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Ceramic metal halide lamps are very similar to high-intensity discharge (HID) lights. They are long, cylindrical lamps that feature two elements – a tungsten filament and a ceramic arc tube. Like HID lights, they do not emit light from an atomic level like incandescents or LEDs.
Are metal halide lamps HID?
WHAT ARE METAL HALIDE LIGHT BULBS? A metal-halide lamp is an electric light that produces light by an electric arc through a gaseous mixture of vaporized mercury and metal halides[1][2] (compounds of metals with bromine or iodine). It is a type of high-intensity discharge (HID) gas discharge lamp.
Are CMH lights HID?
CMH grow lights are hands down the best HID grow lamp technology available on the market right now. Also known as LEC grow lights, they have the best PAR spectrum of any HID lamp, the slowest degradation rate, and they’re also at least 10% more efficient than other HID lamps.
What is the difference between HID and metal halide?
Both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs are part of the HID family of bulbs. The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange.
What’s the difference between metal halide and ceramic metal halide?
What are CMH lamps? The largest difference between MH and CMH lamps is the Ceramic or “C” in CMH. Another advantage when using the CMH lamp, is the lower wattage – it is only 315 watts, compared to a metal halide lamp which is often 600-1000 watts.
Can you dim metal halide lights?
All EYE Metal Halide lamps, except, Multi-Metal Ace™ family, can be dimmed up to 80% of the lamp nominal wattage on EYE Lighting approved dimming ballast systems. Lamps must be operated at least 15 minutes at full power prior to dimming.
Do metal halide lamps need a ballast?
Metal halide (MH) ballasts are required to start the lamp, regulate the lamp starting and lamp operating currents, and provide appropriate sustaining supply voltage. MH lamp voltage typically increases over time, and the ballast must continue to provide sufficient voltage to the lamp as it ages.
What’s the difference between HPS and CMH?
CMHs Run Cooler than HPS Lights — Another benefit of CMH lights over HPS bulbs is that they produce less heat. Even a 630w CMH light will run cooler than a 600w HPS bulb. So while HPS lights are cheaper overall, CMH lights will definitely save you some cooling costs during those hot summer months.
What does CMH light mean?
The ceramic discharge metal-halide (CDM) lamp, often referred to as Ceramic Metal Halide lamp (CMH) is a source of light that is a type of metal-halide lamp which is 10-20% more efficient than the traditional quartz metal halide and produces a superior color rendition (80-96 CRI).
Is HPS better than CMH?
HPS bulbs are 30%+ more efficient than MH bulbs but they only have around 3% blue in the spectrum. A recent addition to the market is Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) bulbs. They are more expensive per watt but they have a good spectrum (about 11% blue) and a higher efficiency than HPS in most cases.
What’s better HPS or metal halide?
HPS is about twice as electrically efficient as metal halide. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is what really matters to plant growth, and delivery of usable PAR is better with HPS than metal halide. Metal halides deliver, on average, about 80,000-110,000 lumens per standard 1,000-watt bulb.
Can I use a metal halide bulb in a mercury vapor fixture?
They do not manufacture “mercury vapor” ballasts anymore, so you would use a metal halide ballast and MH or MV lamp. On occasion, pairing a 175 MV lamp with a 150W MH ballast, will work, but will cause the ballast to overclock, and will greatly shorten the life of that ballast and/or lamp.
Is HPS and hid the same?
The difference between HPS, MH and HID Grow Lighting In easy terms, it’s a type of light bulb. A very large light bulb (some about the size of your forearm). The main difference between the two bulbs is the type of light spectrum they produce (because of the gas inside).
Is CMH good for flowering?
CMH bulbs are great for flowering, too, but not as good as HPS bulbs. They are much better at vegging though, making them the perfect full-cycle bulbs. CMH lamps are generally a bit more expensive than their HPS counterparts, but they make up for it with double the usable lifespan.
Can you touch a CMH bulb?
You cannot touch these bulbs. They even come with a cotton glove. These bulbs, though not used now, used to be one of the many options of aquarium lights.
Is there a difference in metal halide bulbs?
Metal halide lights are 3-5 times as efficient as incandescent bulbs and produce a much higher quality light. In many cases, and depending on the particular mix of metal halides, they have a very high color temperature (up to 5500K).
Can you dim a 600w MH bulb?
Using it to dim down a bulb, for example to run a 1000w watt bulb at 600w, is not ideal. That is the big advantage of a dimmable ballast: it allows you to power bulbs of multiple wattages. Dimming a bulb down to a lower output is also possible, but it is not advisable.
Can you dim a magnetic ballast?
Dimming systems are currently available for both magnetic and electronic ballasts, but due to legislation that has effectively banned most magnetic ballasts bulbs.com strongly recommends using an electronic ballast-based system.
Can you dim a 600w HPS bulb?
While it is completely possible to dim your HID grow lights, we would say don’t do this if it is at all avoidable because the relative efficiency will take a hit. It would be better and more efficient to use a 600 watt grow light at full power rather than to use a dimmed 1000 watter.
Can I put a metal halide bulb in a regular socket?
Like fluorescent lights, metal halides require a ballast to provide high starting voltages and to regulate current inside the bulb during operation. This is why a metal halide bulb will not work in a standard household lighting fixture — aside from the fact that the larger E39 base will not fit.
Can you replace a metal halide bulb with an LED bulb?
LED Offers Long Life, Lower Energy Costs, Instant On and Control Options. A 400 watt metal halide bulb can be replaced with a 200 watt LED. A 100 watt metal halide can be replaced with a 50 watt LED. Implementing an LED replacement program should result in a 50% reduction in annual energy use (kWh) costs.
