Hi peeps, I recently got some new maxibright 600w cmh bulbs that supposedly put out 1.6 umols. I swapped them for hps bulbs and after chatting to the owner of the store for a while he was convinced this was a great way to upgrade my lighting and that they will definitely outperform my hps bulbs. I was interested so checked my PAR output and 24” from the canopy I’m only getting low 300s?? In some places upto 600 but from my understanding thats very poor. Anyone shed some insight to why they are giving low readings? Cheers
CMH low par output? Any insight?
- Thread starter Marcorfl
- Start date
MisterKister
Well-Known Member
What kind of meter are you using?
Hi mate, thanks for the reply, its an app called photone. I understand its not ideal but there are YouTube videos testing the app and it was always within a couple of umols compared to a proper meter.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
More importantly what kind of ballast are you using?
Hi mate, I’m using digital ballasts and I’m aware CMHs are usually only for magnetics but these say on the box made for either digital or magnetic. Thanks for the quick response
Creature1969
Well-Known Member
You realize HPS amd MH bulbs require a different ballast than CMH, correct?Hi mate, I’m using digital ballasts and I’m aware CMHs are usually only for magnetics but these say on the box made for either digital or magnetic. Thanks for the quick response
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
If you are using a square wave digital ballast yes.Hi mate, I’m using digital ballasts and I’m aware CMHs are usually only for magnetics but these say on the box made for either digital or magnetic. Thanks for the quick response
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
List the name and model of the ballast.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
Is that a low frequency square wave? I think OP is probably trying to run CMH using a high frequency digital like an Apollo or iPower.
I used a couple of these with my 315s. Its LSW digital ballast.
Also I ran other 315s which run on magnetic ballast.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
Research square wave. Some ballasts can run CMH but you wont get the benefit if your not using a square wave ballast.
Edit: a 600w CMH lamp for a Square wave ballast seems unusual. I run a 630w DE ballast and lamp. 315s and 630s are the norm. Not saying there are not others.
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jimihendrix1
Well-Known Member
For comparison a 1000w DE Nanolux CMH has up to 1688 umol
A 1150w Gavita DE has 2100 umol
A 1000w Ushio Single Ended bulb has 2100 umol
1000w Hortilux SE HPS has 1600 umol.
A CMH may have a more broad spectrum but HPS beats it on umol.
HPS bulb is more powerful than a CMH
A 1150w Gavita DE has 2100 umol
A 1000w Ushio Single Ended bulb has 2100 umol
1000w Hortilux SE HPS has 1600 umol.
A CMH may have a more broad spectrum but HPS beats it on umol.
HPS bulb is more powerful than a CMH
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
Your a bad influence.
I now want a 1000w Nanolux
jimihendrix1
Well-Known Member
Ushio SE bulb is king of the HID per watt. 400+ more Umol than a Nanolux
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
I'm not arguing with you i went from a 600w HPS to 630WDE of CMH and wouldn't go back to HPS (I have a perfectly good HPS ballast, hood and new bulbs..) I wasn't aware that 1000w Sq wave ballast was about and now i want it!
Guess you just find what works for you but i like the magic that Square wave makes. But each to own.
Wow nice to see a good conversation has started off! Thisnis the link for the bulbs https://growwithdaylight.co.uk/product/daylight-600w-cmh-lamps/
And the ballast I’m using is a varidrive digital ballast
And the ballast I’m using is a varidrive digital ballast
MaybeOld
Well-Known Member
Yeah, cmh and led mixed in mine gave my hps away after a one grow, didn't even need to double test to make sure haha
Rurumo
Well-Known Member
The low frequency square wave ballasts provide a much more constant maximum voltage than the high frequency ballasts, I agree with the others, the ballast is probably causing the issue you are seeing. I love CMH and would definitely get a 1,000 DE CMH bulb the second I have space to try it out. For me, right now, LED is a better solution simply due to the conditions I'm working with, but I miss the CMH light during winter time. I like to sit under it like a turtle. I grew with HPS for a decade and you notice an immediate difference when you switch to CMH-not trashing HPS by any means, they still work great.