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HID FAQ: Facts about HID Lights
WHAT DOES "HID" STAND FOR?
HID stands for High Intensity Discharge.
WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO HID XENON LIGHTS?
Safer night driving
Xenon lights are 3x brighter than halogens. At night this is very crucial because the lack of visibility is the biggest cause of automobile accidents during night time driving.
Larger viewing radius
Xenon light bulbs will have 70% wider road coverage due to the fact they are brighter.
Clearer visibility
The whiter xenon light penetrates darkness better than the yellow halogen light and as a result you are able to see better in tougher weather conditions like rain, snow, and fog.
Longer bulb life span
Xenon bulbs last 3x longer than halogen bulbs, and withstand a greater amount of vibration and shock from the road. The average life of a Xenon bulb is about 2,500 hrs.
Lower energy consumption
Xenon lights consume 25% less power than halogen headlights.
HOW LONG DO HID BULBS LAST?
HID bulbs last approximately 2500-3000hrs. Under normal use you should get about 4 years of service from an HID bulb.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AN HID 35W CONVERSION KIT?
HID Conversion Kits include:
2x Slim 35W AC Ballasts or 2 Canbus 35W Ballasts
2x Xenon HID Bulbs
2x HID Plug'n'Play Wires
Screws & mounting brackets
Installation Instruction
WHAT IS CANBUS BALLAST?
CanBus Ballast eliminates flickering issues or "headlamp out" error light issue. Can be used on all make and models but are recommended for all BMW, Audi, VW, and Dodge conversion kit installations.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC & DC BALLASTS?
AC ballasts have a longer bulb and ballast life, are brighter and more expensive.
DC ballasts have a shorter bulb and ballast life, and are inexpensive. DC HID conversion kits may cost as little as £25.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BRIGHTNESS BETWEEN 35W, 55W and 75W HID KITS?
35W - 3x brighter than halogen bulbs
55W - real live testing shows about 10% increase in brightness over 35W systems
75W - 2x brighter than 35W HIDs. Bulbs have a shorter life span because they run hotter.
CAN 35W BULBS BE USED WITH 55W BALLASTS?
The answer is YES. When a 35W bulb is used with a 55W ballast the light will be brighter but at a lower temperature (colour). For example, a 35W 6000K bulb when used with a 55W ballast will have 5500K colour. The life span of the bulb will not be affected.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREE AND EPISTAR LED?
CREE LED's are made in USA.
Cree Inc. is a multinational manufacturer of semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) materials and devices, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, USA
EPISTAR LED's are made in Taiwan.
Epistar Corp. is the largest manufacturer of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in Taiwan.
MY LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING AFTER INSTALL. WHAT DO I DO?
If your lights keep flickering after install then the ballasts are not getting full voltage required to ignite the bulbs. To solve the problem, install a relay wiring harness. The harness connects directly to the battery, and the low voltage is capable of switching the relay, which then draws full 12-14V from the battery, and your HID bulbs will ignite. This setup is normally required for high beams which operate DRL's.
Installers Note: If you installed a relay harness and your lights still keep on flickering, then (a) you may need to install resistors (b) your battery may be old (6+ years).
I WANT TO INSTALL HID'S IN MY HIGH BEAMS. IS IT POSSIBLE?
Yes, it is possible, but keep these points in mind:
1. If vehicle's high beams are also the vehicle's DRL's then you will need a relay harness. DRL's will run full-on HID's, even in daytime.
2. HIDs take time to warm up (10-15 seconds) to full brightness, so if you use your high beams only for short times, then HID's may not be of great benefit to you.
WHAT DO I NEED TO INSTALL HIDS ON A VEHICLE WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS?
HID INSTALLATIONS ARE TRICKY BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
1. Install CANBUS PRO ballasts with your HID bulbs
2. If HIDs flicker with CANBUS PRO ballasts then you need a RELAY
3. If HIDs flicker even after installing a RELAY you will need RESISTORS
4. If you get a "Lamp Out" warning, you will need to install a Warning Canceller.
WILL I HAVE PROBLEM WITH POLICE IF I INSTALL HID LIGHTS IN MY CAR?
There is no simple answer for this and it will largely depend on the police officer and the reason why you got pulled over. Logical assumption would be that trucks with 3 sets of HID lights turned on during the day speeding down a school zone are more likely to get pulled over than someone with a set of HID lights turned on at night time driving the speed limit.
The colour of HID lights has a lot to do with it as well as the type of headlight in which they are used. HIDs come in different colours with 4300K being OEM HID colour, 6000K white, 8000K bluer, 10000K blue, 12000K purple-blue, etc. Basically if you use any colour lower than or equal to 6000K you should be fine.
Headlight type - headlights with diffusers built into the lens (lines in the lens itself) scatter the HID light all over and are the least desirable for upgrading to HID bulbs. Clear headlights with diffusers built in and projector style headlights are probably the best suited for upgrades to HID because they diffuse the light before it hits the road, and lower the chance of blinding oncoming traffic. So, be sensible about how you use your HIDs. If everyone is flashing you then you should lower your lights. Be considerate. You will still be able to see without being "annoying" to other drivers. In summary, upgrading to aftermarket HID lights in your vehicle (one that did not come with HID lights) is entirely your decision. Aftermarket HIDs are not always E marked, and are intended for "off-road" use only, so there is a chance you could be asked to remove them. That said, many people upgrade their car lights to HIDs for safety and better night visibility.
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Originally Posted by Odd Job
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