Calling All Noob Growers

This thread should be a sticky?

  • Yes, it was very helpful

    Votes: 610 89.1%
  • No, this info is already covered

    Votes: 75 10.9%

  • Total voters
    685

StaySmokin206

Active Member
i used one for Veg in y digi ballast. what do you want to know?
Basically I am vegging and flowering with HPS now, other than some CFL side lighting. Does the MH Conversion bulb really make the plant flourish more through veg? I have heard they aren't AS effective as MH with a MH ballast but they are still worth the money spent?
 

ElectricPineapple

Well-Known Member
well you will get way more compact bushy growth by it then you would an HPS during veg, now for the performance versus a MH, that may be a question for riddleme. i dont think they would be much different though
 

StaySmokin206

Active Member
well you will get way more compact bushy growth by it then you would an HPS during veg, now for the performance versus a MH, that may be a question for riddleme. i dont think they would be much different though
Alright that is what I was asking basically. I just finished my first grow so let me clarify these can be used with any HPS Ballast or just digital? As long as it is the same wattage? Thanks by the way
 

riddleme

Well-Known Member
Ok guys, we all know that I'm gonna say CMH is best, works for the whole grow, less heat issues, same spectrum as the sun

that being said a mixed spectrum is better than either or, using both a MH & HPS is similar to using a CMH (although still not as close spectrum wise) some ballast are designed to run both bulbs some are not and while most MH bulbs do have some UVB it is once again not = to CMH

I mean hey did ya see that little bush cowboy posted???
 

Rocky Mountain High

Well-Known Member
Ok guys, we all know that I'm gonna say CMH is best, works for the whole grow, less heat issues, same spectrum as the sun

that being said a mixed spectrum is better than either or, using both a MH & HPS is similar to using a CMH (although still not as close spectrum wise) some ballast are designed to run both bulbs some are not and while most MH bulbs do have some UVB it is once again not = to CMH

I mean hey did ya see that little bush cowboy posted???
If you already had the ballasts, etc, would you suggest the Hortilux Blue (http://www.eyehortilux.com/blue.html) as the 'next best thing' ?? to the CMH?
 

Rocky Mountain High

Well-Known Member
I have a 400w magnetic ballast with the blue in there now, it's due to be replaced in about 6 weeks. I'm gonna get the bulbs you suggested from Phillips
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
I can't wait to get mine hooked up! Hopefully I can get it mounted this weekend, I will post up a pic!
OK guys, we all know that I'm gonna say CMH is best, works for the whole grow, less heat issues, same spectrum as the sun

that being said a mixed spectrum is better than either or, using both a MH & HPS is similar to using a CMH (although still not as close spectrum wise) some ballast are designed to run both bulbs some are not and while most MH bulbs do have some UVB it is once again not = to CMH

I mean hey did ya see that little bush cowboy posted???
You guys are killing me.:eyesmoke: I have a 250W CMH waiting for a build, and a 150W CMH I have to re-do a ballast combo to use. I really want to see what they can do.
Daniels:blsmoke:
 

cowboylogic

Well-Known Member
Alright that is what I was asking basically. I just finished my first grow so let me clarify these can be used with any HPS Ballast or just digital? As long as it is the same wattage? Thanks by the way
A HPS ballast will fire a regular MH bulb. But a MH ballast will only fire MH bulbs and HPS conversion bulbs. If you have a magnetic HPS ballast, just get a regular MH bulb, not a conversion. The regular will put out more lumens. Now the CMH bulbs must be fired with a magnetic HPS ballast. Unless its a 150 like Dan has, then I think he said you must use a pulse start ballast. And if you have a magnetic MH ballast you can get an igniter to wire into it, then you will have a HPS ballast.
 

StaySmokin206

Active Member
A HPS ballast will fire a regular MH bulb. But a MH ballast will only fire MH bulbs and HPS conversion bulbs. If you have a magnetic HPS ballast, just get a regular MH bulb, not a conversion. The regular will put out more lumens. Now the CMH bulbs must be fired with a magnetic HPS ballast. Unless its a 150 like Dan has, then I think he said you must use a pulse start ballast. And if you have a magnetic MH ballast you can get an igniter to wire into it, then you will have a HPS ballast.
Alright thanks. So, if I have a 150w HPS magnetic ballast and use a regular MH bulb without any modification I should be all good?
 

cowboylogic

Well-Known Member
Alright thanks. So, if I have a 150w HPS magnetic ballast and use a regular MH bulb without any modification I should be all good?
Yep. The only difference between a MH and HPS magnetic ballasts is the igniter, which is needed to fire a HPS bulb. But I dont think the CMH will work in it. You need to ask Daniel about that. I think he is on top of that situation.
 

