DIY HID - All About High Intensity Discharge

[limbat]

I will check with some Taiwan Parts catalog & come back to U.

[AR2 Performance]

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5092

 

Read the forum and give your comments.. Give a thought and think about it.

 

Personally i do agreed to a certain extend... Plug and Play kit is not as good as the Factory fitted HID without the projector type.

 

I am having alot of Glare on my bike and the lumniation is not as what i expected..well i spend 100 bucks on the HID system. Make use of it then!

 

oh yeah mine is a 6000K bulb...and sad to say it is not bright.

 

1: my stock reflector does not seem to be able to support the HID to make the light more focus and concernrated

2: a lot of lost light with my stock reflector design.

3: The glare is more than the illumination...

 

So guys who want to have HID on your bikes... do consider a few factors rather than the price.

 

you may end up with a bike with more glare and irrating to other than just a normal brigther and effiecent power saving headlight system.

 

I second to your comments too tangolima! Tear down a projector based car lamp (crashed ones of course) & it might be clearer to all. I managed to view an exposed Lotus Elise and an M3 projector lamps to understand that.

 

Here's more "light" to the HIDs and retro-fitting.

 

Note all retro fitting of HIDs to existing automobiles are illegal, unless factory fitted with HIDs (then you can change to a better set of HIDs). The main reason is our normal headlight (halogen bulbs such as H4,H7, HB4 etcetc) housing's reflectors designed to reflect off a halogen bulb beam as pictured below(also know as FREE FORM headlight type).

 

 

 

http://www.ar2performance.com/forums/Headlight_reflector_optics_schematic.jpg

 

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Headlight housing meant for HIDs (Ellepsodial headlight type or commonly known as projector headlights) are used, as the have reflectors inside re-designed for HID beam patterns which then pass through a projector (mostly convexed) for a correct beam to be cast onto the road.

 

http://www.ar2performance.com/forums/Headlight_projector_schematic.jpg

 

Many OEM HIDs headlight housing have "block-off plates"/metal shield to cut of the "extra" beams reflected so as to cast a straight horizontal line pictured (as seen when OEM cars switch on their HIDs), if not it will just shine right high up.

 

http://www.ar2performance.com/forums/Headlight_projector_beam.JPG

 

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I agreed with u mate - to install HIDs into halogen lamp casing does produce alot of glare. So ppl pls lower your light beam if u have to install HID.

Another point to note - pls buy of HID system from a lighting factory - configuration of the bulb light point is very important - all lamp casing throw light forward, but if the HID bulb light point is wrong then light will be thrown in all directions.

Factory fitted HID must come with HID compatible lamp casing regardless if it is Projector type or not.

 

Agree with you too. As all lamp casing (except HID designed ones) were meant for halogens, the HID beam pattern will never suit. Reducing/lowering the beam is the best way for HID retro-fitting.

 

yeap - tt is the main problem - non-HID compliant Lamp casing. Best to dull or filter the upward glare - try using light tinting film. I used them on Ta200 b4 - i think it helps.

 

If you are using projectors (I am on after market projectors and not much adjustments can be made with 4 screw mounting... sad:cry: ) Sticker or Light is not able to "lower" or cut down the resulting beam. The only way is to "cut off the beam pattern BEFORE diverging through the convex lens of the projectors. Also tinting film is not legal in SG.

PS : PAISEH...I have good HID results with your ROOX HID . lovin' it in M'sia... but not in SG..

[limbat]

Thank you for the research mate...........

[hachi]

I joined the HID wagon, it is wicked bright. I only install in the high beam. Yet to be tested in the NSH. If you multi reflector have the vertical and horizontal adjustments, you may be in luck as you can really aim the light in the direction you want but it takes lot of time in adjusting on SG rds as the it's well lit.

 

There're only a handful bikes, that have both adjustment. Install on only high beam pls, if you need it mean the rd is very dark spare a thought for others as low beam glare would pisses anyone in front of you.

 

Best is still a projector upgrade, a busa may be the best bike for HID with a projector high beam......just my view....

