400 watt CMH with old magnetic ballast

[bertaluchi]

So I saw a video on YouTube and this guy was running a 400 watt CMH conversion bulb on an old magnetic ballast. I happen to have an old magnetic ballast sitting here and this is the bulb I found

4.2 out of 5 stars 5Reviews
GE 93295 - 400 Watt - ED18 - ConstantColor Chromafit - Metal Halide Conversion Lamp - For Use With 400 Watt High Pressure Sodium Ballasts - Unprotected Arc Tube - 3000K - M169/S51 - Universal Burn - CMH400/U/830/R

1. 

Price: $30.63 + $4.99 shipping
If you look up 400 watt CMH on Amazon it pops right up. Any idea if this could be a good light? It's cheap enough for me to want to give it a try but I'm not very knowledgeable about lighting. Anyone else use this light? Think it could work? Àny input would be appreciated.

 

[Diabolical666]

Yes it will work...but I would replace the old ballast with a new one for safety sake

 

[bertaluchi]

Yes it will work...but I would replace the old ballast with a new one for safety sake

From what I understand they have to be run on a low frequency ballast so newer electronic ballast are out of the question, correct?

 

[grow1620]

I ran some of the old phillips open rated 400w cmh for years on magnetic hps ballasts(s51). It's what they recommended to run them on. I think it had to be hps..I think they won't fire right on a MH ballast or something. (and yeh I think your right about not using digital ballasts with them, at least that was the talk back then)

*I'm not familiar at all with the newer cme 315's or whatever the newer versions are...Just relaying info from when I ran cmh 400w from about 6-7 years ago.

 

[rkymtnman]

I ran some of the old phillips open rated 400w cmh for years on magnetic hps ballasts(s51). It's what they recommended to run them on. I think it had to be hps..I think they won't fire right on a MH ballast or something.

yep, me too. they were a helluva good bulb. way better than hps/mh. i've seen used bulbs on ebay still fetching a fair amount.

From what I understand they have to be run on a low frequency ballast so newer electronic ballast are out of the question, correct?

yes, the older magnetic ballasts are tanks. your old one should be fine. that bulb is not open rated though, need a glass reflector to be safe

the new 315 LEC uses low freq square wave electronic ballasts.

 

[bertaluchi]

yep, me too. they were a helluva good bulb. way better than hps/mh. i've seen used bulbs on ebay still fetching a fair amount.

yes, the older magnetic ballasts are tanks. your old one should be fine. that bulb is not open rated though, need a glass reflector to be safe

the new 315 LEC uses low freq square wave electronic ballasts.

Cool I have a sealed reflector so I should be good. Thanks for the help

 

[dirtWeevil]

I used to love my old 400 cmh! It got, um, taken away long ago but it made super frosty stuff, and you can use the same bulb veg through flower. I had the Phillips brand bulb I think, whichever one htg carries

 

[bertaluchi]

I used to love my old 400 cmh! It got, um, taken away long ago but it made super frosty stuff, and you can use the same bulb veg through flower. I had the Phillips brand bulb I think, whichever one htg carries

Yeah bro, HTG carries this exact light the GE I put in the OP but they charge $90 and the same light is available on amazon for $30 plus shipping

 

[bertaluchi]

Ok so I just ordered the bulb. I'm very excited to see how it does. Sounds like it can frost things up pretty good. I'm hoping it runs a little cooler than my standard 400 watt MH/HPS.

 

[Sleazyb]

Ok so I just ordered the bulb. I'm very excited to see how it does. Sounds like it can frost things up pretty good. I'm hoping it runs a little cooler than my standard 400 watt MH/HPS.

How did that 400 watt cmh bulb work out for you ? Is it better

 

[Renfro]

That was just a MH conversion bulb in the old post. Not a CMH. To my knowledge nobody is selling a 400 w CMH conversion bulb yet. @GoBrah may have some answers as his company was working on some.

 

[hillbill]

I ran those CMH bulbs for years and they need standard hps magnetic ballast and are most definitely Open Rated. 400w much more efficient than the 250w. Best results used with hps. Beautiful light and very happy plants and excellent trich and terps development.
Just never seemed to make buds tighten up. I still have bulbs, some are new.

All COBs and white or white/red led panels these days.

Didn’t realize post was ancient!

 

[Sleazyb]

I ran those CMH bulbs for years and they need standard hps magnetic ballast and are most definitely Open Rated. 400w much more efficient than the 250w. Best results used with hps. Beautiful light and very happy plants and excellent trich and terps development.
Just never seemed to make buds tighten up. I still have bulbs, some are new.

All COBs and white or white/red led panels these days.

Didn’t realize post was ancient!

Thanks for the info dude. I'm running 400 hps and 200 true watt cob board now and I really like that spectrum . how did your CW turn out btw? I have 2 in flower now and they look and smell special. Thanks again dude

 

[hillbill]

Hermed! But got 2/3 Butch Cassidy which is Cookie Wreck x Stardawg. Other one threw nanners and balls also about 10 days ago.
That 315 cmh is interesting.

 

[rkymtnman]

and are most definitely Open Rated.

not to nitpick on an old thread, but the bulb in post 1 is not open rated. the R at the end of the CMH400/U/830/R means reflector. and it was a cmh bulb as you mentioned not mh conversion like renfro said.

that being said, they were a good bulb.

 

[hillbill]

Sorry mine are open rated CMH Mastercolor retrofit, but under my house so number is there too. Look very similar. Very nice light to be around but some UV as I got flashed a couple times, seemingly from behind a horizontal bulb. Sand in eyes syndrome!

 

[rkymtnman]

Sorry mine are open rated CMH Mastercolor retrofit, but under my house so number is there too. Look very similar. Very nice light to be around but some UV as I got flashed a couple times, seemingly from behind a horizontal bulb. Sand in eyes syndrome!

yep, i had the same as you, the open rated ones. they were kick ass i thought. not nearly as much heat either as a 400hps.

 

[hillbill]

Been only COBs etc. for a while but still have fondness for those. Very terpy buds under those. A few have switched from the 315 to COBs and Boards but there are a lot of 315w users here that are very well pleased and just killin it.

Temptation #315!

 

[rkymtnman]

Been only COBs etc. for a while but still have fondness for those. Very terpy buds under those. A few have switched from the 315 to COBs and Boards but there are a lot of 315w users here that are very well pleased and just killin it.

Temptation #315!

I'm about to add my old HTG pure UV bulb in between by cob panels on my next grow. see what happens. those things will turn leaves to leather if you don't pay attention.

 

[hotrodharley]

Why in hell do people revive these old threads? Sweet Jesus.