HID or Halogen?

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Feb 20, 2011 | 11:10 AM

#46

berick

Laughing Gas

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 754

Likes: 2

From: AB,Can

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClarkSj

You're correct about a "HID retrofit" scattering a lot of light and not really helping you see any better. This is explained well here:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

You can get a significant improvement in the stock lighting by wiring the headlights directly to the battery to increase voltage to the bulbs(dfuser.com has a good kit), installing some better bulbs (Philips Xtreme Power) and adding some good (and properly aimed) aftermarket driving lights (Hella, etc.).

This is what I did on my 2007. The improvement was dramatic, and I don't blind people on the roads.

I have an '05' Harley F350 with the factory bulbs still in the truck. It absolutely blows *** at night and if the road is wet from rain etc. I may as well be holding 2 friggin candles out there! This set-up you did.... would you say it at least "doubled" your light output? I need to do something with my lighting but I really don't know if the HID thing is the way to go unless I buy the projector style lights.... which is a bit excessive on my budget.

Feb 21, 2011 | 07:17 PM

#47

ClarkSj

New User

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by berick

With the upgraded harness and Phillips bulbs, even the stock lights are pretty good. For additional light, I added KC Hiltes offroad 130 watt driving lights wired to the high beam circuit-- they throw a wide beam out pretty far, and the light up the sides of the road real well so you can look out for deer and such.

Feb 21, 2011 | 07:37 PM

#48

Phillyrube

Freshman User

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

Aftermarket HIDs just plain suck...I call it the stadium lighting effect....you can see just fine, but everyone else gets glared to death. Local cops write foir them.

Feb 21, 2011 | 07:40 PM

#49

Anomic

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 469

Likes: 1

I have the standard xl lights (old school rectangles). I drive 30 minutes on a 55mph 2lane twisty road everymorning in the dark. They are more than bright enough and highbeams are excellent. Whenever i see an idiot with the extra bright lights that spray light everywhere and feel like someone shinning a surefire in my eyes i just flip my highbeams back on and i can see ok again.