For those who really pissed me on the rd with their glaring HID low beam.....hee hee I am armed with one as well......

[AR2 Performance]

I joined the HID wagon, it is wicked bright. I only install in the high beam. Yet to be tested in the NSH. If you multi reflector have the vertical and horizontal adjustments, you may be in luck as you can really aim the light in the direction you want but it takes lot of time in adjusting on SG rds as the it's well lit.

 

There're only a handful bikes, that have both adjustment. Install on only high beam pls, if you need it mean the rd is very dark spare a thought for others as low beam glare would pisses anyone in front of you.

 

Best is still a projector upgrade, a busa may be the best bike for HID with a projector high beam......just my view....

For those who really pissed me on the rd with their glaring HID low beam.....hee hee I am armed with one as well......

 

Hachi, multi reflector that have the vertical and horizontal adjustments may not be able to lower the end result to correct driving/riding level. The HID beam pattern (emitted from bulb) after reflecting on a non eliptical reflector will be very scattered/divergent. In short, you will never get a "line" casted onto a flat wall for you do adjust well. Even if you are able to cast a line at maybe 5 meters from the wall, the beam will be too divergent such that a 100 meters, it still shines sky high.

 

 

Please note if you upgrade to a projector, try to look for one that has a built in cut off plate/shield within the housing . My one did not have, and it is a pain to ride it in SG roads.

 

OEM projs using halogen need not necessarily is the best choice to retro fit a HID either. I am not sure abt the Busa, but the 03~05R6 projectors retro-fitted with HIDs are scatter too. No cut off plates built in.

[Guest tangolima]

I second to your comments too tangolima! Tear down a projector based car lamp (crashed ones of course) & it might be clearer to all. I managed to view an exposed Lotus Elise and an M3 projector lamps to understand that.

 

Here's more "light" to the HIDs and retro-fitting.

 

Note all retro fitting of HIDs to existing automobiles are illegal, unless factory fitted with HIDs (then you can change to a better set of HIDs). The main reason is our normal headlight (halogen bulbs such as H4,H7, HB4 etcetc) housing's reflectors designed to reflect off a halogen bulb beam as pictured below(also know as FREE FORM headlight type).

 

 

 

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Headlight housing meant for HIDs (Ellepsodial headlight type or commonly known as projector headlights) are used, as the have reflectors inside re-designed for HID beam patterns which then pass through a projector (mostly convexed) for a correct beam to be cast onto the road.

 

 

 

Many OEM HIDs headlight housing have "block-off plates"/metal shield to cut of the "extra" beams reflected so as to cast a straight horizontal line pictured (as seen when OEM cars switch on their HIDs), if not it will just shine right high up.

 

 

 

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Agree with you too. As all lamp casing (except HID designed ones) were meant for halogens, the HID beam pattern will never suit. Reducing/lowering the beam is the best way for HID retro-fitting.

 

 

 

If you are using projectors (I am on after market projectors and not much adjustments can be made with 4 screw mounting... sad:cry: ) Sticker or Light is not able to "lower" or cut down the resulting beam. The only way is to "cut off the beam pattern BEFORE diverging through the convex lens of the projectors. Also tinting film is not legal in SG.

PS : PAISEH...I have good HID results with your ROOX HID . lovin' it in M'sia... but not in SG..

 

 

glad that someone here do share the same mind..and thanks for the lovely picture and diagram to make those who may not be technically sound to understand how does a HID really works. It really help alot.... :thumb:

 

PS: pls dont blind me in singapore yeah!!

[AR2 Performance]

glad that someone here do share the same mind..and thanks for the lovely picture and diagram to make those who may not be technically sound to understand how does a HID really works. It really help alot.... :thumb:

 

PS: pls dont blind me in singapore yeah!!

 

Certain facts that are not commonly not known, needs some "homework" to be done, and best to hands on to iron out doubts. I believe many like minded DIY/technical inclined riders in this forums took some hard way out. We all ask/learn as we ride. Sharing improves riding knowledge, & makes riding more fun & safe. Paiseh & you did good sharing amongst the forum!

