CMH 630w DE thread.

[Lucky Luke]

Don't think we have a dedicated thread for these lights so I thought I'd start one
I'm running the Hi-Par and am very happy so far.

Anyone else running a 630W DE CMH?

 

[Prawn Connery]

How do the yields compare to HPS? I've been asked to put together a LED system to run next to a 630 DE CMH in an 8'x4' tent to compare the results (hopefully it will go ahead soon). I've no doubt LED will yield better, but it will be interesting to compare the bud quality with the extra UV from the CMH

 

[Lucky Luke]

How do the yields compare to HPS? I've been asked to put together a LED system to run next to a 630 DE CMH in an 8'x4' tent to compare the results (hopefully it will go ahead soon). I've no doubt LED will yield better, but it will be interesting to compare the bud quality with the extra UV from the CMH

Ive only ever run a 600w HPS in flower and the 630w DE CMH does yield better with much more resin and denser flower with cooler temps.
If doing the test make sure you run a proper CMH square wave ballast. There are some bastard bulbs being produced that can be retro fitted to high freq ballasts but these of cause don't take advantage of a proper CMH ballast and lamp.

@Bongsmoke420 runs CMH along with HLG QB's (same tent). He may have some insight in comparing LED and CMH.

 

[Prawn Connery]

I'm not sure the specs, as it's a friend of a friend who wants to compare LED with HIDs. I know I can get much more even coverage with LED at the same wattage, but I'm also a big fan of having a bit of UV in there for the terps and THC. I think LED + CMH can be a good combo. I used to be very skeptical of LED beating HIDs, but then I started growing with them myself and it only took one harvest to make me a believer.

 

[Renfro]

How do the yields compare to HPS?

I tried a 600 watt DE CMH against 1kW DE HPS and the CMH lagged behind.

Switched to 1kW DE CMH and thats the ticket.

 

[Prawn Connery]

The only problem with DEs is you can't hang them vertically. Vertical HIDs automatically give you an increase in usable light by removing reflector losses. Plus you don't get the same heat build-up as you do under a hood. If I went back to HIDs, it would probably be SE CMH hung vertically.

 

[PSUAGRO.]

They make a "gizmo" , lol, to hang DE bulbs vertically......very thick glass though, definitely robbing at least 10%, maybe it's removable? Idk, out of the loop

Around equal wattage, cmh bud quality went up vs hps, yield slightly lower IME with Philips allstart.

 

[Renfro]

Yeah if you are gonna run vertical bulbs, as do I for side lighting, then single end is still the best. If you do run a reflector with SE bulbs, it is best if you can screw the bulb in so that the internal framework is facing the reflector. The bulbs internal framework blocks a little bit of light and if oriented towards the reflector you will get the best side of the bulb facing the plants.

With vertical bulbs it is important to spec bulbs that will run in a vertical or universal position. Otherwise the bulb won't last long at all.

If one wanted to use a DE bulb for side lighting with a reflector then you can just orient the bulb horizontally and put the reflector opposite the plant on the side instead of above the bulb.

I love DE bulbs for overhead use but for side lighting nothing beats a SE bulb.

 

[Renfro]

The only problem with DEs is you can't hang them vertically. Vertical HIDs automatically give you an increase in usable light by removing reflector losses. Plus you don't get the same heat build-up as you do under a hood. If I went back to HIDs, it would probably be SE CMH hung vertically.

I put a 315 SE CMH in my room to replace a SE 600 HPS vertical that the ballast died. I think yields suffered significantly in the covered area but the nugs there are dense and frosty. I wish they made 630 and 1kW SE CMH bulbs designed to run in a vertical or universal position.

I think I will move the SE CMH to a row end where I currently have vertical 400w HPS with a batwing reflector. I think it would rock in that footprint. If it wasn't so costly I would replace all 12 of my 400 watt HPS end lights with 315 CMH, less heat and save a kilowatt. Too bad they don't make a CMH bulb that would screw in and run on a 400w HPS ballast.

 

[Prawn Connery]

I'd probably be inclined to hang a 315 CMH inline with a 600 HPS vertically. Here are two 600s inline - you can get really close with a floor fan direct cooling the bulbs. No cool tubes necessary.

 

[OLD MOTHER SATIVA]

re De vs led

"i am sure"

pictures not opinions or it didn't happen

you are doin good bro!

 

[OLD MOTHER SATIVA]

normal hps..justsayin

 

[Prawn Connery]

re De vs led

"i am sure"

pictures not opinions or it didn't happen

you are doin good bro!

It's not an opinion. It's a fact. I've grown with both and I'm getting better yields under LED than HPS. I used to average 1.3-1.4gpw in the above system (1200W vertical HPS, run-to-waste coco), and I've pulled up to 2.2gpw under LED with the same strains and coco RTW system. I'll quantify that by stating I grow a mix of hybrids and sativas, some of which can flower for 12+ weeks, and I grow perpetually, so my grows get the benefit of overlapping light.

400W LED


400W LED


400W (each) LED (friend's grow, not mine)


1200W vertical HPS

 

[OneHitDone]

The only problem with DEs is you can't hang them vertically. Vertical HIDs automatically give you an increase in usable light by removing reflector losses. Plus you don't get the same heat build-up as you do under a hood. If I went back to HIDs, it would probably be SE CMH hung vertically.

There are some single ended lamps out that have a DE arc tube / chemistry in them

 

[Lucky Luke]

I tried a 600 watt DE CMH against 1kW DE HPS and the CMH lagged behind.

Switched to 1kW DE CMH and thats the ticket.

From memory I don't think you run a proper square wave ballast?

 

[OneHitDone]

I'd probably be inclined to hang a 315 CMH inline with a 600 HPS vertically. Here are two 600s inline - you can get really close with a floor fan direct cooling the bulbs. No cool tubes necessary.

View attachment 4338155

View attachment 4338160

The plants sure always appear to be in "better" health with hid.

 

[Lucky Luke]

Lets not turn this into a LED VS HPS VS CMH please. Plenty of threads on that already...

Thread is for those of us who use or have an interest in CMH ballasts, in particular the 630w DE.

 

[Kenpark]

It's not an opinion. It's a fact. I've grown with both and I'm getting better yields under LED than HPS. I used to average 1.3-1.4gpw in the above system (1200W vertical HPS, run-to-waste coco), and I've pulled up to 2.2gpw under LED with the same strains and coco RTW system. I'll quantify that by stating I grow a mix of hybrids and sativas, some of which can flower for 12+ weeks, and I grow perpetually, so my grows get the benefit of overlapping light.

400W LED
View attachment 4338198

400W LED
View attachment 4338199

400W (each) LED (friend's grow, not mine)
View attachment 4338202

1200W vertical HPS
View attachment 4338205

View attachment 4338206

Hey man are big numbers ...

400 watts led in a 3x3 or 4x4? what kind of strips are they?
thanks

 

[Prawn Connery]

4x2 and they were older Samsung H-Series 3000K strips with LM561C LEDs running off two HLG-240H-48A drivers.

 

[Lucky Luke]

How do the yields compare to HPS? I've been asked to put together a LED system to run next to a 630 DE CMH in an 8'x4' tent to compare the results (hopefully it will go ahead soon). I've no doubt LED will yield better, but it will be interesting to compare the bud quality with the extra UV from the CMH

Are you still doing this? Hoping so!
I agree the LED will yield more, CMH does grow a nice flower though.


Im lovin the 630WDE over the 600w HPS it replaced. I'm a lazy grower and my frost has gone way up, oiliness of the buds are better as is smell. More weight as well of cause.