HID Lights Upgrade

Submitted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 18:31
ThreadID: 78762 Views:3375 Replies:6 FollowUps:10
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Fellow travellers,

I recently upgraded my Headlights with HID Kits 35 watt, 4300K which are supposed to give the most light.
My original lights are 55W H7 Osram Nightbreakers which are surprisingly good.
The HID do not seem as good, light penetration is not as good, although the HID throws more light to the roadside. Anyone else have experience with these kits?

Thanks,

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Reply By: Voxson - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 18:38

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 18:38
Unless you are upgrading spotlights they are useless.
HID headlight upgrades are annoying to oncoming drivers and disappointing to those who fit them.
Those who swear by them are those who are justifying the outlay of wasted cash.

But a good set of HID spotlights are great.......
AnswerID: 418097

Follow Up By: Voxson - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 18:39

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 18:39
oh and yes,, penetration is crap with the conversions....
It is a false sense of better when you see more light coverage.
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Reply By: GerryP - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 19:55

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 19:55
I'll stand corrected, but I think you'll find that aftermarket HID conversions are illegal unless fitted with self leveling system. However, keeping them adjusted low will generally not attract too much attention.

Cheers
Gerry
AnswerID: 418106

Follow Up By: howesy - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:48

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:48
Been down that road, by the time I adjusted them down far enough to stop people flashing me they threw heaps of light 10feet in front of the car.
I gave them up as a bad joke and ripped them out. They are gathering dust somewhere in the shed, total waste of time and money,
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Reply By: Andrew - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:52

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:52
Hi Michael

From what I can find out you probably have more light than before but it is no longer controlled so it doesn't point in the right direction.
Apparently the HID light source ( the bright bit) is in a different place and is a different shape to a Halogen globe. That might also mean the bright bit isn't pointing in the same direction. Anyway what this means is the focal point of the light source relative to the reflector is now in the wrong place so the reflector and lens can't control the light and give it the correct shape. So what you end up with is a bonfire instead of a spotlight. Sure is bright but its in the wrong place. That is also why these kits cause so much glare to other drivers. All the nice cut offs that keep the light from shining upwards on low beam don't work any more.

How do you fix it?

Fit complete lights assemblies ( globe, lens and reflector) that are designed from scratch for HID. Unfortunately HID headlamps don't seem to be available aftermarket.

regards

A
AnswerID: 418126

Reply By: ChipPunk - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:22

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:22
Do you mean bulbs only - not the entire headlight assembly?

Totally illegal.
And you'll probably get my hi-beams (spots) for your effort.

Non-HID reflectors are not designed for HID lighting - hence scatter patterns are wrong. (Hence why illegal.)
AnswerID: 418137

Reply By: 4X4Treker - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:53

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:53
Andrew is correct the focal point must be correct otherwise the light will spray all over the place, I have fitted Hi/Low HID 4300K to my Patrol's headlights and 4300k to the IPF driving lights but had to do a little re-alignment of the focal point on them.
I previously had PIIA Super Exteme lamps in the head lights and 120watt in the driving lights but now with the HID's the penetration down the road and the lightup of the road on both high and low beam kills the old lamps. I would not have anything else.
I have fitted HIDs to my wifes Astra Twin top and also on my Motor bike Cruiser with the same result far better than the original lamps, but it all comes down to the fitment and focus.
The one thing that you do have to be careful about though is the height adjustment otherwise you will get flashed by other road users.
I do a lot of travel at night into the Northern Flinders Ranges and I would not be without the HIDs
AnswerID: 418148

Reply By: Member - Michael S (WA) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:09

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:09
By crikey! I have stirred a hornets nest here!! Anyone know how to adjust the focal point on the factory lights, or is this not possible?
Thank you all.

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AnswerID: 418169

Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 07:54

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 07:54
Measure the distance from the lamp base where it mounts to the reflector to the element on the H4 globe.
The distance from the base to the arc on the HID must be the same.
I've converted five or six different vehicles so far and only have had to fiddle with the focal point on a couple. The HID's work really well in the 7" round H4 reflectors, no adjustment needed.
The ones giving the biggest problem are the square/rectangular ones like on Jap utes.
They might be illegal but after driving with them you will never go back to normal globes.
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Follow Up By: OzTroopy - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:39

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:39
Thumbs Up to Ozhumvee ......

Main point to be learnt in regard .... crappy blingy e-bait ( or other supplier) hid mods for vehicles built without them, are not not plug & play.

Now if only everybody understood that, dodgy "illegal" modifications needs some fiddling to stop the illegal aspects and improve the light quality ... compared to the brightness .....

I probably wouldnt hate vehicle drivers with retrofitted hid headlughts .... quite sooooo much ... LOL
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Follow Up By: ChipPunk - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12:06

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12:06
That will help a lot.
But there may still be unintended scatter (refraction) depending on materials and color (wavelengths etc).
It is definitely noticeable on bling cars with the BLUEish headlights.

I've forgotten if it was polycarbonate lenses that should not be used....?


Wait for LED headlights to become available. Less power, no HV, etc etc.
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael S (WA) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:13

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:13
Thanks al (especially Ozhumvee),

I had thought of masking the HID tube but the arc length also sounds reasonable. I willmeasure the two lamps and see what I can do.

Ozhumvee, what Model HMMWV do you have? I have driven the military models and like them a lot, very envious of your truck!

Thanks all.

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Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:07

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:07
LED headlamps are available in the 7" round configuration, both 12 and 24v, made by Truck Lite a US company. They are available as a standard fitment on the current Humvee.
My Humvee is a 1988 M1026, light armoured slantback, ex USAF ex Desert Storm. Iif you've seen Blackhawk down then mine is the same as those ones in the movie, without the blood, guts and bullet holes.
I've had it for 8 1/2 years.
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Follow Up By: ChipPunk - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:45

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:45
Yeah - they're great aren't they(?). What was it - about 640 LEDs (equivalent).

Unfortunately I use the smaller 5.75" and last I looked (end 2009) they still were not available.

OHV - what do you think of them? A good "colour" (light temperature)? Good range/spread? Reliable?
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Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:54

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:54
Ten leds actually, 5k light temp.
One of the other Aussie Humvee owners has fitted them to his Humvee and they are brighter than my 35w/4300k HID's.
Use a bit more power though which is only 1.5 amps for the 35w HID's on 24v.
12v LED headlight
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Follow Up By: ChipPunk - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 19:09

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 19:09
Yeah - that's the beast (link).
Forgot they drew that much power (32W low & 58W high)....

Maybe the multi-hundred LED version was a lower power?
But still, more power goes into light that heat as compared to older QH etc.

Thanks for feedback applicable to OUR environment (though night is night....).

Hmmm.... 5-3/4" + angle-grinder... +1.25" = 7".....
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