 

Your welcome with the pics posted. Hope it helps enlighten many in a way of another. I come from well lit & wide beam VFR lightings (2x2 H7s), & my R6's lights (1x2 H7) just don't provide enough illumination for my rides. Did some "wall banging" tests n work into those areas to iron out these issues in the course of riding.

 

PS : I am try my best not to blind others with my "undone" HIDs. Sorry mate if I happen to meet u in m'sia then

[Guest tangolima]

Certain facts that are not commonly not known, needs some "homework" to be done, and best to hands on to iron out doubts. I believe many like minded DIY/technical inclined riders in this forums took some hard way out. We all ask/learn as we ride. Sharing improves riding knowledge, & makes riding more fun & safe. Paiseh & you did good sharing amongst the forum!

 

Your welcome with the pics posted. Hope it helps enlighten many in a way of another. I come from well lit & wide beam VFR lightings (2x2 H7s), & my R6's lights (1x2 H7) just don't provide enough illumination for my rides. Did some "wall banging" tests n work into those areas to iron out these issues in the course of riding.

 

PS : I am try my best not to blind others with my "undone" HIDs. Sorry mate if I happen to meet u in m'sia then

 

glad that we both get from the correct and reliable sources...not from hearsay kinda of thing...

 

But the most important as you mention is to hand on.. i did try mine and verify that my stock reflectors cant support the HID brightness thus causing more glare than illumination.

 

So i tot why not share this info that many rider tend to overlook. Becoz of the Faze of HID everybody want to jump but how many really consider does it really work for bikes...

 

then again some forummers love to challenge ppl thier theory.. for once i see forummers are aligned to the view and the point.

 

PS: what was the colour of your hid temp again? maybe time to get some rayban glasses...

[AR2 Performance]

glad that we both get from the correct and reliable sources...not from hearsay kinda of thing...

 

But the most important as you mention is to hand on.. i did try mine and verify that my stock reflectors cant support the HID brightness thus causing more glare than illumination.

 

So i tot why not share this info that many rider tend to overlook. Becoz of the Faze of HID everybody want to jump but how many really consider does it really work for bikes...

 

then again some forummers love to challenge ppl thier theory.. for once i see forummers are aligned to the view and the point.

 

PS: what was the colour of your hid temp again? maybe time to get some rayban glasses...

 

 

Agree... hands on + some thinking settles many doubts. But certain issues require alotta time/space/tools.

 

Forumers challenging their theory is good IMHO. This very much reduces the chance of mis-interpretation when backed against read up facts. Nowadays everything is available, but not everything is true.

 

PS : I am on 6000K. Temp range doesn't matter in any way. A legal halogen comfort taxi who always have 1 beam adjusted up is already an irritation. The first batch new GOLF GTi with LEGAL HIDs from factory w/o the beam height adjusted correctly is another example.

 

Also don't worry, my is vampire bike heading 2nd link only most of the time. Catch u on the road sometime!

[wait4me]

i would love to install 2 hid on my r6 05

currently having one

but since its illegal , oh well .....make do with one then

[AR2 Performance]

i would love to install 2 hid on my r6 05

currently having one

but since its illegal , oh well .....make do with one then

 

Install into the high beam. legal with your low in SG, and works wonders with your high on NS. Can try ROOX.. No issues with me on that unit.

[motocafe]

I have a question for those who have install HID bulb into high beam. When you use the flashing button, does the ballast/ignitior have enough time to fire up the HID? Would repeating flashing have any effect/damage on the ballast/bulb?

 

Sorry if my questions seem rather basic.

[wait4me]

Install into the high beam. legal with your low in SG, and works wonders with your high on NS. Can try ROOX.. No issues with me on that unit.

 

i installed on my high beam

u were saying install a legal wan in sg ?

which are the legal wan ??

[wait4me]

I have a question for those who have install HID bulb into high beam. When you use the flashing button, does the ballast/ignitior have enough time to fire up the HID? Would repeating flashing have any effect/damage on the ballast/bulb?

