Thank you so much for the info. I am trying to figure out what config u want to try/invest in. I am leaning towards this for the energy savings/production. And I agree the blue dream looks like a great pheno with a awesome yieldHey Hpchacrx, from the short time I've had it, I'd say these can easily outdo hps watt for watt. That pull was on my first full run with these lights, imo it could have been 13-14 zips and those weren't huge producing strains. 3 of those lights in the same conditions would pull close to the same wattage as 1x 1000w hps and would have pulled 32 oz/2lbs in a so-so run I just finished, up to 3 lbs. with the right strain, method and fine tuning. Running 4x 30" plants with some training in my style grow and the right strain, I think they can pull a pound per unit. That's 385w total pull @120v, and 340w @240v pulling that kind of weight. I'll be trying to hit that in a couple of rounds, probably with some Blue Dream as it looks like I have a good pheno going. Put them over a hydro SCROG, or vertical and you could pull out more if going for numbers. I know/like soil so I'm just trying different methods to get the most out of them, I just grow for a hobby, that happens to pay for itself
LEC Sun System 315W CMH/Philips Elite Agro 930 - Virgin Flowering Run
- Thread starter GroErr
- Start date
GroErr
Well-Known Member
Finally finished trimming, that's a lot of bud off one plant 
Here are the results for the Blue Dream. A bunch of medium size, tight buds, some popcorn in the bottom but not bad at all overall considering the total weight. Good size buds even on the bottom branches, good penetration to the bottom with a good size plant in a 7gal pot, nice...
Popcorn/sugar-trim: 24.8g
Buds: 86.4g + 85.8g = 172.2g
Total: 197g/7.04 oz.
What would a 10 or 15Gal pull?
Cheers
Here are the results for the Blue Dream. A bunch of medium size, tight buds, some popcorn in the bottom but not bad at all overall considering the total weight. Good size buds even on the bottom branches, good penetration to the bottom with a good size plant in a 7gal pot, nice...Popcorn/sugar-trim: 24.8g
Buds: 86.4g + 85.8g = 172.2g
Total: 197g/7.04 oz.
What would a 10 or 15Gal pull?
Cheers
GroErr
Well-Known Member
Well, I'll be officially closing off this thread as it was started to test these lights and see what they could do. I'll still be subscribed and answer any posts but won't be updating it further. I'll be starting a single thread in the indoor section to post all my grows/updates in one spot. Will run separate threads when I'm testing/trying something new. e.g. Will be growing out 4 Blue Dream clones in 5Gal pots in the next month or two and trying to see if I can hit a lb. from 4x 5Gal's in a 3x3.
I think there's enough examples/info here and if anyone has any questions or comments please post and hopefully between myself and others using this tech we can help out.
Now that I have a good idea of what they can do I'll continue running some different configs/options and fine tune to get the most out of them. The runs I have going now are not for numbers, more of a strain/pheno search. That said, the 2x 3x3's I'm running are filling in very nicely and should pull some respectable numbers.
Summary:
There seems to be enough interest and folks buying different configs that we should see more grows posted here with these CMH rigs. imo they're a great option if you want an efficient configuration without investing the ~$3/watt needed for some of the higher end LED's like A51, Apache etc.
Cheers...
I think there's enough examples/info here and if anyone has any questions or comments please post and hopefully between myself and others using this tech we can help out.
Now that I have a good idea of what they can do I'll continue running some different configs/options and fine tune to get the most out of them. The runs I have going now are not for numbers, more of a strain/pheno search. That said, the 2x 3x3's I'm running are filling in very nicely and should pull some respectable numbers.
Summary:
- For a 315w bulb and ~ $1.60 per (efficient watt), these LEC's sit somewhere between hps and LED's from a cost perspective.
- From an efficiency standpoint, they're up there with higher end LED's at lower buy-in cost. The bulbs are about $80-$90 and should last about 2 years running them @12/12 before any significant loss of efficiency. I'll likely change them out yearly just to keep the efficiency as high as possible.
- From a start to finish/run time perspective. I've run about 5 strains so far. All came in at the lower end of the breeder's stated finish times. There's some adjustment required in managing the plants if switching from another technology, particularly if not running a full footprint. With the intensity of these lights and if running 1/2 to 2/3 footprint, they mature very quickly in comparison to LED's and hps, you have to keep a close eye on them for defs and they suck water up fast.
