Complete package 315w CMH, yay or nay?

[TurboTokes]

Total wattage and lumens listed with any of those setups?

 

[DankHerb]

"150w (164w warmed up) 20,000-25,000 lumens. "

 

[jonsnow399]

only philips ballast, sun systems. Nothing else is quite as good because phillips just invented the thing. if you want the newest tech you have to pay alot though, thats why I said hps. Also im hearing cmh is better as a supplemental light and may make small buds?

It was true that the phillips ballast was the best when they came out but I doubt there are no equivalent ballasts available now. I haven't seen any tests Monstergardens should do one. Usually ballasts don't make much difference unless you're using the wrong one or its a real cheapie. Phillips bulbs on the other hand have been tested as the best.

 

[cookie master]

Apparently from what I hear most digital ballasts have a short life span, probably lucky to get 4 years out of them. Im hoping for more than that from phillips. i would think gavita and pl last longer than that too.

 

[jonsnow399]

Apparently from what I hear most digital ballasts have a short life span, probably lucky to get 4 years out of them. Im hoping for more than that from phillips. i would think gavita and pl last longer than that too.

4 or 5 yrs from now when the ballast craps out you'll replace it with a led setup.

 

[Lance541]

Hey guys first time grower here. I thinking about using the sun system lec 315 for my stealth grow (2x3x5).

On a budget of about $800-1000CAN

Looks to be a pretty good deal for the price, free shipping. What do you think?

Hey dankherb!

First time grower and first time poster here as well! Just wanna say this forum has great members with honest answers . Very much enjoy this forum over others.
I was thinking about doing a same setup as yours(2x3x5). I've done a bunch of research and have read great things about lec/cmh lights. Low power consumption, high par, great spectrum, and good foot print 2.7x2.7.
One thing I keep getting stuck on is the heating issue. I havnt found definite answers on if a 6in inline fan with carbon filter would keep your tent cool enough to run the 315(tent is 30 cubic feet). Cmh definitely runs cooler then hps, but still puts off heat.
I would be curious to see if any veteran members have ran a similar setup with lec/cmh, and if they ran into any heat issues and what their solution was if so. (personally running 78 degrees average in my room)
Last little thing I would like to add. Givin 5 feet for your setup. People have recommended you have it around 20in away from your canopy. Once you add that with the size of the light and pots your left with roughly 2 feet of grow space for the girls.

Again I'm a first time grower here so please bare with me. I'm positive there are things I don't know that should be taken into account.

 

[jonsnow399]

Hey guys first time grower here. I thinking about using the sun system lec 315 for my stealth grow (2x3x5).


Hey dankherb!

First time grower and first time poster here as well! Just wanna say this forum has great members with honest answers . Very much enjoy this forum over others.
I was thinking about doing a same setup as yours(2x3x5). I've done a bunch of research and have read great things about lec/cmh lights. Low power consumption, high par, great spectrum, and good foot print 2.7x2.7.
One thing I keep getting stuck on is the heating issue. I havnt found definite answers on if a 6in inline fan with carbon filter would keep your tent cool enough to run the 315(tent is 30 cubic feet). Cmh definitely runs cooler then hps, but still puts off heat.
I would be curious to see if any veteran members have ran a similar setup with lec/cmh, and if they ran into any heat issues and what their solution was if so. (personally running 78 degrees average in my room)
Last little thing I would like to add. Givin 5 feet for your setup. People have recommended you have it around 20in away from your canopy. Once you add that with the size of the light and pots your left with roughly 2 feet of grow space for the girls.

Again I'm a first time grower here so please bare with me. I'm positive there are things I don't know that should be taken into account.

The 315 is gonna be at least 20% cooler than a 400 hps, plus it gives off little to none IR so you can run your light really close. You can very easily run it 12 inches away.

 

[Lance541]

The 315 is gonna be at least 20% cooler than a 400 hps, plus it gives off little to none IR so you can run your light really close. You can very easily run it 12 inches away.

