Ceramic Metal Halide

**Bagelthief** · 10-04-2008, 01:10 AM

So...what the consensus on these bulbs? iv heard only good things, but at the same time, iv only heard about it from one or two sources. so my knowledge is kind of limited. i know they only go up to 400w so far, but i heard the company who invented them is working on higher wattage. i know they can be run on a standard HPS ballast, but im wondering if anyone knows if they make a 400w CMH bulb that can also run on a standard MH ballast?? iv also heard things about the temp(heat wise) they run...supposedly its a lot cooler? the color spectrum on the other hand is off the charts!! its like a MH and a HPS bulb in one! which would be awesome....does anyone have any experience with them or any info at all? thanks...

**hom36rown** · 10-04-2008, 03:00 AM

I think they do make them for Pulse start Metal halide ballasts...I dont think they work for digital ballasts

**KaliKitsune** · 10-04-2008, 03:17 AM

CMH are freaking awesome bulbs. My landlord uses them out here in the parking lot, and you can tell the difference. lots of times, you'll see Metal halide lamps that are either bright blue, or nearly pink! CMH fixes that and also provides better lumen maintenance, it won't drop more than 200 lumens over it's rated lifetime, unlike regular MH bulbs which can drop almost 50% of their lumen output before they burn out.

And yes, CMH was designed as a direct replacement for HPS bulbs, and will work directly with their ballasts. Just match the wattage.

**Bagelthief** · 10-04-2008, 11:03 PM

no one gives a shit about these bulbs or what? i though RIU would have already had tons of threads with lots of info in them already, but i did a search and found a small thread only. these bulbs could potentially be the silver bullet for us indoor growers! come on guys, i know someone has had to of used them here...

**dr.greenthumb85** · 10-04-2008, 11:08 PM

love mine, i got some rock hard nugs from it, also great for vegging.

**Bagelthief** · 10-04-2008, 11:30 PM

really? did you veg and flower with CMH? how many total watts? have you grown with just plain HPS bulbs before and have you noticed a difference?

**sb101** · 10-04-2008, 11:37 PM

using a 250w MH for veg in my hydro. they're lovin it. don't know anything about CMH but i'm interested, sounds sweet

**dr.greenthumb85** · 10-04-2008, 11:57 PM

i have used regular hps bulbs before and the difference was i ended up with dense rock hard nugs, might be that i've learned a thing or two since then also. i am using 400w, and just ordered another 400w hps light, should be here in a week or so. check the last post on my journal to see the pics.

**Pygmy Sasquatch** · 11-18-2008, 05:51 PM

There's a great thread over at ICMAG on CMH:

International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

I just set my 400W CMH up yesterday. I like the white light, and the lower temperatures - inportant for me because I grow in a tent w/ footprint of 2.75' x 2.75'. Using an air-cooled hood, my temps are running ca. 5 degrees F over ambient (in the mid-70s F). I can also bring the light to with 2-4 inches of the tops. I swear my re-vegging plants grew 2" in the first day.

I like the versatility also - if you want to, switch over to your HPS bulb (if you want) the last 2 or 3 weeks of flowering.