CMH Lighting

[guitarguy10]

How does CMH (ceramic metal halide) lighting compare to other HID lighting systems?

Not LED I do not care about LED, but compared to MH/HPS how would say a 315W CMH kit compare to an equally priced 600W MH/HPS kit?

These kits includes the reflector, ballast, 1 CMH bulb or 1 MH AND 1HPS for $250CAD .

All I can find is marketting/PR advertising crap, I just want to know from someones personal experience how they compare and if it might just be better to buy the kit that comes with 2 bulbs a MH and an HPS with a switchable ballast or if CMH bulbs are really worth it?

 

[growingforfun]

How does CMH (ceramic metal halide) lighting compare to other HID lighting systems?

Not LED I do not care about LED, but compared to MH/HPS how would say a 315W CMH kit compare to an equally priced 600W MH/HPS kit?

These kits includes the reflector, ballast, 1 CMH bulb or 1 MH AND 1HPS for $250CAD .

All I can find is marketting/PR advertising crap, I just want to know from someones personal experience how they compare and if it might just be better to buy the kit that comes with 2 bulbs a MH and an HPS with a switchable ballast or if CMH bulbs are really worth it?

I'd say they can be just as good or better, it's a strech to say a 315 cmh is better than a 600 watt hps/mh though. Cmh is good in that it flowers about as good as hps, and vegs a lot better than hps so theres no need for mh. You may concider getting a 315 cmh to start with, and if your not happy after the first run or 2 buy a second.

A benifit of traditional lighting is aircooled hoods are easy to vent away the heat.

I'd say its situational and your area is going to play a role in what's best for you. Also depends on your goals for yield. If your in a 3x3 the cmh is ideal, if your in a 4x4 a 1kw hps is ideal.

 

[Apalchen]

The post above me is good info. I have run both 600s and 315s for mulitple rounds. And the 600s out yield the 315s, but 2 315s absolutely kill a 600 and only use 30 more watts. If growing in a tent post up the tent size so we can make a better recommendation. 315s are by far my favorite as far as quality and bag appeal.

 

[coreywebster]

A 315 will beat a 400 hps. But not a 600 in coverage and yield , though will in quality.

 

[PrometheanLeaf]

A 315 will beat a 400 hps. But not a 600 in coverage and yield , though will in quality.

This.

 

[guitarguy10]

The post above me is good info. I have run both 600s and 315s for mulitple rounds. And the 600s out yield the 315s, but 2 315s absolutely kill a 600 and only use 30 more watts. If growing in a tent post up the tent size so we can make a better recommendation. 315s are by far my favorite as far as quality and bag appeal.

I'm growing in a small tent, 2'x4'x5' and I'm currently using a 400W HPS that I borrowed from a friend and even though the space is small it seems to me that a 600W MH/HPS would be better for that space, but what do I know?

It's difficult for me to quantify yield or anything from my current setup because I kind of screwed up my current grow (several things, don't really want to get into them). So I could be wrong, it just seems that the 400W doesn't cover the entire space very well (perhaps I have it too close)?

In any case my space is small 2x4x5 so if 600W is overkill and a 315W CMH is better for that space please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Renfro]

I ran a 1kW DE CMH in flower and it didn't get the buds as dense and hard as the HPS lights. The quality was stellar, just not dense. If growing for yourself then CMH is a great way to get good meds but growing for sale you will lack yields compared to HPS.

 

[Hempire828]

For My setup... but towards the fall and winter... but my baby(315) make some picture perfect... cough choking buds tho....couldn’t do without her....

 

[growingforfun]

2x4 5 high is too small for more than 400 watts.

I'd probably go with the 315 cmh if you can keep it cool. 400 hps aircooled would be easier though.

 

[Renfro]

I run a LED in my 2x4 and it crushes it. I pulled 15.5 zips with room for improvement, I think 20 zips is possible since I had 3 runts on an 8 plant run. Quality was amazing.

 

[Grow for fun only]

I like my relfector 600w led series, it been using for yrs and did a fantastic job.

 

[Renfro]

I like my relfector 600w led series, it been using for yrs and did a fantastic job.
View attachment 4372379

I am not a fan of the blurple style LED's. Mines a little different, 3500K COB setup with 8 CMX-22's run at around 300 watts dimmed from 480 watts for the small space. I get more even spread from the added cobs, I could have used 6 and still dimmed them a little. I was impressed with the yield I got, very dense nugs, high terpene production. This was the first time I had experience with a powerful LED that could compete with a HPS when it comes to yield per square foot.

 

[Lucky Luke]

How does CMH (ceramic metal halide) lighting compare to other HID lighting systems?

Not LED I do not care about LED, but compared to MH/HPS how would say a 315W CMH kit compare to an equally priced 600W MH/HPS kit?