StaySmokin206

Active Member
Yep. But I dont think the CMH will work in it. You need to ask Daniel about that. I think he is on top of that situation.
Damn what the hell? How come I didn't know this before? So the only point to an MH conversion bulb is for digital HPS ballasts? Also just came across these Dual arced bulbs whats the word on these?
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Damn what the hell? How come I didn't know this before? So the only point to an MH conversion bulb is for digital HPS ballasts? Also just came across these Dual arced bulbs whats the word on these?
Here's where IAm5toned helped me with it. He's a master and explains a ton in his
A bored electrician to answer your questions

It's on my A Medicinal Refridgerator build journal. #157 and #175.
I do know a mag./coil MH ballast can be converted with a simple toggle switch. Then it can be MH/HPS. It's on his somewhere. Hope that helps. No clue on Dual arced bulbs.
Daniels:eyesmoke:
 

StaySmokin206

Active Member
Here's where IAm5toned helped me with it. He's a master and explains a ton in his
A bored electrician to answer your questions

It's on my A Medicinal Refridgerator build journal. #157 and #175.
I do know a mag./coil MH ballast can be converted with a simple toggle switch. Then it can be MH/HPS. It's on his somewhere. Hope that helps. No clue on Dual arced bulbs.
Daniels:eyesmoke:
Thanks, and I just got thrown for a little bit of a loop here. Someone in this thread was claiming to have found a CMH capable of being fired by a magnetic HPS ballast with no modifications? https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/327899-150w-cmh-hps-ballast.html


Edit: *Wishes I were part of the CMH Club* :cry:
 

cowboylogic

Well-Known Member
Thanks, and I just got thrown for a little bit of a loop here. Someone in this thread was claiming to have found a CMH capable of being fired by a magnetic HPS ballast with no modifications? https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/327899-150w-cmh-hps-ballast.html


Edit: *Wishes I were part of the CMH Club* :cry:
The 150 is the only CMH that requires a pulse start ballast. As far I know to date. The rest just require a magnetic HPS ballast. Stop wishing and click the link in Riddles sig. Its open to all who wish join.
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
On the CMH ballast, actually everything (I am 99.9% positive) below 150watt (by philips at least) requires pulse start. I posted some good researched info & links about the philips CMH in one of riddleme's threads, just do a thread search for posts by me, think its this forum.
 

StaySmokin206

Active Member
The 150 is the only CMH that requires a pulse start ballast. As far I know to date. The rest just require a magnetic HPS ballast. Stop wishing and click the link in Riddles sig. Its open to all who wish join.
Haha well, I could hardly consider myself part of the club without running a CMH. If I were to buy a 400W HPS setup could I still run the 150 HPS through it? With the same amount of heat im getting off of the 150w light now? I am not quite ready to implement a 400w light but if the ballast could safely run any wattage under 400 then I could buy the 400w setup and run a CMH or a 400w HPS through it when I get a better hold on conditions, because heat is a little bit of an issue so I don't know that I could use the HPS bulb right away. Also Thanks for the help.
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
You guys are addin too much good info here gonna improve the thread WTF???

j/k'ing of course good stuff guys
Well. I sure feel like an ass.:wall::twisted: I went to see the Ansi of my 400W Ballast to check what it would take to change it. It had a MH Bulb when I "freed" it from storage a decade ago. It was a S51 and looking it up it is a HPS, and I can order the bulb from http://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400S51-HOR-4K-ALTO.aspx
Who I have had great relations with and FULLY recommend them. It's my veg. table, so now we'll see how one does there. It's my B-day on the 15th, So Fuck it, for my first B-day with M.S. I'll buy myself the bulb and 150W Pulse Start Ballast Kit.:mrgreen:

I can't wait to get mine hooked up! Hopefully I can get it mounted this weekend, I will post up a pic!
See above:eyesmoke:
and I can't wait to see it.:eyesmoke:

Thanks, and I just got thrown for a little bit of a loop here. Someone in this thread was claiming to have found a CMH capable of being fired by a magnetic HPS ballast with no modifications? https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/327899-150w-cmh-hps-ballast.html


Edit: *Wishes I were part of the CMH Club* :cry:
As you can see from my A Medicinal Refridgerator I had a Loop really fuck me up. I hope you can get your hands on one too.:blsmoke:Thanks for bringing it up, so I thought " Hey, can mine be converted?"
Daniels:twisted:
Still can't believe I never even checked that "MH" Ballast:wall::wall::wall::weed:
 
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