T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Newb question. Got my tent going yesterday. Noticed that the light flickers, is this normal with a CMH bulb?
CMH Bulb Flickering?
- Thread starter T.C. Bosby
- Start date
Mount
Well-Known Member
Odd... no bulbs should flicker, maybe a bit on startup but not once running... could be a few things, like fluctuating voltage, maybe a mismatch on the ballast, loose wiring.... but lets hope it is something very simple like a loose bulb? Did you make sure the bulb is snug?... have you checked the voltage to the outlet and see it is pulling 115 to 120 constant? Is it a new outlet that was put in? Got my fingers crossed for you that the bulb is loose, but without many more details, hard to help..but the answer is no, it is not normal for CMH or any bulb
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the detailed answer. I'll definitely check out some of the usual suspects and hope for the best. I'll try plugging it directly into the wall as opposed to a power strip.
Mount
Well-Known Member
Great idea, part of the process of elimination... the strip may have a limit on it, usually they say the rating in amps or watts and depending on what is plugged into it besides the lamp that may be part of it...
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Well, found the answer. It's a combination of I'm an idiot and the bulb was loose. So thankfully I'm good on that front. Unfortunately now I am having horrible heat issues in my tent. Fixed one problem, now onto the next one.
dbkick
Well-Known Member
Phantom cmh ballast?
hyroot
Well-Known Member
Exhaust fan. And eventually add a/c. It's getting hot outside. It's in the 90's outside in my hood.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Yes.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
I have an intake fan and exhaust fan going. But the bare bulb on this is just kicking too much heat. Looks like I'll have to invest in an A/C unit. Was trying to keep the electrical bill in check, but it is what it is.
dbkick
Well-Known Member
Good luck with that, those things should be recalled, its a totally random thing and you haven't seen the last of it.
I bought one phantom cmh ballast and a friend bought two entire phantom and fixtures, every one of them had an intermittent flicker,
Return if you can and have a look at SunPlix or Sun Systems lec.
Mount
Well-Known Member
Are you in a tent or closet or spare bedroom? I run CMH in open hoods and dont have much of an issue. One of mine is in 4x4 tent.. have a tower oscillating fan, a 440cfm 6" exhaust and a small 8 inch vornado pushing fresh air in. I keep the light about 13 to 15 inches from the tops and temps say right around 75 with 44%..which gives it a heat index around 77/78.. My exhaust is also out of the room, exhausting into the same room raises my temps. I keep the room the tent is in at 73/74, but that is basically the temp of my house in general.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Tent in my bedroom. My tent is a 3' x 3'. I have a 6 inch intake and 6 inch exhaust fan. Ambient temperature in my room ranges from 70 to 75. The coolest I've gotten my tent is 86 degrees with the light on, and that's about 24 inches above the canopy. Clearly there is some user error on my part. Looks like I have some more work to do. At least I have time now since my clones are all but toast. Ah, to be a newb. Learning!
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
What size is your tower fan? I may give that a try here and see if it helps.
a senile fungus
Well-Known Member
You have heat issues with CMH?
that's weird.
that's weird.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
I agree. I went with CMH to avoid heat issues. So I'm at a loss as to what I'm doing wrong.
dbkick
Well-Known Member
Phantom cmh ballasts run really hot and I hate to say it but they're junk. Write off what I say but I'm speaking from personal experience.
Mount
Well-Known Member
Here is the one I use... http://www.walmart.com/ip/24309668?...72529832&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78765235832&veh=sem I think its 36 or maybe 40 inches tall...Do you have all of your lower vents open on the tent? Do you exhaust out of the room?
Mount
Well-Known Member
dbkick may have a point... my ballast is outside the tent, is yours? Not running phantom stuff here, mine came from HTG and the others are sun systems, but the Suns are in an open room, only the HTG is used in the tent because it is a remote ballast..
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