CMH Ballast Question

DerpDerp

DerpDerp

Active Member
Hey Guys and Gals,

I'm looking into getting some CMH lights, but I am slightly confused as to what ballasts will work. I've done some reading but I'm not 100% what will work.

I am currently looking at some I think will work, but I'd like some confirmation.
400w HPS-TRI-KIT Magnetic HID Ballast.

If this doesn't work, what is wrong with it?

Thank you,
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Magnetic hps ballast will not work on most of Phillips offerings. The old retro white line will, but have been discontinued. The all start series has replaced them and work on 250/400/1000w magnetic mh ballast. Some digi's can fire them too, but I don't recommend it imo.

The new 315w agro elite cmh line run only on digital ballasts and are arguably the best spec'd hid bulbs on the market atm. Price/240v and low wattage(600w version has been in the works for some time now, idk the eta) has hindered it's wide adoption so far.

Good luck
 
typoerror

typoerror

Well-Known Member
look into elite agro cmh line. i'm currently running a sun systems lec 315w all in one hood and it easily outperforms a 600w hps in a 3x3 space. i harvested two plants today that was under the light for only three weeks and they had almost no larf. 98% of the lower buds were rock solid. and it runs much cooler as well. i will be getting two more of these to replace a 600w hps in a 4x4.
 
DerpDerp

DerpDerp

Active Member
Ya, I shall definitley be going the Agro Elite way. Now I just need to find a Canadian distributor.
 
GroErr

GroErr

Well-Known Member
DerpDerp said:
Ya, I shall definitley be going the Agro Elite way. Now I just need to find a Canadian distributor.
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I looked around when I bought the Sun System with the Agro Elite, difficult to find in Canada and more expensive than buying from the US, including shipping. Advanced should be able to ship here, for diy kits they're very reasonable.
 
DerpDerp

DerpDerp

Active Member
Ya I looked around and the U.S. is really the only option. But I'm still new to this, and I don't like the idea of getting this stuff shipped, looks suspicious.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
DerpDerp said:
Ya I looked around and the U.S. is really the only option. But I'm still new to this, and I don't like the idea of getting this stuff shipped, looks suspicious.
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Run the all-starts from philips, second best option really. Any local electrical supply house can get them for you(most have them in stock here), just bring in the bulb code.

Just need a magnetic MH ballast to run them.
 
DerpDerp

DerpDerp

Active Member
Thanks psuagro and everyone, I'm pretty sure this is the route I'll be going. Now I just gotta pick the right bulb, I'll be asking for advice on that sooner or later. The 330w bulbs are all 130v, will these work on 120v ballasts?
 
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DerpDerp

DerpDerp

Active Member
I was taking a look at the philips all-starts and all the 330w bulbs... so many choices, which one would be the best option?
 
H

HappyPenguin

Member
Just received the two bulbs from amazon. They came safe in great protective packaging. I should get my ballasts tomorrow. They are universal burn 4000k 330watts runs off 120v magnetic mh ballast. It just seems like a no brainer to me. I have high hopes anyways. If everything comes in by tomorrow, I will have it set up this weekend.
 
bicit

bicit

Well-Known Member
If you don't have a 240v line handy than the all-start series might be a better option.
 
H

HappyPenguin

Member
Everything came in and is setup now. No regrets here. I replaced both hps with allstart 330. I love being in the room now. It's so much easier to look at the plants. I can see the true color of the leaves as well. The plants seem to like it so far. Temps are down a few degrees. I love it.

Only neg so far is the magnetic ballasts get a bit warmer than the digital ballasts did. Its not a problem. I have my ballast up high away from plants outside the tents.

I will keep you informed, but I say go for it. Buy the bulbs and ballasts on amazon. The price is right! hehe. I am thinking about expanding to another 4x4 now. I think my room can handle the heat.
 
GroErr

GroErr

Well-Known Member
HappyPenguin said:
Everything came in and is setup now. No regrets here. I replaced both hps with allstart 330. I love being in the room now. It's so much easier to look at the plants. I can see the true color of the leaves as well. The plants seem to like it so far. Temps are down a few degrees. I love it.

Only neg so far is the magnetic ballasts get a bit warmer than the digital ballasts did. Its not a problem. I have my ballast up high away from plants outside the tents.

I will keep you informed, but I say go for it. Buy the bulbs and ballasts on amazon. The price is right! hehe. I am thinking about expanding to another 4x4 now. I think my room can handle the heat.
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Nice, great to hear :) That's what I'm loving about these things, there's really no downside, you gain efficiency/output, reduce or maintain heat signatures (coming from LED's) and on a budget you can have a fantastic flowering setup for not much more than hps. Win-win all-around, enjoy!
 
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