 

Sorry if my questions seem rather basic.

 

not enough time .

the ballast cant charge up that fast

[hachi]

I have a question for those who have install HID bulb into high beam. When you use the flashing button, does the ballast/ignitior have enough time to fire up the HID? Would repeating flashing have any effect/damage on the ballast/bulb?

 

Sorry if my questions seem rather basic.

 

You will lose the "passing" function, most cars out there are factory fitted with HID low and normal halogen bulbs for high because of this factor.

[hachi]

i installed on my high beam

u were saying install a legal wan in sg ?

which are the legal wan ??

I guess wat he meant is with a normal low beam, you wont get caught using

HID which technically illegal in SG.

In my case, installed in high beam wont get caught as you are not always with HID, but on it when you need it most ex...NSH...

[hachi]

Hachi, multi reflector that have the vertical and horizontal adjustments may not be able to lower the end result to correct driving/riding level. The HID beam pattern (emitted from bulb) after reflecting on a non eliptical reflector will be very scattered/divergent. In short, you will never get a "line" casted onto a flat wall for you do adjust well. Even if you are able to cast a line at maybe 5 meters from the wall, the beam will be too divergent such that a 100 meters, it still shines sky high.

 

 

Please note if you upgrade to a projector, try to look for one that has a built in cut off plate/shield within the housing . My one did not have, and it is a pain to ride it in SG roads.

 

OEM projs using halogen need not necessarily is the best choice to retro fit a HID either. I am not sure abt the Busa, but the 03~05R6 projectors retro-fitted with HIDs are scatter too. No cut off plates built in.

 

I believed the block off plate would be useful in low beam but on high beam. I dont think you need the block off plate.

All high beam glares, regardless of HID or not. high beam throw light in front of you. My point is whether HID in MR casing throw enough light and hopefully in the right places. What we are concerned is, when HID high beam engaged, the light wont scatter to the side too much as it may cause discomfort on oncoming traffic on the other side of the rd. This cannot be tested in SG rds as it's well lit. The block off plates will become a concern if the owner decided to installed it on low beams, which I think is quite redundant in SG rds.

 

This is one of the reason that i dont install HID in my low beam.

Pisses people off,

Cheaper as I only need one for my high beam,

technically get away with law as i dont on them on SG rds.

 

You mentioned is a pain to ride on SG rds, i was wondering did you install on your low beams, if yes then you need projectors with block off plate. If not then why are you on your high beams???

 

i am more concerned about those who uses HID on low beams......

 

I am glad that a handful of forumers that are willing to share and impart the right knowledge to others. I really hope no HID low beam were used in bikes on SG rds....Untill we had manufacturers fitted them as standard equipments...

[wait4me]

spore actually no need hid

dunno why more cars are getting hid ....

[hachi]

spore actually no need hid

dunno why more cars are getting hid ....

New tech, but those after market low beams really deserve to

I mean how dark can SG rds be???

[Demon]

This is one of the reason that i dont install HID in my low beam.

 

Putting legality aside, personally I don't think it's a good idea to have HID as Hi-beam.

When you activate Hi-beam, essentially you want to "peep" further ahead because you sense danger, such as a bend or an object.

HID does take a few seconds to warm up to full illumination. Moving a 110kph, you cover 100m in less than 3.3 seconds, and time taken for the HID to warm up basically negate this advantage.

 

Of course, the easiest way to get around this problem is to use hi-beam all the way.

[AR2 Performance]

Putting legality aside, personally I don't think it's a good idea to have HID as Hi-beam.

When you activate Hi-beam, essentially you want to "peep" further ahead because you sense danger, such as a bend or an object.

HID does take a few seconds to warm up to full illumination. Moving a 110kph, you cover 100m in less than 3.3 seconds, and time taken for the HID to warm up basically negate this advantage.

 

Of course, the easiest way to get around this problem is to use hi-beam all the way.

 

The configuration (halogen on low beam, HID on high beam) i mentioned serves its purpose for high frequency use in in NS highway. I chose to be able to have better vision at 200+kmh in NS, and ride cautiously w/o using e high beam on local roads.

