HID Lighting
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 13
From: Kincardine, ON
HID Lighting
Going through all the groups and reading the posts is enjoyable, but; when I see something that is really nice its a great day.
Well it was until I got the prices. I'm referring to the HID lighting upgrade for the 2000 F250 on the home page. I contacted Sylvania (www.sylvania.com) and yes they make a 7" round true HID replacement light (#6024)for my '77. The downside, the sale price of $599US just isn't the bargain to my wife as myself. Oh well, still would look damn good.
John
Well it was until I got the prices. I'm referring to the HID lighting upgrade for the 2000 F250 on the home page. I contacted Sylvania (www.sylvania.com) and yes they make a 7" round true HID replacement light (#6024)for my '77. The downside, the sale price of $599US just isn't the bargain to my wife as myself. Oh well, still would look damn good.
John
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
HID Lighting
Don't you also need some other equipment to make the bulbs work? I work with mercury xenon arc lamps and they seem similar to HID auto lighting that I've heard of. They require a high current supply and a high voltage ignitor to start them. Think of them as a large spark plug and you need enough voltage to jump the gap and then it uses low volage/high current to run.
As a comparison, in my application the bulbs we use cost $500, down from about $850. Our customers are required to replace them every 3 months because the output drops off in the wavelength that we are using them in about that time. (you won't need to replace them that often we are a specialty app.)
Course then there's maintenance costs. Rock chips on the bulb, someone with a baseball bat, fender benders.....
As a comparison, in my application the bulbs we use cost $500, down from about $850. Our customers are required to replace them every 3 months because the output drops off in the wavelength that we are using them in about that time. (you won't need to replace them that often we are a specialty app.)
Course then there's maintenance costs. Rock chips on the bulb, someone with a baseball bat, fender benders.....
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola
HID Lighting
Either PIAA or Hella makes an H4 set up for both the 7" and rectangular hedlights. The lenses are those new crystal housings and the bulbs are the standard H4's you can find anywhere. these run about 50+ - a side. If you get a highoutput relay setup from coolbulbs.com for a little less than $100, it would make for a great alternative to the HID for about a third of the cost. Plus you get to keep your high and low beams, which you loose with HID.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 13
From: Kincardine, ON
HID Lighting
The setup I was looking at does come with its on special wiring harness, a 31" ballast cable and install the same as if you put aftermarket Halogen. I'm currently running a set of Bosch replacement Halogen lights with relays and 55/100watt bulbs. That was quite a change from the old dim sealed beams. The HID's where just one of those "that's neat" things that I would add if my budget could allow. I liked the idea of the whiter light, might be that middle age eyesight thing! The halogens put out 700-1000 Lumens, the HID - 3200 Lumens. The Halogen are 55watt the HID are 35watt. Life expectency is 320-1000hrs for the halogen (the high watt bulbs burn out fast!) and HID 3000hrs. The higher burn temp gives the whiter light. Just another thing to think about. So many parts, so little time!
John.
John.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
HID Lighting
go to ebay and search "headlight converion" or search "6054 conversion" if you have the rectangular headlights. Should be about $35 for the lenses with new h4 bulbs. Then go to jegs and get an h4 upgrade harness for $50 that will take an 85/90 bulb. Wire everything up (really simple) and you have the higher wattage you want at the price you can't beat. If you splice in the harness without cutting wires, you can maintain the existing lighting and remove the harness whenever you need to.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
HID Lighting
I just put Warner's Halogen's BriteGold on mine, and they're very bright. On the highway, it's pearly white. And I can see the lines to the sides of the highway. Cost $10 and I just plug them in.
