This isn’t just personal opinion — it’s objectively the best.What I mean by this is that the Philips bulb, whether in 3100K or 4200K, has the highest PAR measurements of any CMH bulb currently on the market. This could be a bit scary, so make sure you have a Unfortunately, the Nanolux does NOT come with a bulb, which contributes to its lower price. Generally, MH bulbs tend to be heavy on the blue, and HPS on the red side, which is why many growers who want the perfect canopy combine both technologies.CMH may still be combined with HPS for an added boost on the red spectrum which benefits flowering crops so much.The specifics of CMH ballasts are a little bit tricky. Since you are only cooling with an exhaust fan, a 1000w light will be putting out way too much heat if you plan on closing your tent, giving you a lower quality final product and probably sacrificing your yield as well. A CMH uses a ceramic arc tube similar to those used in HPS grow lights instead of the quartz used in traditional metal halide grow lights.The ceramic arc tubes operate at higher pressures than quartz glass tubes, which enables manufacturers to make more precise variations on the spectrum than with previous technologies.There’s a reason people are looking into CMH grow lights, and it’s the huge list of advantages when compared to almost every other grow light option.Not only do you get a more balanced spectrum that hits almost every sweet spot for your plants but they’re also better at turning your electricity into usable light.By comparison, HPS and MH lights waste a lot of energy producing light at ranges that are not efficiently used by plants. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive discounts, promotions, and grow tips. While the 315w CMH systems like the Sun System LEC are perhaps the most popular fixture type, even one of the cheapest CMH grow light systems, the HTG 400w CMH is a solid option. This is by far the top choice for a complete CMH system.The Nanolux is another good option if you’re looking to save a little bit of cash. These products are reviewed in more depth below, but you can click on the links above to check out pricing or reviews.Choosing a Ballast for a Ceramic Metal Halide LightWhile you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? For those of you in this situation, the Phantom II is a square-wave ballast from Hydrofarm that is your best option.We’ve extensively explored CMH technology and arrived at the conclusion that there is no better single HID grow light solution available in the market.Not only do they save you energy and produce less heat per watt used and provide very good light spread, but they’re also a complete-cycle growing solution suitable for most green and flowering crops with their balanced spectrum output, UV supplementation and the capability to be hanged in any position over the canopy.The only downside right now is their high price, which hopefully will decrease as they flood the market and become a more accessible option for growers looking to step up their grow.We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener.Last update on 2020-08-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
CMH also run cooler, and produce a lot more PAR light when compared watt per watt.The most noticeable point is degradation time. Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. It includes a compatible square wave electronic ballast, so you won’t have any funky issues trying to match the bulb up to an old ballast.All in all, you’ve got a hooded reflector, ballast, and bulb for a price that’s hard to beat. They produce UV-A, UV-B and UV-C Light, but UV-C is generally very harmful to human eyes. In order to avoid confusion, I’m going to be using CMH in this article, which is the most common term.Ceramic Metal Halide grow lights are basically a variation of MH grow lights with a little of HPS added into the mixture. Link to post. Result: 96 pounds vs. 78 pounds per bed- A 23% increased in yield while saving approximately 46% energy” We'll also keep you updated on the latest product releases.GrowersHouse offers the largest selection of hydroponic equipment for home growers, professionals, and large scale commercial operations. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.Hey guys, I am planning my next grow and I am wondering what is the preferred light for a 4x4 tent. Share this post. However we really do not have more info like your budget etc. I am thinking of running 4 - 315W CMH's made by Sunplix with Philips 4200K bulbs (14" open hoods) over a 4X8 table. Even still, the debate rages on. However, if you have your eye set on a specific CMH bulb, then the additional customization may be a benefit to you.All in all, this is a great choice if you want to save about $100 (after purchase of a bulb).Philips was one of the first companies to develop and manufacture ceramic metal halide bulbs, so it’s no surprise that their bulbs are the best in class. On our website, on the phone, or in our retail store, GrowersHouse stays true to its mission of making growers more successful.For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.Ceramic Science 315W Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) Light Conversion Kit Unboxing & Review1000w Double Ended (DE) Bulb & Lamp Comparison Review & Test Including: Philips, Gavita, Ushio, Hortilux, and More. I'm assuming the 400w hps ballast will be too much power for a 315w bulb and just blow it immediately. LED battle is still going on, there are LED technologies like SMDs and COBs which seem very promising for indoor and outdoor growers looking for cooler and more efficient lighting.
The 315 did 15 oz of very frosty bud. Another point is that standard HPS need to be replaced every 9,000 Hours because of their significant degradation over time.In this case it all depends on what we’re comparing against. The ballast is top mounted, so everything hangs above your plants.