Are CMH Grow Lights Effective? — Guide for Beginner — 2019 Updated
What Is A Ceramic Metal Halide Grow Light?
First, let’s clear up a point of confusion. I’m sure you’ve seen (even just in this article), several different terms and abbreviations. Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH), Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) and Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM) all refer to the same thing. CMH is the most common term.
Another point of confusion concerns their relationship to metal halide lights. CMH bulbs are a variation of MH bulbs, but they are quite different. Instead of using a quartz tube, they use a ceramic tube (more here), similar to an HPS bulb.
This allows a higher arc tube temperature, which in turn allows a better mix of gases to produce a more optimal spectrum (more on this below in the sections comparing CMH to MH and HPS). The light produced by a CMH bulb is much closer to natural sunlight than either MH or HPS (with a CRI of 96). It is, for practical purposes, a perfect combination of MH and HPS in a single bulb.
Advantages of CMH grow lights
Broad spectrum
This is the first winning point of CMH over HIDs light. CMH grow lights have much a wider and more consistent spectrum.
This is the first winning point of CMH over HIDs light. CMH grow lights have much a wider and more consistent spectrum.
So besides having enough light intensity, plants also love to have sufficient light colors/quality to have their best growth potential.
More UV rays
Under high pressure, CMH bulbs can produce powerful light output that contains Ultraviolets (UV) like the sun.
Under high pressure, CMH bulbs can produce powerful light output that contains Ultraviolets (UV) like the sun.
These UVs include UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, especially UV-B which is really helpful for plant growth, overall all 3 types of UV are harmful to human eyes.
So you should not look at the bulbs directly for a long period. And most good CMH brands use a protective glass filter to block harmful UV types.
Better PAR Efficiency
One of the reasons many growers are switching to CMH grow lights is due their excellent PAR efficiency, which is much better than that of many other types of grow lights. Other grow light models such as MH and HPS waste too much energy, which does not help with crop growth.
One of the reasons many growers are switching to CMH grow lights is due their excellent PAR efficiency, which is much better than that of many other types of grow lights. Other grow light models such as MH and HPS waste too much energy, which does not help with crop growth.
Long-Lasting
Ceramic arc tubes have an advantage over other tubes and bulbs because they are resistant to heat and other problems. This makes the grow lights last longer than others without breaking down. The grow lights run for 24,000 hours, which is equal to running for a period of three years. For 20,000 hours, the grow light keeps a constant lighting and heat strength of 80%.
Ceramic arc tubes have an advantage over other tubes and bulbs because they are resistant to heat and other problems. This makes the grow lights last longer than others without breaking down. The grow lights run for 24,000 hours, which is equal to running for a period of three years. For 20,000 hours, the grow light keeps a constant lighting and heat strength of 80%.
Heat Emission
Even though CMH grow lights do not manufacture much heat like the standard HID lights, they still give out lots of heat. So it’s not really efficient for smaller growers with small space. So if you have a high wattage bulb running in a closed system, some ventilation methods must be done.
Even though CMH grow lights do not manufacture much heat like the standard HID lights, they still give out lots of heat. So it’s not really efficient for smaller growers with small space. So if you have a high wattage bulb running in a closed system, some ventilation methods must be done.
Drawbacks of CMH Lights
A drawback to CMH grow lights has been the initial cost but as the CMH lighting system has increased in usage, costs have decreased for the lighting systems.
A drawback to CMH grow lights has been the initial cost but as the CMH lighting system has increased in usage, costs have decreased for the lighting systems.
It has been noted by experienced growers that Quality lighting pays dividends at harvest time, along with the energy savings over the long term and make the cost of CMHs worth the investment for many growers.
Another drawback is that growers must use extra caution when working in the growroom when the lights are on. Many CMH grow lights come with warnings from manufacturers that suggest growers should not be around the lamps for more than a few minutes at a time while they are on, unless adequate shielding or other protection is used.
It is important to note that CMH grow lights are safe, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Wear protective glasses that block UV light so you don’t damage your eyes!
Conclusion
With the above extensive review of CMH grow lights, we hope that you will know what to look out for when you are thinking of the kind of lighting system you want for your grow room. The lights are energy efficient, they produce less heat per watt and their light spread is good.
With the above extensive review of CMH grow lights, we hope that you will know what to look out for when you are thinking of the kind of lighting system you want for your grow room. The lights are energy efficient, they produce less heat per watt and their light spread is good.
They are most suitable for the flowering and vegetative stages of crop growth and their lifespans depend with the models and wattage. Some of the lights come with great a UV light, which protects your crops from any harm.
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