- Heat from these is very manageable and close to LED's, but with the reflector config like the Sun Systems, the intensity and heat directly below the unit is higher heat and requires either some additional circulation fans or room height. My recommendation for the Sun System reflectors is a minimum of 6ft. room/tent height.
- The ideal footprint/coverage I think is good at 3x3 for flowering. At a height of 20-22" above canopy. Too much closer and I saw some leaf discolouration/bleaching. Too much higher and you'd gain some coverage but loose intensity (Ok for vegging, you could probably go up to 30" and cover a 4x4'). If I were to use them for veg with the Sun System reflectors I'd use the 4200k bulb with some more blues, same config and 10 minutes to switch the bulb if needed.
- Keep in mind that there is a 210w bulb. I bought one as a spare in case one of my 315's blow on me. These could be used in smaller grow areas, keeping in mind that height would still be minimum of ~6ft, unless running it bare-bulb which would allow 5ft. In my case I may run it if I'm doing a smaller footprint going forward. I've tried it and it's not much less light than the 315 and still very intense.
- All of the info and recommendations are for these Elite Agro bulbs. They come in a bare-bulb config with a mogul socket, the T12 config I'm running for reflectors. There are others, even in the Philips line like the Allstarts, I'm trying to source a small 145w Allstart to try and may run a separate test thread on that at some point to see what they can do. They could be a good option for someone in a small space, I'm thinking they'll do well in a 2x2 tent I have (bare-bulb).
There seems to be enough interest and folks buying different configs that we should see more grows posted here with these CMH rigs. imo they're a great option if you want an efficient configuration without investing the ~$3/watt needed for some of the higher end LED's like A51, Apache etc.
Cheers...
Dloomis514
Well-Known Member
where is your new thread? enjoyed this one a lot, thanks
GroErr
Well-Known Member
Hey thanks, will post an link here once I get it going. Trying to start one but have been having issues with the site all morning, particularly trying to post pics, keeps telling me the file's too big, not sure if they've changed something here or just a general site glitch. Cheers.
cityworker415
Well-Known Member
bender420
Well-Known Member
I am very late to the party but much props and congrats on all the work. I used to be a regular poster but I am seriously ill and in the hospital a lot. I would so love it if someone could answer a few questions for me so my last few years aren't spent reading 100s of pages.
3x6 tray
2x sunlight 315 LEC 3100k 120v
What kind of yield am I looking at, assuming that I always get 2.2lbs per 1k hps. The reason I got turned onto the LEC is because the room doesn't have enough power left over for a 1000w light.
Or should I just grab platinum p600 from amazon.
3x6 tray
2x sunlight 315 LEC 3100k 120v
What kind of yield am I looking at, assuming that I always get 2.2lbs per 1k hps. The reason I got turned onto the LEC is because the room doesn't have enough power left over for a 1000w light.
Or should I just grab platinum p600 from amazon.
GroErr
Well-Known Member
Hey @bender420, sorry to hear about your health issues, hope you have a quick recovery!
Not sure what you'd get from a 600, but dialed in these have produced 1.2 gpw with a decent producer (blue dream). That would be in the range of 750g/27 oz. running two side by side and I fucked up one of four plants in that 3x3' footprint. With a clean run of a decent producer 3 x 6 footprint, 3ft' high canopy they should produce close to 2lbs. Cheers.
alesh
Well-Known Member
2x 315W puts out about 75% of photons compared to a standard 1K HPS. The LEC would have a better spread and probably a more grow friendly spectrum so I'd say you should be able to produce around 1.7lbs or even slightly more provided that everything goes well.
That would be a huge mistake. This light won't beat single 315W LEC IMO.
OneHitDone
Well-Known Member
A tad off lighting topic - are most you on this forum adding popcorn/trim weight to total weight when talking g/watt?Finally finished trimming, that's a lot of bud off one plant
Popcorn/sugar-trim: 24.8g
Buds: 86.4g + 85.8g = 172.2g
Total: 197g/7.04 oz.
What would a 10 or 15Gal pull?
View attachment 3300079 View attachment 3300080 View attachment 3300081 View attachment 3300082 View attachment 3300084
Cheers
No wonder I can't seem to hit those numbers
GroErr
Well-Known Member
I count it all, always post the bud weight separate for reference. Use it all for meds in one form or another so I don't mind popcorn.