These kits includes the reflector, ballast, 1 CMH bulb or 1 MH AND 1HPS for $250CAD .

All I can find is marketting/PR advertising crap, I just want to know from someones personal experience how they compare and if it might just be better to buy the kit that comes with 2 bulbs a MH and an HPS with a switchable ballast or if CMH bulbs are really worth it?

Watt for watt CMH is cooler than HPS. (Square wave is more efficient, I believe is the reason why.) This is either a good or bad thing depending on your environment.
Watt for Watt a CMH will bring out more oils in the flowers and get you more weight.
Its also allot easier to work under.

I have recently gone from a 600w HPS to a 630W DE CMH.

Good luck and enjoy which ever way u decide to go.

 

[Grow for fun only]

I am not a fan of the blurple style LED's. Mines a little different, 3500K COB setup with 8 CMX-22's run at around 300 watts dimmed from 480 watts for the small space. I get more even spread from the added cobs, I could have used 6 and still dimmed them a little. I was impressed with the yield I got, very dense nugs, high terpene production. This was the first time I had experience with a powerful LED that could compete with a HPS when it comes to yield per square foot.

Now for most ppl are going with the purple led or some already switched to all white led. More n more ppl doing researches on good spectrum for plants growing, seems that the mixed spectrums with more white colors be good, 3500-5000k was included . We do like the light with higher par,higher PPE, but less heat would be main consideration. i also like some good quality cob led, with chip cree and osram, not just good quality on the product self but also from its great performance on plants growing .

 

[guitarguy10]

I'm doing HID lighting because LED is just far too expensive for a good light. I was using a 240W LED that I borrowed from a friend and its driver broke, I have never had a ballast break and bulbs are fairly inexpensive.

Thanks for advice, I will probably go with the CMH as long as I can find an enclosed like cool tube or similar reflector because this current grow plants just get way too close to a hot bulb and it's not safe. 5' is not a lot to work with.

 

[Lucky Luke]

A really good side by side. Including weights.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=352859

TLDR?
"Total weight on the HPS is 8 lbs 15 oz. So the cmh yielded more.! Total weight of the whole grow 18 lbs 7.5 oz.

So after digging deep and really getting into the trim on the HPS side. I have learned that the CMH is just a way better Light.. It produced a way better product. there was more Terps, the buds were way heavier, it was a dream to trim compared to the HPS. HPS had more larf. There was way more untrimmable buds. As where the CMH there was not that much air buds and larf at all CMH is just a considerable amount more of density going on.. I was amazed at the penetration as well deep down in the canopy. the buds were still hard and trimmable, as to where the HPS was very airy and Light. Weighing up an ounce of both sides the ounce on the CMH side fills up half the bag as to where the ounce on the HPS packs it full..

I'm 100% sold on the CMH. I'm converting my room to all 630s is now. It beat the 1000s hands down.. in all aspects. I was getting 9.5 and 9 oz and 8.5 oz plants on the regular with the cmh. The biggest plant trimmed in the hps was an even 8 ounces.."

 

[guitarguy10]

A really good side by side. Including weights.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=352859

TLDR?
"Total weight on the HPS is 8 lbs 15 oz. So the cmh yielded more.! Total weight of the whole grow 18 lbs 7.5 oz.

So after digging deep and really getting into the trim on the HPS side. I have learned that the CMH is just a way better Light.. It produced a way better product. there was more Terps, the buds were way heavier, it was a dream to trim compared to the HPS. HPS had more larf. There was way more untrimmable buds. As where the CMH there was not that much air buds and larf at all CMH is just a considerable amount more of density going on.. I was amazed at the penetration as well deep down in the canopy. the buds were still hard and trimmable, as to where the HPS was very airy and Light. Weighing up an ounce of both sides the ounce on the CMH side fills up half the bag as to where the ounce on the HPS packs it full..

I'm 100% sold on the CMH. I'm converting my room to all 630s is now. It beat the 1000s hands down.. in all aspects. I was getting 9.5 and 9 oz and 8.5 oz plants on the regular with the cmh. The biggest plant trimmed in the hps was an even 8 ounces.."

Thanks bud, I will probably go with CMH, this one specifically : https://www.growlights.ca/growlights/ceramic-metal-halide-lights-cmh/g-star-square-wave-315w-cmh-ceramic-metal-halide-complete-kit.html

 

[Hempire828]

Can any one tell me the visible differences between 4K vs 3k in flowering?...I’m currently running 4K...more frost..etc.. I’m about to order a 3k for the next group..,,what the going bulb also...THX

 

[Apalchen]

Might have been a fluke but I got more weight from the 4200 last run and the tents were almost identical. It seemed at least for me that the 3100 k tent was done a few days earlier. Ive had multiple flower runs under each bulb and I still couldn't make a choice as to which is actually better.

 

[guitarguy10]

yeah the colour of the bulb was going to be my next question lol