The cheapest CMH Grow Lights for Indoor Grow 2021 Update
If you are looking for the best CMH grow lights to take your plants from seed to harvest, you have come to the right place.
CMH grow lighting is a great technology for full cycle growing, right up there with LED grow lights.
Actually, Ceramic Metal Halide (or CMH) grow lights are not new; they were first developed in the late 60s, and it’s not until recently that they are acknowledged and used commonly as grow lights.
Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) or Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) are two different terms, but both refer to the same technology. So basically, we can use these two interchangeably. In this article, I’ll mostly use CMH.
A CMH grow light is like a Metal Halide (MH) bulb, but while a MH bulb uses a standard quartz arc tube, CMH is built with a ceramic arc tube. This is similar to the material used for HPS grow lights. So that’s can be said that CMH is a mix between MH and HPS.
Since it uses ceramic arc material, CMH is less degradative than both MH and HPS with up to 20,000 hours of lifespan. CMHs can operate at a higher pressure and emit stronger light output than HIDs as well.
Why Should You Start Using/Switch To CMH Grow Lights?
The grow lights competition is one of the stiffest for indoor weed growers. For you to get the best results out of your crops, you need to keep up with the latest technology and do away with the old. CMH is one of the latest grow light technologies taking the weed growing market by storm.
Before you decide on whether you want to change to this new technology and give your crops better service, it is good to understand what makes hem a popular choice for many growers and what the downsides are.
Another good reason for the popularity of the CMH grow lights is their full spectrum coverage, which is the finest in the market. This the light accomplishes due to the highly effective ceramic arc tube. The ceramic arc tube unlike other types of tubes can resist high temperatures. The lights also come with a well-balanced plectrum that spreads evenly across all the crops, touching every one of their spots.
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.
Natural Color Rendering Index
If we compare with other kind of grow lights then the CMH lights can provide us the highest measurement of natural Color Rendering Index (CRI). It shows us, how an object can be seen through human eyes and how well and elusively it can reveal the color shades. The higher number of CRI gives you a realistic view. If we rate sun light 100 CRI then a CHM grow light can produce 80-96 CRI. That’s why; it can show you the real view where the other lights will show you different type of colors like purple, blue or yellow.
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%.
Heat Consumption
Despite running at high temperatures, CMH grow lights produce less heat compared to many other grow light models in the market. The bulbs of the grow lights do not burn the leaves of the crops and it is one of the best options to use in a grow room or a GROW TENT for a good yield from efficient growth.
Better Color Stability
CMH grow lights are consistent in their light and color dispensation. They do not lose their effectiveness or quality at any time throughout the growing cycles. Other lights lose their effectiveness after some time.
Efficiency
CMH lights are very efficient and the yield per watt from CMH grown crops is higher than that of many other grow lights. If you follow all the growing guidelines, you can have a yield of 20% more than, if you grew your crops under MH lights
Provides UV Light
Besides offering full spectrum light, CMH grow lights also offer more UV lights than many other grow light models. Plants need UV lights for protection and proper growth. The light also helps during the vegetative stage and ensures that the crops grow with strong branches.
Downsides Of Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) Grow Lights (Cons/Disadvantages)
HPS grow lights are the best options to use for the flowering stage of your weed crop. This is because they provide more red spectrum than all other grow lights. CMH grow lights have a better-balanced light spectrum but they are not the best options for the flowering stage.
Brightness
The grow lights provide UV A, UV B and UV C lights. Though the UV brightness of the grow lights provides the crops with enough protection and all they light they need for proper growth, they come with one disadvantage. UV C brightness may cause harm to the human’s naked eyes and it therefore important to wear protective eyeglasses and full-sleeved clothing while handling the lights.
Little Bit Expensive
Another disadvantage of the chm grow lights is that they are more expensive than many HPS grow lights in the market. Their processes are actually double that of HPS grow lights. They however save more energy and are more effective in light coverage. They also last longer, which makes them worth their high costs.
Quite High Heat Output
With over 700 nm lights, a chm is one of the highest heat-emitting bulbs.
Does Not Support All Ballasts
The only ballast you can use with a CMH bulb is the magnetic ballast. You also can not place the bulbs in any other angle besides horizontally or straight up.
ECO Farm CMH 630W Double Ended Grow Light Fixture Enclosed Kit
Ballast Support
Because of the unique design of CMH lights, they can only be used with a certain type of ballast. You’ve got to use a magnetic ballast, so think about this before buying – especially if you’ve got a pile of electronic ballasts on hand.
Heat Output
Just like any high-intensity bulb, CMH lights give off a lot of heat. If you have low ceilings or poor grow room ventilation, you might want to look elsewhere (like LEDs).
CMH heat output isn’t as high as the heat that’s emitted from HPS bulbs, but it’s still something to avoid for small closets and tents. Just remember that ventilation is key in order to move the hot air out of the room and keep the grow room environment from overheating.
Color Spectrum
Even though CMH lights have a better-balanced light spectrum than most bulb types, HPS is more capable of delivering high yields during flower. This is why some growers start with CMH and then transition over to HPS during the flowering phase.
Cost
CMH grow lights are becoming more affordable as the demand for them grows, but they’re still not the cheapest type of light on the market. The upfront cost is a bit on the pricey side, but they cover more area and save more energy in the long run.
Final Thoughts
There are so many choices out there for grow lights for your indoor garden. Sometimes cheaper is not always better, so be aware of that when you check the price.
You certainly get what you pay for. Ensuring the success of your growing plants is really what you need to take in mind whether you choose LED or CMH grow lights.
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