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Home > Visual / Audio Mods > Exterior Styling > HID & Headlight Myths

HID & Headlight Myths

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Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


this thread goes out to all my HID buddies and people thinking about making the move to better headlight technology

another helpful think already stickied is:

HID headlights, what you should know


I'll start this thread by addressing some of the most common myths associated with headlights and aftermarket headlights


If I buy HID I'm going to burn/blowup my stock harness

this simply isn't true, currents are going through your stock harness, but it's not going to heat up your wires...

when you first turn on your HID system, there is a peak in power for a fraction of a second, this initial power rush is what takes it's toll on your car...

you can bypass this rush through your car by using a battery relay what the relay does is routes the power draw to your battery and not though your stock wires.

This way your headlight switch will only act as a catalyst or switch only and not as a power source.... it takes the load off your stock circuits

Another benefit to using a relay is having direct and steady power coming straight from the battery.


the heat from HID will burn my plastic headlamp housing

no, it will not... HID runs cooler than normal incandescent (normal) bulbs


HID will attract cops


it may, but what's more likely to attract a cop is the neon underglow and the sticker that says, "COP KILLER" STFU


I can blind other drivers with my HID


yes you will encounter some mole people that live like zombies and think any color headlight other than incandescent is the work of Satan and they will be angry... but...

on the tC, the headlights are aimed slightly lower from the factory

the light is slightly brighter than normal lighting, but it's not so intense that you will blind people.


HID will burn out quicker than normal bulbs

HID isn't using a metal filament as incandescent bulbs do, that means no vibrating metal band... just gases inside a tube being burned up by electrodes....

it lasts an average of 7 years of normal use!! Be sure and take good care of your ballasts by keeping them dry and away from extreme heat!

You should have already done that when you installed in the first place


my blah blah Silverstars look just like HID!!

pardon my bluntness, but Silverstar is overpriced... they don't seem to burn very long.

oh and no, they do not look like HID, the only thing that really looks like HID is..... HID





I've got Brand X Bulbs and no problems, so that means I'll never have problems

WRONG!!! Those crazy bulbs like Nokya, Luminics, PIAA, run really hot and as SquallLHeart has corrected, it's not the actual wattage that causes the problem, it's heat from poor connections. This can be prevented by using conductive grease on your connector blades

using bulbs with poor connectors blades usually results in a melted harness because of electric arcing that's caused from improper conduction.


I can't afford HID

but somehow you managed to afford to blow 50 bucks on two sets of Silverstar bulbs?

You can get a complete kit for $130 bucks

stop spending money on Autozone vinyls, APC parts & NOS floor mats! You ain't got N2o fool!


I heard X Brand HID is better and more reliable than Y Brand HID

yes and Nike shoes allow you to jump 10 feet like Michael Jordan and cute girls will love you.... NO


if I buy 8,000k they'll be so blue I'll get a ticket and I won't be able to see as well as buying a 5,000k color temp.

this is partially true, the reason a 10,000k would offer less visibility is due to the way light reflects back to our eyes. Blues tend to be absorbed easily and less light is reflected off of surfaces like pavement. A 5,000k temp is closer to white so it isn't easily absorbed and more light is reflected.

The actual light output is measured in lumen (candle power) not Kelvin (color temperature)

The difference between 4,500 k temp and a 10,000 k slight and some lumen are lost due to the deeper hue of blue.







All HID works the same.... some are made in Hong Kong, Germany, Japan...

Xenon gas in a glass tube excited by voltage sent via electrodes ....








last edited 07-10-08 13:01 EST

added info in regards to relay

[#] Jul 17, 2007 12:59am
SquallLHeart


Reg'd: Sep 09, 2004

The Techie


fyi, aftermarket headlight bulbs most of the times burn up harnesses because of one thing..

and it isn't because of the wattage.

it's the poor quality blades that don't make a good connection.

poor connections is what creates arcing, which causes crap build up, which causes more resistance, which causes more heat... which causes more crap, etc...

until... harness go melty, melty...
did a real world test to prove it...

for example... luminics is well known to cause harnesses to melt... i put some good conductive grease on those suckers to create a good connection... NO issues... no melting... lasted over two years before the bulb life finally went out... harness? unharmed.

some people report as early as 2 months when luminic bulbs melted their harness, some after 6 months..

did they lie about wattage? dunno.. but i sure as hell didn't have any issues because i knew what i was doing... and knew it wasn't because of wattage.



