Explain HID headlights to me

Hypnotic Toast · Feb 22, 2009

So I've been thinking about upgrading my headlights to a brighter bulb and I know everyone usually puts in the Sylvania Silverstar and calls it quits. I know that HID lights are brighter, but I've heard that you have to have a special headlight that can take it. Is this true? Is there anything you need to do to get a truck/car ready to use them?

Jon581 · Feb 22, 2009

check out this site they have hid kits for my ranger and probly yours i can't find any info on that site to explain how they work but basically they use gas filld bulbs and a spark to light and stay lit,they burn really hot but very bright and use less power to run and last alot longer then reg bulbs, also the kits come with everything you need http://www.mytightride.com/9007hidkit.html

Hypnotic Toast · Feb 22, 2009

So, the kits only sell bulbs and the wiring to get it ready. I assume that the headlight case that your bulbs go into doesn't need to be changed and a factory headlight can use HID bulbs?

AKBroncoII · Feb 22, 2009

Sure the HID's will work in the factory light housings. But it is not DOT legal.

np24 · Feb 22, 2009

Jon581 said:
check out this site they have hid kits for my ranger and probly yours i can't find any info on that site to explain how they work but basically they use gas filld bulbs and a spark to light and stay lit,they burn really hot but very bright and use less power to run and last alot longer then reg bulbs, also the kits come with everything you need http://www.mytightride.com/9007hidkit.html

The problem that I've run across with the kits like this is that when the bulb does die, where do you get another? They only sell the kits and don't give any reference as to where to get spares. I understand that they last a lot longer, but $220 for a set of head lights is a lot if you gotta drop that every couple of years.

fastpakr · Feb 22, 2009

Check these guys out. Their reputation at every place I could find seems to be fantastic. You're looking at maybe $80 shipped for an HID low beam system, or a few dollars more to do the whole thing. Replacement bulbs (which you're unlikely to ever need, and they come with a lifetime warranty regardless) are available separately for $30/pair.

Jon581 · Feb 23, 2009

the kit has everything you need the only big thing is you need to wire in the ballasts that come with it and as far as fitting my stock bulbs are 9007 and they have a 9007 kit but just to make sure i would call them and ask and as for being dot legal im not sure why woulden't they be? high end cars come with them from the factory

flyingbrick · Feb 23, 2009

Jon581 said:
the kit has everything you need the only big thing is you need to wire in the ballasts that come with it and as far as fitting my stock bulbs are 9007 and they have a 9007 kit but just to make sure i would call them and ask and as for being dot legal im not sure why woulden't they be? high end cars come with them from the factory

To be DOT they have to be a projector setup IIRC because they prevent the light from shining overly vertical and blinding oncoming traffic, as well as protect the bulb better.

Beanmachine7000 · Feb 23, 2009

flyingbrick said:
To be DOT they have to be a projector setup IIRC because they prevent the light from shining overly vertical and blinding oncoming traffic, as well as protect the bulb better.

True... I hate it when people (not to stereotype, but mainly ricers) buy the HID kit without getting the projectors, because all it does is blind me... Please get the correct projectors too...

fastpakr · Feb 23, 2009

Do you have a link for that? I hadn't run across that info before. I'm not sure I buy it either (the last part, that is). Being blinded is a function of aim far more than intensity. It sounds like you've been running into improperly aimed headlights.

AKBroncoII · Feb 23, 2009

There is a difference in the headlight housings. One that should not be overlooked. Get the right bulb for the right housing.

Jon581 · Feb 23, 2009

i don't belive HID's need projector headlights to be DOT legal,again i have seen cars and know people with cars that have HID's from the factory without projector's

Beanmachine7000 · Feb 23, 2009

I'd have to find a link, I read somewhere that the discharge pattern of the HID's is a different shape than that of conventional lights (HID being flatter and more line shaped, and conventional being more of an arc from the filaments)... The projectors for filament type lights aren't shaped correctly for the different shape of the HID arc...

Beanmachine7000 · Feb 23, 2009

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

It's on the internet so take it as you like, but it even has USDOT testing .pdf files at the bottom for review... You can clearly see the conversion kits failed every aspect of the DOT testing... Cars that have HID's (most european) from the factory have HID specific projectors and self leveling systems to keep the beams out of oncoming motorists (per Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discharge_lamp

Jon581 · Feb 23, 2009

maybe i'm wrong but i did read on that website that not all aftermarket projector beam hadlights would work with HID kits because the HID bulb is longer i gotta do some more research.

Explain HID headlights to me

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