Aftermarket HID head light issue

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 00:07

Aftermarket HID head light issue.
Funny thing is that headlight actually comes on when I press the ignition button. Any thoughts anybody? Or is this HID kit completely screwed?

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Please click this video recorded yesterday.
Since then I have replaced balast and still no headlight. Could this be the Bulb? (even tho I say it isn't on the video lol)

**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 00:17

Wiring issue would be my guess, various things are wired not as they should be and different electrical requirements of an HID shows this more than a stock bulb would.

I've got one myself, and they're certainly not a tricky thing to wire. But I also doubt it can be fixed by someone without a bit of electrical knowhow.

Looks like it'll look good when going though!

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 08:49

Checked the wirings to the loom and they all seemed fine. No cuts or loose ends. Might try the bulb soon.

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**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 09:01

Originally Posted by DODO``

Checked the wirings to the loom and they all seemed fine. No cuts or loose ends. Might try the bulb soon.

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I was meaning wired to the wrong things, rather than wired poorly. Aren't the top two also flickering when they shouldn't? which would make it less likely to be the bulb.

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 09:05

Had them going fine until about 2 days ago.
I think its been re-struck too many times before the cycle and either the bulb or balast has given up. Already tried new balast and didnt work so theres nothing muchelse to rule out.

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**Taxythingy** · 20th January 2014, 13:52

+1 to replacing the bulb.

The bulb probably can't sustain the arc at normal operating voltages (about 70V). They will often still strike, since they get hit with a short burst of several thousand volts on startup.

I've seen car HID lifetimes of around 3-5 years for bulbs, so you can expect it to be shorter in a bike since we're using them all the time. Also, if you leave the light switched to always-on (fine with normal bulbs), the HID will strike when you turn the key on, then turn off and restrike when you start the bike. More wear and less fun

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 16:51

Originally Posted by Taxythingy

+1 to replacing the bulb.

The bulb probably can't sustain the arc at normal operating voltages (about 70V). They will often still strike, since they get hit with a short burst of several thousand volts on startup.

I've seen car HID lifetimes of around 3-5 years for bulbs, so you can expect it to be shorter in a bike since we're using them all the time. Also, if you leave the light switched to always-on (fine with normal bulbs), the HID will strike when you turn the key on, then turn off and restrike when you start the bike. More wear and less fun

Cheers for that, I think it makes good sense and everything points to the bulb.
Is there any way to get around this "restrike" problem in the future?

I was thinking;
1. put a separate on/off switch like they used to in older bikes.
2. delay the time the headlight turns on using some sort of relay or capacitor?

Any thoughts anybody? Cheers

**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 17:09

Are the top two lights HID as well?

I figured they were LED ones, in which case you could just use them as running lights and leave the HID one off during daylight, of course if they are LEDs I'm still confused why they would flicker...

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 18:08

Originally Posted by bogan

Are the top two lights HID as well?

I figured they were LED ones, in which case you could just use them as running lights and leave the HID one off during daylight, of course if they are LEDs I'm still confused why they would flicker...

hehey, Cheers for the idea. The top two lights are LEDs not HID

they are not part of the HID wirings so they will stay on everytime the bikes switched on.

As for them flickering, I dont know, I've got them like that from the previous owner.

Don't we have to have the main headlight on all the time too regardless day or night?

**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 18:16

Originally Posted by DODO``

hehey, Cheers for the idea. The top two lights are LEDs not HID

they are not part of the HID wirings so they will stay on everytime the bikes switched on.

As for them flickering, I dont know, I've got them like that from the previous owner.

Don't we have to have the main headlight on all the time too regardless day or night?

Nah, just DRLs, which they don't really specify what they are, but lots of things generally come under the DRL heading. I have dimmer LEDs than yours and no visible headlight, yet to be pulled over at all.

The flickering is why I reckon it might be wiring, flickering LEDs is often a sign of poor power supply (they don't do much dimming with lower voltage like filament bulbs do).

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 18:24

Originally Posted by bogan

Nah, just DRLs, which they don't really specify what they are, but lots of things generally come under the DRL heading. I have dimmer LEDs than yours and no visible headlight, yet to be pulled over at all.

The flickering is why I reckon it might be wiring, flickering LEDs is often a sign of poor power supply (they don't do much dimming with lower voltage like filament bulbs do).

I'll to put the battery on the tricke charger over night and see what happens. Never suspected poor power supply because I ride everyday but who knows

Plus I'll have have another good look at where the LED wiring goes too.

**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 18:28

Originally Posted by DODO``

I'll to put the battery on the tricke charger over night and see what happens. Never suspected poor power supply because I ride everyday but who knows

Plus I'll have have another good look at where the LED wiring goes too.

By power supply I mean the wiring/connections too. Might be able to put a multimeter on the connectors to the ballast when it is running to shed some light on things. Were you local I'd off to give it a once over, but I fear it would be a bit of a trip...

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 21:19

Originally Posted by bogan

By power supply I mean the wiring/connections too. Might be able to put a multimeter on the connectors to the ballast when it is running to shed some light on things. Were you local I'd off to give it a once over, but I fear it would be a bit of a trip...

yup, Im about 95% sure its the bulb. Just took it out and middle of the bulb has turned grey. Just ordered new one and will update how I get on.

**bogan** · 20th January 2014, 21:45

Think that is how its supposed to be, the grey is metallic salts or something that gets ionised into a gas which allows the low voltage arc to cross such a gap and provide light, the color temp of which can be changed a bit by the metal composition. It's all quite neat I reckon.

**DODO``** · 20th January 2014, 21:51

Originally Posted by bogan

Think that is how its supposed to be, the grey is metallic salts or something that gets ionised into a gas which allows the low voltage arc to cross such a gap and provide light, the color temp of which can be changed a bit by the metal composition. It's all quite neat I reckon.

really? dayum.. so the ones on ebay looked clear because it was new? ar well.. i guess i will find out soon!