Bang for your buck ( offroad lights)
- Thread starter Rc4r
- Start date
Clemsonfan15
New member
In that case go with 55 watt. More light output.
J-money$$$
New member
Thats what i went with after the hid hellas and love them. I use wide filter and the beam is perfect!
But the hid converted hellas are great low budget lights.
rickashay
New member
...at the cost of more heat and lessened reliability.
If you have the cash get the Lightforces. Tons of my friends have them, both the 240 Blitz, 170 Striker, and 170 striker HID. They are just such a good quality light! Not to mention that you can adjust the beam by turning the knob on the back of the lamp, kind of like how you turn the front of a Maglite to adjust the beam. Also, the option of running different color filters for different situations is key. You also will NEVER crack the lenses on the Lightforces because they are... polycarbonate??
You can even convert the halogen Lightforces to HID, later on.
Clemsonfan15
New member
A little more heat isn't going to hurt anything. They have glass lenses. Where do you get the reliability stuff from? I've never heard anybody talk about 55 watt being less reliable than 35 watt. Sounds pretty silly to me.
Doozi
New member
I've actually read in a couple of places while researching HID kits, that 55-watt ballasts aren't recommended. Here's a quote from XenonDepot's website...
"XenonDepot only sells 35W HID conversion kits for several reasons. 55W HID conversion kits do produce slightly more light (approximately 15%-20%) than a 35W HID Kit. This increased light output usually results in a less even light spread and additional glare. 55W ballasts are not as efficient as 35W ballasts that we sell meaning that 55W ballast longevity will be compromised. Many merchants that sell 55W HID claim that 55W is a superior technology. However, there is a reason that all cars that come with HID lights from the factory still use 35W technology and not 55W technology. These 55W HID kits often overdrive the 35W HID bulb to obtain the increased light output. As a result, you can expect the HID bulb to burn hotter which can damage your headlight. You can also expect a significantly decreased bulb life."
Your results may vary, of course, but I just wanted to point it out for those currently researching HID kits.
rickashay
New member
More heat from the Ballast, not the bulb or the light assembly. 55watt ballasts simply do not last as long as 35watt ballasts. Its been proven MANY times. Check out HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - The Buzz...
Why do OEM manufactures ONLY use 35watt HID's? Because of their lower operating temperatures and increased reliability.
And thanks Doozi, for the quote.....exactly.
XenonDepot
New member
If you're using a 55W ballast to power a 35W HID bulb the bulb will run hotter as you are overdriving it.
Steve
Steve
DeTwizzle
New member
Do I need to order the HID harness, or Error Code Eliminator?
I think these are the ones I'm gonna go with.
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/Apexcone-Raptor-HID-Kit
35w
H3 bulbs
5000k for color (not too yellow and not too blue)
Anyone recommend something different?
I think these are the ones I'm gonna go with.
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/Apexcone-Raptor-HID-Kit
35w
H3 bulbs
5000k for color (not too yellow and not too blue)
Anyone recommend something different?
Clemsonfan15
New member
Ehh, if you're using them for offroad lights then I highly doubt you will put enough hours on them to come close to wearing them out.
Even if you did, most companies have a warranty that will cover them.
I've been happy with the 55 watt kit in my 700's.
xcmountain80
New member
ON a side note the HID kits don't work so well with the LF's unless you get the Aluminum ring adapter. THe LF branded HID kit while costly is 100% biolt on. I'm running the 240's in a HID flavor and WOW.
A
J-money$$$
New member
As far as i know you dont need that stuff. the error code eliminator is for some car that have a warning light for burnt out headlamps and the harness is basically some relay that some cars need to power the hids during start up.
NYou shouldnt need either since they are going into offroad lightts
xcmountain80
New member
UARandy3
New member
I was in this situation a month or 2 ago. I considered doing HIDs in some Hellas but decided to go with the PIAA 520 ATP. Ultimately, for me, it came down to the fact that none of my other lighting has been converted to HID (and no plans to currently) and I already have PIAA bulbs in my headlights and fog lights that match. The PIAAs can be converted to HID down the road if I do my other lighting, but I doubt I will bc these PIAAs are really bright and fulfill my needs very well. I wanted them to throw light down the road and light up the sides to see deer on backroads before it's too late.
Another HUGE plus for the PIAAs is the wiring harness. The install was crazy easy bc the harness is already pre-assembled and just needs to be connected to the battery, wire tapped, and plugged in.
Another HUGE plus for the PIAAs is the wiring harness. The install was crazy easy bc the harness is already pre-assembled and just needs to be connected to the battery, wire tapped, and plugged in.
StarGazer2063
New member
Black Magics
I have mounted these.
I have mounted these.
