly. I bought it because I thought the ability to dim was a good thing but from what I understand it isn't. Looking back I wish I'd bought a cheaper branded 630. This go around I'm planning on mixing in two HLG 260's with the 315 cmh but I'm planning on having to dim them down, especially since I don't use co2.
I got the all in one ballast/reflector units on amazon for 200. they usually sell for 400-500.
 

finku

Active Member
So, what's the best CMH setup? I know the best bulb is the Philips (according to testing)...but what about the reflector and ballast? Please give me some brands to look at. Thanks
Depends where you are as to what's available, but the Revolution Micro Devo 630w (all in one) fixtures are meant to be very good, expensive but almost certainly the best electronics in the business. Low profile for indoor use and uses 2x standard 315w CMH bulbs so you can use the Philips and mix and match the bulbs to your taste. There isn't much info about them and i think they are discontinued but i don't know why..?
Revolution Micro still do the Deva 1000, it drives 1000w HPS,MH and CMH so no Philips bulb option and need to be set quit a bit higher above the canopy. Pretty much the Rolls Royce of fixtures imo.
 

tstick

Well-Known Member
Yeah 315 is about as much as I want to push in my tent, but thanks for the suggestions all the same.

I've heard the performance of the CMH bulbs is closely related to the quality of the reflector used. Most of them have the pebbled aluminum style but some are highly polished. Any insights on this? Thanks
 

finku

Active Member
Ok, if you're using just the one, i would go for a parabolic with the vertical bulb. Sun System LEC (CMH) RA reflector and buy whatever 315w specific ballast you want or the Sun System LEC Fixture (reflector and ballast combined). Then there are the Secret Jardin Daisy foldable parabolic reflectors, cheaper but probably just as good.
I prefer the pebbled finish, to get the mirror finish to work well would require alot more time and investment to get right like the Grostar parabolic reflector. Alot of work went into the that.
 

Norml56

Well-Known Member
Sunsystem , off the top of my head only one I can think of that uses a Phillips 240v ballast and runs the bulb vertically (optimal for Phillips cmh bulbs)
The ballast is what decides how the bulb can be run vertical/horizontal?
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
So, what's the best CMH setup? I know the best bulb is the Philips (according to testing)...but what about the reflector and ballast? Please give me some brands to look at. Thanks
cycloptics has the best reflector w/ philips bulb mounted vertically
 
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