LED questions? AIM: 'SquallLHeart TN'

LED Swaps and parts available! PM me for details, questions and/or quotes.

There's Strong, and then there's RETARD Strong.
Decelerate your life.
The Few, the Proud... (they never really tell you what they're really "proud" of, eh?)
Below All (USAF - Uncle Sam's Academic Failures)
[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:14am
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


^ well there ya go! Thanks Squall
[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:18am
Vicious


Reg'd: May 03, 2005

El Chupacabra

I can vouch for Squall. My Luminics bulbs raped my harnesses and left them all melted and such. When I install my HIDs I'll show you my old harnesses. They don't look pretty at all DAMN YOU LUMINICS!!! Altbough they did last me for over a year




Y s0 S3ri0uS?
[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:23am
SquallLHeart


Reg'd: Sep 09, 2004

The Techie

yeah.. luminics technically are good bulbs... it's just they try to pawn you to buy these heavy duty harnesses that supposedly can take more wattage..

what BS... plug and play heavy duty harnesses? hell, even the heavy duty plugs you cut and wire in..

if the wires can't handle the wattage.. the ENTIRE harness would melt.. not just the plug!!!

come on guys, research your stuff... it's not wattage.. it's the connection... that's what sucks... and guess what? not that hard to fix... but you sure as hell better know about it.

LED questions? AIM: 'SquallLHeart TN'

LED Swaps and parts available! PM me for details, questions and/or quotes.

There's Strong, and then there's RETARD Strong.
Decelerate your life.
The Few, the Proud... (they never really tell you what they're really "proud" of, eh?)
Below All (USAF - Uncle Sam's Academic Failures)
[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:45am
Vicious


Reg'd: May 03, 2005

El Chupacabra

I seriously did not know anything about greasing the connections. I believe this thread should be stickified.




Y s0 S3ri0uS?
[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:52am
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


stickied and I'm adding pictures too... hahah

[#] Jul 17, 2007 01:57am
SquallLHeart


Reg'd: Sep 09, 2004

The Techie

pictures.... wahahahaaa...

LED questions? AIM: 'SquallLHeart TN'

LED Swaps and parts available! PM me for details, questions and/or quotes.

There's Strong, and then there's RETARD Strong.
Decelerate your life.
The Few, the Proud... (they never really tell you what they're really "proud" of, eh?)
Below All (USAF - Uncle Sam's Academic Failures)
[#] Jul 17, 2007 02:07am
andino


Reg'd: Mar 05, 2006

Godlike Advisor

lol sweet pictures





Are you in SoCal? Come to our CStC meets!
Located in Socal? Need something Installed?
Have a question and no one is willing to help? Shoot me a PM or hit me up on AIM.
[#] Jul 17, 2007 02:31am
Web


Reg'd: Apr 17, 2006

THE SHADOW

Always add dielectric grease to all bulb connetions to prevent the arcing that Squall mentioned.


I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. A.E.
[#] Jul 17, 2007 08:33am
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


I've updated some of the information with what SquallLHeart has pointed out.

[#] Jul 17, 2007 03:18pm
Flipztarrr

Reg'd: Sep 27, 2007

Window Washer

so should i definitely get a relay harness before installing or can i use the stock harness first and just rewire it when i get the relay harness, and how defenite is it that my stock harness would fry, if i wire everything up correctly will the problem still be there? Because i see some other people saying that they use the OEM harness. I dont know what to do. lol []n0ob[]

[#] Sep 28, 2007 01:27pm
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


I bought my HID from an online vendor that did not include a relay with the kit so I had to purchase that in addition to the kit

you can buy a seperate relay if not included with your kit, it's better for your internal circuits and the power to your HID is direct & strong

