Advice- horizontal or vertical CMH fixture

turbobuzz

Well-Known Member
Ok, I'm taking the leap soon from cheap led to CMH 315, but I can't find anything that really says if horizontal or vertical fixtures are best. Any advice? Looks like the horizontal fixtures are cheaper. Going to be used in a closet where the door remains open, so I'm thinking heat can be managed.
 

Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
Ok, I'm taking the leap soon from cheap led to CMH 315, but I can't find anything that really says if horizontal or vertical fixtures are best. Any advice? Looks like the horizontal fixtures are cheaper. Going to be used in a closet where the door remains open, so I'm thinking heat can be managed.
Phillips bulbs were designed to be done vertically if I remember correctly.
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
There is NOT a single bulb company that designs their bulbs to operate flat or vertical. Its NOT cost efficient. They (phillips) make a t9 and a t12 style bulb. 1 made for sealed/ac hoods, the other for open hood/bare bulb setups.

3yrs long time cmh user before it became popular
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
The direction you hang it depends heavily on the size and shape of your canopy from my understanding. You want the light directed at the canopy . In vertical grows or with bushes vertical bulbs make tons of sense. If you've got a flat garden with an evenish canopy I think horizontal with a reflector makes a lot more sense.
 

turbobuzz

Well-Known Member
There is NOT a single bulb company that designs their bulbs to operate flat or vertical. Its NOT cost efficient. They (phillips) make a t9 and a t12 style bulb. 1 made for sealed/ac hoods, the other for open hood/bare bulb setups.

3yrs long time cmh user before it became popular
So what reflector do you recommend. Vertical or horizontal? I'm leaning towards vertical.
 

turbobuzz

Well-Known Member
I used all my old hps/my hoods. So mysetup will be different than most. It works for me 100%. All are air cooked, big kahuna hoods kept about 2' max from canopy tops.

4x315 cmh all Philips 930 bulbs (1265w total)
1 week after flip

View attachment 4246319
Shit, that's massive. I'm talking a couple plants in a closet. Sounds like horizontal is my best bet, and they are cheaper.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Do NOT buy a prebuilt setup. Use your brain, piece it together to suit your needs. It's easier than you think.

Any hood will work
Cmh to mogul socket adapter
Cmh bulb
Cmh ballast

Done
Easy peasy!
I just looked at pricing that. Not that bad price wise to convert until you add the price of the bulb. I've thought about CMH but would a 315 CMH be any better than a 600 watt HPS in a 4' x 4' tent?
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
I just looked at pricing that. Not that bad price wise to convert until you add the price of the bulb. I've thought about CMH but would a 315 CMH be any better than a 600 watt HPS in a 4' x 4' tent?
Not really, you'll need 2 bulbs. Then you would (should) exceede your 600 harvest weight.

I went from 3x600 yo 4x 315 in the same room. I pull the same if not slightly more weight now, but using less power.
 

Bad Karma

Well-Known Member
I think I've about decided on the Hydrofarm Phantom. The ballast can be outside the closet reducing heat even more.
I use three Phantom CMH 315’s in my garden and they’ve worked out wonderfully. Remote ballasts are definitely the way to go if you want to keep temps down in your grow space.
 
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