Phillips Elite Agro 315w T12 CMH in open fixtures - Impressive!!!

I have 2 open, vertical bulb T12 fixtures in a 4x4 tent, but I'm only growing in a 4x3 space. 3 plants - 2 phenos of Snow Goddess and the Tora Bora. I've grown the massive sativa snow goddess dominating the back half of the tent before and I can attest it is easily double the size from the last grow under LEDs.... granted I don't have the really high end LEDs ((3)HTG 7-band 240w), but they ain't bad. All grow variables equal except this grow is scrog, last was lst)


There have been reports that the elite Agro bulbs may be lacking in the red end of the spectrum and therefore trichome production would be reduced..... that's bunk. These lights are throwin down. The Tora Bora is so resinous that I actively avoid touching that purple sticky biatch.


Drawback is the relatively low wattage, but multiple lights let you tweak the height over the canopy..... if I only had one light in the tent, the sativa would be happy, but the indicas would be sucking hindtit.


But the real sell is the spectrum and your ability to look at the plant, with lights on, in what is so close to real sunlight I can't tell the difference hardly.


FYI, I am not affiliated in any way. I paid full price ~$550/fixture, which is kinda pricey..... but this is my hobby . I will be harvesting in a few weeks and I will post up the yield, but I think it will be decent.

Every grow I've seen with that light has been nice. Looks good...really good!

seems leds have a hard time penetrating and making large buds whereas this cmh is rockin..

Cool! I bought a 150W Philips CDM-T Elite 930. This thing rocks, I agree. Awesome color, plants look very life like. Very bright. Not too much heat although I'm probably running too much light for my grow space so it's getting a little warm in there when the AC kicks off for however long. Have yet to finish a plant under it. My garden is looking like shit right now, I've been neglecting it a bit lately, but I'm still looking forward to what the two healthy plants in the back can do, they were planted in ~80% compost, zero training.


Payed probably $50 for the bulb, another $50 for the ballast, like $5 for a G12 socket adapter.. Eh, I'd say I payed close to $1/W once everything was said and done. The reflector was made out of scraps of adhesive backed White film and sheet metal.

Babbagineer,

Thank you for sharing your comments concerning the Philips Elite Grow 315 watt CMH. I carry this line of bulbs and ballasts. So far our results show a greater yield, a shorter grow cycle using two of these systems to replace one 1000W MH and HPS with no need to switch bulbs. Lamp output with our specially designed ballast is 95% of original after 20,000 hours.

We are located in Denver.

what ballasts do these bulbs use? I have a 250w magnetic HPS ballast, would that work?

Nrgman> is the special ballast 120v or only 240v? I almost bought one but the 240v was a buzzkill..

bondoman said:

what ballasts do these bulbs use? I have a 250w magnetic HPS ballast, would that work?

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wont work with the agro line.............you can purchase the discontinued philips hps-retro white for your ballast, make sure to specify if you run it a vertical or horizontal position.

http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm

Positivity said:

Nrgman> is the special ballast 120v or only 240v? I almost bought one but the 240v was a buzzkill..

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The op's agro-elite fixture also comes in a 120v option http://growershouse.com/sun-system-lec-315-light-emitting-ceramic-mh-fixture-120v it has a step-up transformer in it, hence the higher price than the 220v one.

Thanks psuagrow

ive seen the sunsystem but it doesn't advertise the bulb life expectancy or "enhanced spectrum" like the dna ones...or other "special" ballast.

that and the sunsystem one doesn't allow use of other reflectors. If I got one I'd air cool it just to keep things as close to ambient as possible.

I'm pretty happy with leds but I'd really like to see what this light can do. 315w is a sweet spot in power consumption for me...

I want to try it too. but for the cost I'd rather spend a little extra and get an led with same coverage and less watts and a warranty.. I do like cmh though.. I also like not having to replace any bulbs.

I'm currently testing these fixtures up next to my homemade dual 315w elite Agro(horizontal bulbs). I can tell you that my plants prefer the "bluer" light that comes from mounting the lamps horizontally and the SS LEC are vertical mounted which makes the spectrum more orange colored. The extra blue from horizontal mounting keep the plants healthier and makes better fragrances come out.

^^^huh?!

Just CMH bumpin. New school>old school

Every CMH grow I see looks so impressive I might end up trying to get a 300w CMH to test it. Grats on your grow looks great man hope you enjoy.

Any reports on on the mogul based 315 that advanced tech lightning sells?

bicit said:

Any reports on on the mogul based 315 that advanced tech lightning sells?

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It's only the 942 bulb (4200k) they don't come in 930.

RedCarpetMatches said:

It's only the 942 bulb (4200k) they don't come in 930.

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Right, but has anyone has a chance to use one yet? They seem like a decent deal even if you have to buy a transformer.

bicit said:

Right, but has anyone has a chance to use one yet? They seem like a decent deal even if you have to buy a transformer.

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The 942 would be a great veg bulb. I know a grower using one of each in a 4x4 with light movers. Getting great results! They were supposed to have the 120v combo out this week. Should be soon enough.

I've been put onto these 315W CMH bulbs by a friend who works as a breeder in a Boulder dispensary. I'm interested in getting the lamp, the socket, finding out how long the lampcord can be to effectively strike and run the bulb and what constitutes the best ballast. I do NOT want a reflector, I'm designing my own.

All information would be very helpful

I now have (3) 315w Elite Agro open Goodwin my 4x4 tent.... why you ask? Because I can, silly. I was able to manage the heat with 2 6" can fans/filters and a portable AC. It's dope

Bubbagineer said:

I now have (3) 315w Elite Agro open Goodwin my 4x4 tent.... why you ask? Because I can, silly. I was able to manage the heat with 2 6" can fans/filters and a portable AC. It's dope

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nice setup for sure, love that fixture..........your over-fertilizing and STOP cutting all the fan leaves off unless your harvesting====IT WILL NOT increase bud size grower.

be safe

ttystikk said:

I've been put onto these 315W CMH bulbs by a friend who works as a breeder in a Boulder dispensary. I'm interested in getting the lamp, the socket, finding out how long the lampcord can be to effectively strike and run the bulb and what constitutes the best ballast. I do NOT want a reflector, I'm designing my own.

All information would be very helpful

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best ballast bar-none is ceramatek if you believe the #s http://www.gel-usa.com/#/products/ceramatek/CT315W NO reflector included.......... pretty long cord will fire it I think, pricey, but so is quality led/plasma/induction ........this is the kit I would go for if I would go back to cmh no question.