Are CMH Grow Lights Cooler than HPS Grow Lights? 420 Guide for Beginners 2020
Best HID grow lights work because of gasses, not wires or chips. The type of gas and chemicals used in HID grow bulbs- like mercury and metal halides- react with each other to give you light. As the bulb gets brighter and brighter, it gives off heat. That heat is pretty intense and will radiate from the bulb. The higher the temperature and the longer you run it, the hotter the bulb and your grow room will become. Now, it should be noted that CMH’s run in the same way standard MH’s run, only they have ceramic bases. However, ceramic metal halide bulbs run a lot cooler than MH and HPS bulbs by about 8°F. An LED ran cooler than CMH’s by at least 2°F, and overall 10°F lower temperature from a higher-powered LED.
What is a Ceramic Metal Halide Grow Light?
First of all, what are these lights actually called? Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)? Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC)? Or are they Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM)?
First of all, what are these lights actually called? Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)? Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC)? Or are they Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM)?
The truth is that all those different names are talking about the same Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) technology. LEC is actually a trademarked term for a CMH brand. In order to avoid confusion, I’m going to be using CMH in this article, which is the most common term.
Ceramic Metal Halide grow lights are basically a variation of MH grow lights with a little of HPS added into the mixture. A CMH uses a ceramic arc tube similar to those used in HPS grow lights instead of the quartz used in traditional metal halide grow lights.
The ceramic arc tubes operate at higher pressures than quartz glass tubes, which enables manufacturers to make more precise variations on the spectrum than with previous technologies.
What is a HPS Grow Light?
HPS Grow Lights are a specific type of HID grow light often associated with a reddish/orange-ish output. If you have ever seen a friend’s indoor grow light and noticed it had a red/orange appearance, it is likely an HPS grow light. You may have also seen HPS lights used in parking lots and street lights because they provide a lot of illumination and they’re brighter than fluorescent lighting. While HPS lights are also used for general lighting applications, best HPS grow lights are engineered specifically to grow plants and put out even more light than standard HPS lighting.
HPS Grow Lights are a specific type of HID grow light often associated with a reddish/orange-ish output. If you have ever seen a friend’s indoor grow light and noticed it had a red/orange appearance, it is likely an HPS grow light. You may have also seen HPS lights used in parking lots and street lights because they provide a lot of illumination and they’re brighter than fluorescent lighting. While HPS lights are also used for general lighting applications, best HPS grow lights are engineered specifically to grow plants and put out even more light than standard HPS lighting.
There are basically two main factors that contribute to HPS being a better option for flowering than MH. First, the reddish output of HPS more closely resembles the natural sunlight a plant would absorb in the autumn seasons, which drives the plant’s maximum flowering production. In addition, HPS lights provide higher light intensity (lumens) than MH. This can be around 25–40% more lumens/watt than MH lights of the same wattage, and when it comes to flowering; the more light — the better the results.
Advantages Of CMH Light
Spectrum
The CMH light spectrum combines the red-heavy HPS spectrum with the blue-heavy MH spectrum in one bulb, making it the perfect light for all stages of growth. With a high CRI, it is extremely close to natural sunlight, which is great for your plants and for your eyes (plants look more natural, making it easier to spot any discolorations or other issues).
Spectrum
The CMH light spectrum combines the red-heavy HPS spectrum with the blue-heavy MH spectrum in one bulb, making it the perfect light for all stages of growth. With a high CRI, it is extremely close to natural sunlight, which is great for your plants and for your eyes (plants look more natural, making it easier to spot any discolorations or other issues).
Efficiency
Ceramic metal halide gives you a much higher PAR (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED fixtures.
Ceramic metal halide gives you a much higher PAR (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED fixtures.
UV Light
The CMH light spectrum also contains UV light of all type. Since UV-C light is harmful, the lamps use a glass filter to block that range, leaving only UV-A and UV-B light, which many feel is beneficial to yield quality. There is no need for supplemental UV lights when using CMH grow lights for indoor growing.
The CMH light spectrum also contains UV light of all type. Since UV-C light is harmful, the lamps use a glass filter to block that range, leaving only UV-A and UV-B light, which many feel is beneficial to yield quality. There is no need for supplemental UV lights when using CMH grow lights for indoor growing.
Lower Heat
CMH grow lights run much cooler than their MH and HPS counterparts, reducing, or even eliminating, the need for additional cooling equipment. They run hotter than light emitting diode lights, though.
CMH grow lights run much cooler than their MH and HPS counterparts, reducing, or even eliminating, the need for additional cooling equipment. They run hotter than light emitting diode lights, though.
Best CMH Grow Lights: Reviews
The EYE HORTILUX CMH 315 Grow Light System includes a reflector that is easy to replace. After several grow cycles, system reflectors get dirty and sometimes scratched from cleaning. Having a reflector replacement schedule helps maintain consistent plant quality and high yields. Replacing a reflector in the CMH 315 does not require purchasing an entirely new system.
The new Eye Hortilux CMH 315 Grow Light System takes the next step for grow light systems. The short, compact reflector design maximizes light with 8% more light hitting the canopy and 30% more uniform light than the competition.
Grower’s Choice 315 Watt CMH Kit Features
Dimmable Option
The GC-315 Digital Ballast allows lamps of various wattages to be operated in the same unit simply by adjusting the dial on the ballast. Each lamp will be operated to the exact specification that the lamp requires.
The GC-315 Digital Ballast allows lamps of various wattages to be operated in the same unit simply by adjusting the dial on the ballast. Each lamp will be operated to the exact specification that the lamp requires.
Smart Step Technology
By turning the dial on the GC Series Digital Ballast you can reduce the output of a lamp when not so much power is needed. Just turn the dial again to step back to full power.
By turning the dial on the GC Series Digital Ballast you can reduce the output of a lamp when not so much power is needed. Just turn the dial again to step back to full power.
Super Lumen
The Super Lumen feature on the GC-315 will increase the output of the lamp to achieve maximum lamp performance. Increase is approximately 10% depending on model.
The Super Lumen feature on the GC-315 will increase the output of the lamp to achieve maximum lamp performance. Increase is approximately 10% depending on model.
Smart Start™ Ignition Control
This revolutionary feature, unique to our products, makes GC Series Digital Ballast the safest and most reliable ballast when used in automated multiple lamp applications.
This revolutionary feature, unique to our products, makes GC Series Digital Ballast the safest and most reliable ballast when used in automated multiple lamp applications.
When multiple units are connected to the same mains circuit, our integrated Ignition Control software will completely balance the electrical draw by igniting one lamp at a time to prevent electrical surges and spikes that can overload the mains circuit and trip circuit breaking systems. For further efficiency, this feature is activated alongside our ‘Soft Start Technology’.
Soft Start Technology
Soft Start Technology prolongs lamp life by stopping current rush to the lamp and preventing lamp overload. When the ballast is started from cold there will be a 3 second fixed delay before ignition.
Soft Start Technology prolongs lamp life by stopping current rush to the lamp and preventing lamp overload. When the ballast is started from cold there will be a 3 second fixed delay before ignition.
After ignition there will be a series of random 0–2 second delays before full brightness is reached after approximately 3–5 minutes. SoftStart Technology is also activated when increasing and decreasing power to the lamp using the ‘Smart-Step’ feature.
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