 

Then again, it could either be NOT to ride 200kmh++ in NS, and stay with legal lights on SG, along with a proper working high beam.

[AR2 Performance]

I believed the block off plate would be useful in low beam but on high beam. I dont think you need the block off plate.

All high beam glares, regardless of HID or not. high beam throw light in front of you. My point is whether HID in MR casing throw enough light and hopefully in the right places. What we are concerned is, when HID high beam engaged, the light wont scatter to the side too much as it may cause discomfort on oncoming traffic on the other side of the rd. This cannot be tested in SG rds as it's well lit. The block off plates will become a concern if the owner decided to installed it on low beams, which I think is quite redundant in SG rds.

 

This is one of the reason that i dont install HID in my low beam.

Pisses people off,

Cheaper as I only need one for my high beam,

technically get away with law as i dont on them on SG rds.

 

You mentioned is a pain to ride on SG rds, i was wondering did you install on your low beams, if yes then you need projectors with block off plate. If not then why are you on your high beams???

 

i am more concerned about those who uses HID on low beams......

 

I am glad that a handful of forumers that are willing to share and impart the right knowledge to others. I really hope no HID low beam were used in bikes on SG rds....Untill we had manufacturers fitted them as standard equipments...

 

thanks for bringing this out hachi. The plate/shield are only meant for low beams..

[AR2 Performance]

spore actually no need hid

dunno why more cars are getting hid ....

 

 

Apart from migrating to technlogical advancement, HID has a few advantages :-

 

Brighter & less power consumption :-

HID headlamp bulbs produce between 2,800 and 3,500 lumens from between 35 and 38 watts of electrical power, while halogen filament headlamp bulbs produce between 700 and 2,100 lumens from between 40 and 72 watts at 12.8 V

 

Smaller/space saving design :-

Because of the increased amounts of light available from HID bulbs, HID headlamps producing a given beam pattern can be made smaller than halogen headlamps producing a comparable beam pattern. Alternatively, the larger size can be retained, in which case the Xenon headlamp can produce a more robust beam pattern.

 

The arc light source (beam pattern) in an HID headlamp is fundamentally different from the filament light source used in tungsten/halogen headlamps. For that reason, HID-specific optics are used to collect and distribute the light.

 

So although HID serves its purpose well in factory designed lamp housings, installing HID bulbs in headlamps designed to take filament bulbs results in improperly-focused beam patterns and excessive glare, and is therefore illegal in almost all countries.

 

Can't wait for HIDs to be standard on motorcycles!!!!!

[motocafe]

not enough time .

the ballast cant charge up that fast

 

You will lose the "passing" function, most cars out there are factory fitted with HID low and normal halogen bulbs for high because of this factor.

 

Thanks wait4me & hachi for your feedbacks.

 

My bike has 2 H7 hi-beams, so I can fit 1 with HID and the other remains as Halogen bulb. The flash button is also used to activate certain functions on the digital meter. When this function is activated, the hi-beams also light up. Would repeated flashing shorten the life of the HID bulb/ballast? I guess it would be equivalent to switching on & off a flourescent light repeatedly, right?

[AR2 Performance]

Thanks wait4me & hachi for your feedbacks.

 

My bike has 2 H7 hi-beams, so I can fit 1 with HID and the other remains as Halogen bulb. The flash button is also used to activate certain functions on the digital meter. When this function is activated, the hi-beams also light up. Would repeated flashing shorten the life of the HID bulb/ballast? I guess it would be equivalent to switching on & off a flourescent light repeatedly, right?

 

2 H7 hi beams gives u a better reason to fit HIDs. 2 H7s would mean 2 sockets. Utilize 1 socket for 1 HID. If you use the passing button, 1 of the Hi-beam (the halogon) will still perform its work of warning others.

 

Is the other function lap timer start/stop? If not, it would otherwise be a function seldom used on normal roads? It will shorten the lifespan if you look at the long run. It should not spoil easily unless ur ballast is of poor quality.