I agree! A 315 would put out better Temps then a 400w hps any day. Would a 315 stay cool enough for such a small space though.
Other then the Tempeture issues I wouldn't mind giving cmh/lec a shot. I can pick up a sunsystem lec 315 at my local grow shop for around $315

 

[jonsnow399]

I agree! A 315 would put out better Temps then a 400w hps any day. Would a 315 stay cool enough for such a small space though.
Other then the Tempeture issues I wouldn't mind giving cmh/lec a shot. I can pick up a sunsystem lec 315 at my local grow shop for around $315

I can't see any problems with heat if you have a decent 6 inch fan.

 

[Justwannagrow6906]

I don't need highest tech or top of the line, Ive seen many impressive 315w CMH grows. I live in Ontario which has a probably the worst hydro rates in the country so that's why I'm staying off the HPS and also the heat..ive read the 315w doesnt give off too much heat so would be prefect for a little 3x3 tent. I could get a philps blub and use the other as a back up. I was also looking at cobs and led but limited here in Canada. If someone wants to link me a good light kit whatever it may be(LED,


Par-horta.

 

[coreywebster]

I agree! A 315 would put out better Temps then a 400w hps any day. Would a 315 stay cool enough for such a small space though.
Other then the Tempeture issues I wouldn't mind giving cmh/lec a shot. I can pick up a sunsystem lec 315 at my local grow shop for around $315

I run a 315cmh in my veg tent. Its a 4x4 but only 5ft high at the sides and 6 feet high in the centre (its a loft tent)
I run a 5" fan turned down with a speed controller to number 3 at the moment, the same controller runs my flower tent too or I would have it set on 2 (out of 5) It doesn't get above 78 degrees. But that's all relative to the ambient air temps. Roughly 70degrees.
The plants are happy up to 6" from the bulb. I used in flower when I first got it and had it closer than 6" from the buds and the plants didn't mind at all. In that case it was hung vertically, in veg its horizontal.
They are great lights.
Edit, I'm sure the coverage is greater at 20". I wouldn't worry too much, I could grow the same plants I do in flower with 2 3rds of the 7ft height I have. Never had issues with height.

 

[DankHerb]

Went with 5 vero 18 cobs, 4 4000k 1 1750k, (upgradable to 10, which I will likely do in the near future) 3 Pineapple Chunk, 2.5x2.5 tent, potted 3 days ago.

 

[cookie master]

I like cmh

 

[cookie master]

I have a few weeks and I can tell I love cmh. My cobs are the opposite so far...

 

[DankHerb]

I might get one come winter and a second tent for flowering to use it in but as of now and the high ambient temps in my unit id be pushing 90f easy plus PC tends to get real leggy depending If I'm lucky enough to get the indica pheno.

 

[cookie master]

like i said im new to cmh, but im guessing it may tame a leggy clone and work well. my garden is hot as hell, but humid too. Hopefully no mold but hot and humid isnt that bad otherwise.

 

[DankHerb]

like i said im new to cmh, but im guessing it may tame a leggy clone and work well. my garden is hot as hell, but humid too. Hopefully no mold but hot and humid isnt that bad otherwise.

Whats your cob set up? Why aren't you that impressed with it?

 

[coreywebster]

So was it the Par Horta set up you got Dank?
My flower tent is Cobs on one side, Quantum board on the other. I'm sure you will love the cobs. I hear vero are pretty good.

@cookie master why don't you like the cobs and which type and colour did you go for?

 

[DankHerb]

So was it the Par Horta set up you got Dank?
My flower tent is Cobs on one side, Quantum board on the other. I'm sure you will love the cobs. I hear vero are pretty good.

@cookie master why don't you like the cobs and which type and colour did you go for?

Yea Par-Horta he's shown me some test grows with my fixture, pretty impressed. Gunna get some more 1750ks for upgrade, have a 3/1 4000k to 1750k. Playing around with height and dimming, currently 12" about 50%, so far so good.

 

[DankHerb]

So was it the Par Horta set up you got Dank?
My flower tent is Cobs on one side, Quantum board on the other. I'm sure you will love the cobs. I hear vero are pretty good.

@cookie master why don't you like the cobs and which type and colour did you go for?

Do you dim at all with your cobs during seedling stage. I'm at 12" above could probably lower them to 8" or just 12" full blast instead of 50 percent.