Converting a 1000w hid reflector into cmh or cob led?

As the title says, Im curious about converting a 1000w hps hood into maybe another 315w cmh or even a cob system (maybe 4?). I have a sun system blockbuster 6" 1000w air cooled hood that Im most likely never going to use again. It has a magnetic balast with it. Im currently using a sus system 315 "lec" and was looking at buying another one, but I figured it might be a fun little project and save me some cash to just get a socket and bulb and convert this hood. The only issue is that I worried running it horizontally may secerely impact the life of the bulb. Isn't this why they run them vertically? If so, then why can the 630 be ran dual horizontally but not a single 315?

If this can't be done, Im thinking maybe I will just gut it and turn it into a small cob system. I think I could fot 4 in there pretty nicely, one on each corner. The dimentions are 25.5" x 25.5" which would put each led at around 24" apart in a square formation. The drivers would be ran externally into another room as to keep heat down. I could maybe even put a 5th one in the center? Im not sure if that would be too close together or not.

I just would like to find something to do with it instead of it gathering dust.



This was pulled lff google images for a better picture... Probably not needed its a pretty standard hood.

lecs are "good enough" at this point not to gut.

if your hps is a single ended, LED that shit.

since you have airflow you have options. basically pull the lens out and fill in that area with extruded heatsinks and seal it with silicone so youre not pulling room air out (unless you want to).this is an application where smaller, cheaper LESs spread out over it work great. plenty of room and airflow to just stuff the drivers up in the hood. mount em upside down to the top of the fixture.

also pull that nice reflective insert out and use it somewhere else (clone zone, veg zone, etc)

i get old vented hoods all the time at the grow store clearance section for $10-$15, got a stack ready to be modded

i misread that- you want to convert *to* an LEC

my advice:
1. skip it and go to LED
2. if you do want to go LEC the vertical reflectors are really nice and you should just go with that. the hydrofarms can be found for just over $300 with bulb, remote ballast, and reflector

i was gonna say... No way am I gutting my cmh I already have. I love that one lol. I just don't think mounting the 315 cmh bulb horizontally would be a good move. I think going with the led would be the best choice if I were going to go through with this plan.
Do you have any pictures of ones you have made? Ive seen a few floating around but would be cool to see some more to get some ideas.

http://growershouse.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ceramic+science
The 315 will run fine horizontal, its universal.

a couple cobs around your cmh would crush some worlds. just like 8@ 30W each around it would easily double the area you get out of your cmh and be nice and uniform

CobKits said:

lecs are "good enough" at this point not to gut.

if your hps is a single ended, LED that shit.

since you have airflow you have options. basically pull the lens out and fill in that area with extruded heatsinks and seal it with silicone so youre not pulling room air out (unless you want to).this is an application where smaller, cheaper LESs spread out over it work great. plenty of room and airflow to just stuff the drivers up in the hood. mount em upside down to the top of the fixture.

also pull that nice reflective insert out and use it somewhere else (clone zone, veg zone, etc)

i get old vented hoods all the time at the grow store clearance section for $10-$15, got a stack ready to be modded

Click to expand...

ilike that..i have some 8" raptors that would enjoy cobs in em....besides reflecting..i have decided i never want a cob near my eye again..



air cooled i would stil need sinks.. or not?

fundamentally every cob needs a sink but the more airflow you have the smaller it can be

CobKits said:

a couple cobs around your cmh would crush some worlds. just like 8@ 30W each around it would easily double the area you get out of your cmh and be nice and uniform

Click to expand...

You know I was actually thinking about making some kind of fixture that coukd fit around my cmh to add some cobs to. Especially because my area is oddly shaped. Its 3.5' x 4.5. I was thinking more like 4 though, not 8 lol. I was thinking 2 on each end would work nicely.

well i was thinking of 8 in a tic-tac-toe frame with teh cmh in the middle

Yea I

CobKits said:

well i was thinking of 8 in a tic-tac-toe frame with teh cmh in the middle

Click to expand...

Yea, I think that might be a little overkill in my set up. That would be a really cool idea though or even if they sold a frame or the entire unit wired and ready to go. Maybe custom made to your fixture since there are so many different shapes and sizes. Ive seen this one from boulder lamp but its not available yet:

http://boulderlamp.com

Solis Tek had a led fixture with cobs in a HID hood coming out..........looks like the project got scrapped though?...........always liked the idea

@nevergoodenuf has been doing it for years