Which CMH light would you get?

[nc208]

Any help is much appreciated, living in up North options are limited versus whats available in the US. I've decided between 2 choices, both around the same money and same type of reflector, just different ballasts basically. I'm going to be running the Phillips 3100k bulb for full cycle so and its covering a 3' x 3' area.

option 1 = 550 CAD
Galaxy 315W Value Kit includes the highest quality components and the latest LEC technology from Sunlight Supply:
+ Sunlight Supply Galaxy 315 Remote Ballast (dimmable and multi-voltage)
+ Sun System® LEC® Brand 315 RA™ Remote Reflector
+ Philips Green Power Master Color CDM Lamp 315 Watt Elite Agro 3100K (Full Spectrum) lamp.

I've used sunlight supply t5's before and they are great just no experience with their CMH.

Option 2 = 470 CAD
315W SilverStar CMH Fusion Bright Ballast System

 

[rkymtnman]

just verify that that ballast is LFSW: low frequency square wave.

 

[nc208]

Yep they both are. I'm personally leaning towards the galaxy bècause I've used sunlight supply and never heard of fusion bright.

 

[DemonTrich]

Neither

Prism ballast
Socket adapter
Bulb
use existing hood
Use the $ you save for soil or hydroton

 

[nc208]

Why the prism ballast and not either of these?

 

[dbkick]

For less issues than I've seen with every other piece of 315 gear I have used my sun system lec 315 have been the most solid as far as power outages and restrikes after outage, I've had a problem with restrike on galaxy 315 ballasts but the dimming feature is worth what few times they haven't come back on, Same with pargrow ballast that used to sell with the cyclops systems, issues with restrike. The SS lec uses genuine phlips ballast that could easily have a dimming optionm I'm sure they do by now, haven't needed to purchase anymore 315 gear for awhile, not even a lamp.

 

[nc208]

Locally around me the ss lec is about 900 plus tax. I didn't want to drop a grand on lighting so was looking at these cheaper options.
Hmm may have to rethink led again if these 500$ kits might not be worth it.

 

[dbkick]

Locally around me the ss lec is about 900 plus tax. I didn't want to drop a grand on lighting so was looking at these cheaper options.
Hmm may have to rethink led again if these 500$ kits might not be worth it.

The galaxy ballasts are fine, I'd buy more if I needed them. I got two at 185 us dollars apiece, they just have some weird restrike thing. reflectors you could get cheaper. Either one of those systems above should do well. Have you looked at a solis tek c1? You can certainly find cheaper lights that would work as well.
I spent around 5 per unit several years back when SS lec just started catching on and I don't regret it a bit.

 

[dbkick]

Although the ballast on the bottom unit looks like a sunplix and I'm not down with sunplix even though they have a ballast out that will run ANY 315 cmh arc tube based lamp around and as we all know those go from se to de from 315 to 1kw anymore so the sunplix would be a good idea if they're reliable, I didn't see that myself.

 

[nc208]

The ballast in the bottom pic is made by fusion bright. I tried Google but not much info on them.

 

[rkymtnman]

the one thing i disagree with demon is the 315 agro was designed to be run vertical. i would personally follow the advice of Philips.

can you find a Philips lfsw ballast off ebay or similar and wire one up yourself? i did that for mine. was pretty easy. 5 wires i think.

 

[nc208]

The Phillips ballast is 240v. Do you mean me rewire it to 120v?

 

[rkymtnman]

The Phillips ballast is 240v. Do you mean me rewire it to 120v?

you can if you have a step up xformer.

i use mine at 240v. it's only 1.3A i think.

i meant to wire up the ballast to 240v and then the ballast to the pgzr socket. wasn't sure if you are DIY or not. or know an electrician

 

[dbkick]

The ballast in the bottom pic is made by fusion bright. I tried Google but not much info on them.

The housing design says sunplix which may or may not mean a thing other than they sourced the ballast housing from the same place as sunplix or it's the same ballast as a sunplix without the name branding.

 

[dbkick]

you can if you have a step up xformer.

i use mine at 240v. it's only 1.3A i think.

i meant to wire up the ballast to 240v and then the ballast to the pgzr socket. wasn't sure if you are DIY or not. or know an electrician

30 bux or so for like a 500 watt to step up transformer, voltage from 120 to 240.

 

[nc208]

Yes that's another option. I really wanted to grab a plug n play kit. If I'm going DIY then I'd use leds and build something really bright.

 

[rkymtnman]

gotcha. the 315 is great. you won't be disappointed with it at all.

 

[nc208]

Is the step up transformer safe? Is there any risk or downside to running it this way? I.e. decrease efficiency or something?

 

[rkymtnman]

Is the step up transformer safe? Is there any risk or downside to running it this way? I.e. decrease efficiency or something?

not at all. you will lose a bit of efficiency but the cmh bulb makes up for it. reds, blues, uv etc. for a 3x3, you can't get better IMO

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I really like my sun system remote reflector and galaxy ballast. Used it for 7 months so far with no issues. 3100k Phillips bulb.

Galaxy runs cool. I can rest my hand on it with no real discomfort.

And I read the reflector is designed for the Phillips bulb specifically. But the cheaper reflector has only the dimpled aluminum inside. Not the 2 special reflective surfaces in the original all in one or commercial remote.