[#] Sep 28, 2007 01:31pm
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


in regards to how and when and if your stock components will fail as the result of HID kits without a relay, there is no way to be certain. It may not happen a day, a month or even a year from now, but way not spend the extra little bit of money to protect yourself from failed internal circuits (and possibly hundreds of wasted dollars)

get the relay or buy a kit that includes it

edit
http://www.clubsciontc.co...thread&thread_id=7319
^check that link for even more information about why you should get a relay

[#] Sep 28, 2007 01:36pm
fsu1dolfan


Reg'd: Sep 13, 2005

Tech Advisor

Thanks for the nice write up....i have nothing but great things to say about my HIDs as well....plus if you decide to put LEDs in the parking lights, the tend to last a lot longer since the HIDs run cooler than regular bubls...Also for those that may get flashed, you may need to adjust your headlights....

Mine had to be adjusted since the weren't lined up propertly...heres a guide in case someone needs it!

http://trdsparks.com/install/tCHdlightAdj.pdf

Just my two cents!

Need an invite.....sign up and win free money...its a cool game!
http://www.moola.com:80/m...d544d744f4467324f54673d-2
[#] Sep 28, 2007 01:56pm
MUStC


Reg'd: Nov 27, 2006

Tech Advisor

What does it mean when I turn my lights (HIDS) on & after about 3-5 minutes the drivers side flashes off & on & then the right one next?

The flashing time equals about a 1/2 a second, but I see it happen first the drivers and then the passangers. I have had them in for just about a year and it started a few months ago.



[#] Sep 28, 2007 03:32pm
Web


Reg'd: Apr 17, 2006

THE SHADOW

Mine does that as well. The ballasts take some time to charge up and then when at full power, they "lock" the current in place and that causes the quick pulse. It's normal for them to do it. Seen it on EVERY BMW that comes into our shop too


I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. A.E.
[#] Sep 28, 2007 03:33pm
diego11032000


Reg'd: Oct 07, 2007

Detailer

so where exactly on the wire do we apply this conductive grease?

[#] Oct 19, 2007 08:24pm
Orin


Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


conductive grease can be applied to the connector blades of the harness

the purpose is to keep a solid connection with no space so there is no change of an arc shooting between male and female connector blades

[#] Oct 19, 2007 09:10pm
Oznium_com


Reg'd: Dec 10, 2007

Tech Advisor

I 100% agree with the original poster kekeke. True HID kits arent dangerous for you electrical systems. But beware of cheap knockoffs.


OZNIUM.COM - $3.95 shipping on every order
FlowLighting HID Kit - $234.99
FlowLighting Inferno Million Color LED Underbody Kit - $219.99
FlowLighting Cathode Kits - $6.79 and more...

[#] Dec 11, 2007 05:55pm
HyPnOtIk


Reg'd: Aug 31, 2007

Tech Advisor

I bought my plug and play kit from Phil at Oznium . Do i need to get a relay or will i be cool with this kit ?


[#] Dec 12, 2007 06:19am
Oznium_com


Reg'd: Dec 10, 2007

Tech Advisor

The kit includes everything you need to install.

OZNIUM.COM - $3.95 shipping on every order
FlowLighting HID Kit - $234.99
FlowLighting Inferno Million Color LED Underbody Kit - $219.99
FlowLighting Cathode Kits - $6.79 and more...
[#] Dec 12, 2007 01:39pm
HyPnOtIk


Reg'd: Aug 31, 2007

Tech Advisor

Phil , You know what im thinkin ? Since it doesnt have an external relay the relay may be built into the Ballasts !


[#] Dec 12, 2007 05:20pm
Oznium_com


Reg'd: Dec 10, 2007

Tech Advisor

There is no relay in the ballast. Also you dont need a relay for it, it will work just fine the way it is ^^V!

OZNIUM.COM - $3.95 shipping on every order
FlowLighting HID Kit - $234.99
FlowLighting Inferno Million Color LED Underbody Kit - $219.99
FlowLighting Cathode Kits - $6.79 and more...
[#] Dec 12, 2007 06:17pm
bheiser


Reg'd: Mar 04, 2008

Detailer

are there any direct plug and play?

2007 TC. TRD Strut tower brace, TRD coilovers/lowering springs, TRD LSD, Body Kit "factory option", Rear lip spoiler.
[#] Mar 23, 2008 01:36am
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