Megalomaniac
5,000+ posts
Mr.SQ
Ok I have been getting into HIDs now, I think I will buy some hopefully by December. I just want to clear things up.
Here questions I have asked in the past and a summed-up response that i have translated into what I interpreted.
1. What does the term HID mean?
- High Intensity Discharge
2. Are they brighter than your halogen lights?
- Yes they are brighter and they run more efficeint.
3. Is the higher the Number brighter?
-No, the number is actually the temperature of the light in Kelvin scale. The higher the number "hotter" the lower the lumens it will produce. So usually the lower the number the brighter the HID's will be. Also about every 1k in temp change the light color will also change.
3000k will emit a yellow light
5000k will emit a Bright white light
6000K will emit a Bright white light with a hint of blue
8000k will emit a Bright Blue light
after that it will gradually turn into a purple light that you see on the BMW 7series
edit: Most people use 4800k and the 5000k range
4. Are they better housed in a Projectile housing or regular?
-Depends on what you desire. In many peoples opinions when the HID's are placed in a Projector the light doesnt travel as far and doesnt have a wide range. Also you have to focus the lens of the projectors right. In a regular housing it will emit light farther and wider spread out.
edit: The projector actually bends the light spreading it wider, also giving a straight cutoff which reflectors can not. Reflector housing = glare and hot spots.
5. Can HID's be used through OEM housing?
-Yes, if your housings is good quality it can handle it, but on some cars the headlight casing is entirely plastic instead of metal and glass, therefore it can very well melt.
6. Are they expensive?
- Yes they can be expensive for the average joe, a kit usually runs around $489+.
Edit: Quailty bulbs/lamps are Philips brand
7. Easy to install?
- If you have common sence and logic it is. Your OEM harness pluggs into the Ballast and the ballast has some wires leading to the HID lamp, all runs on 12V.
edit: also Just mount the ballast away from dust/water/condensation/etc.
8. Does it distract the people in front of you?
-What do you think? most likely it can "blind" the driver in front of you, but who cares thats what tint is for...
edit: It distracts IF you use them in reflector housing because of the horrible glare (or in other words, "blinds").
All questions & answers can be added & edited upon request.
~If anyone has pictures of their HID's in action to show the difference that would be great, please post them, but watch your resolution~
here is one of a friends motorcycle his are in Projectile casings. Pretty bright for 8k
Here questions I have asked in the past and a summed-up response that i have translated into what I interpreted.
1. What does the term HID mean?
- High Intensity Discharge
2. Are they brighter than your halogen lights?
- Yes they are brighter and they run more efficeint.
3. Is the higher the Number brighter?
-No, the number is actually the temperature of the light in Kelvin scale. The higher the number "hotter" the lower the lumens it will produce. So usually the lower the number the brighter the HID's will be. Also about every 1k in temp change the light color will also change.
3000k will emit a yellow light
5000k will emit a Bright white light
6000K will emit a Bright white light with a hint of blue
8000k will emit a Bright Blue light
after that it will gradually turn into a purple light that you see on the BMW 7series
edit: Most people use 4800k and the 5000k range
4. Are they better housed in a Projectile housing or regular?
-Depends on what you desire. In many peoples opinions when the HID's are placed in a Projector the light doesnt travel as far and doesnt have a wide range. Also you have to focus the lens of the projectors right. In a regular housing it will emit light farther and wider spread out.
edit: The projector actually bends the light spreading it wider, also giving a straight cutoff which reflectors can not. Reflector housing = glare and hot spots.
5. Can HID's be used through OEM housing?
-Yes, if your housings is good quality it can handle it, but on some cars the headlight casing is entirely plastic instead of metal and glass, therefore it can very well melt.
6. Are they expensive?
- Yes they can be expensive for the average joe, a kit usually runs around $489+.
Edit: Quailty bulbs/lamps are Philips brand
7. Easy to install?
- If you have common sence and logic it is. Your OEM harness pluggs into the Ballast and the ballast has some wires leading to the HID lamp, all runs on 12V.
edit: also Just mount the ballast away from dust/water/condensation/etc.
8. Does it distract the people in front of you?
-What do you think? most likely it can "blind" the driver in front of you, but who cares thats what tint is for...
edit: It distracts IF you use them in reflector housing because of the horrible glare (or in other words, "blinds").
All questions & answers can be added & edited upon request.
~If anyone has pictures of their HID's in action to show the difference that would be great, please post them, but watch your resolution~
here is one of a friends motorcycle his are in Projectile casings. Pretty bright for 8k
