HID installation. Help

[Owl]

Thanks for info Al,have just ordered phillips extreme H7,based on GB25.00POUND so works out reasonably priced at maybe $70NZ.Haven't been able to find them here,and the 2 main outlets(not auto sparkies)when I ask them about give me blank looks,can get +80 for the car H4,but H1,H7 perplexes them.Thanks again for the link,after tonight need something a little bit better than stock.

Awesome Tony! Shit lights are the reason I haven't been on the last two FNR's.
£24.99 comes in at around $63 which doesn’t sound too bad. Did you get a free gift with them?

[nallac]

[QUOTE=LBD;2011797]

These will be the +90% now available in NZ get the thumbs up from me.

QUOTE]


I have heard of fried wiring with the +80%...

[slydesigns]

ok.. a few myths and legends here...

HIDs are good IF you only fit the 4700K range bulbs.
This gives a normal bulb slight yellow natural light. And the others are shit. The Higher K {hotter light colour} bulbs give a brighter light with a shorter range. Its harder to actually see objects and they dazzle everyone no matter where they are pointed.

All the bikes on the Manawatu ride last night had to pull over and wave me through for this reason. I didn't check my order properly and got 8000K bulbs. Oh sure... its a nice gay boyracer blue white light, but its shit. So I'm switching to the same as the only Euro legal bulbs, the 4700zk ones.

Running dual beam HID's, the practice overseas is to reaim the highbeam into a low beam. You'll have enough light, trust me. Reason for this is switching on and off repeatedly will significantly reduce the lifespan off an HID bulb. But leaving the High as a standard incandecent bulb will just make it get washed out by the brighter lowbeam.

HID's generate VERY little heat. HID ballasts on the otherhand, do make heat.

HID's use and enormous amount of energy to ignite so starting with them on can cause issues like either the bike not starting or the bulbs not igniting. A switch or HID Delay Kit {$20 off eBay or make your own} is a good investment. Once running current draw drops down to 0.25 of an amp so they are extremely efficient ONCE warm.

If you want to compare them to standard bulbs, check out any latemodel euro car or the Subaru Legacy of the last few years. You'll spot the HID's from the highpitch noise as the lights warm up.They run HID lows with conventional Highs.

In short, HID's are good but only if we follow the Euro car manufactures conventions and fit low K bulbs and not the ultra white High K ones. They are not going to burn out the housings, they are plug and play, they are however, currently by WOF standards illegal as aftermarket items.

I've attached a chart off the Triumph675 site where we all run HID's and have debated the best for some time now. The chart shows the different K bulbs and the effect on beam strength. In this case my choice would be the 5000K bulbs.

Second pic is how washed out the 8000K bulbs are at range.

[BMWST?]

the proper euro car fitment actually has an auto levelling device on the low beams to ensure that the HIDs DO NOT affect other drivers.This is by law in europe.The problem is real.Any repco should have uprated h1 h4 and h7 bulbs.Do not confuse HID with 'Blue" xenon bulbs.Xenon is often used as a reference to HID .Not sure if any road bikes come standard with hid low beams? You will often find that hid lamps etc have a disclaimer they are NOT road legal

[LBD]

...[/QUOTE] I have heard of fried wiring with the +80%...[/QUOTE]

Watts = Volts x Amps....(55 watt h4) and a (55watt h4+90%) both draw the same....4.23 amps at 13V

Nope no fried wires there....

[CookMySock]

HIDs are good IF you only fit the 4700K range bulbs.
This gives a normal bulb slight yellow natural light. And the others are shit.

I think thats a little harsh. The 6,000k bulbs are a very clean white - certainly not the yellow like the 4,700k. I haven't used the 8,000K or the 4,700K bulbs, but it sounds like you haven't used the 6,000K bulbs either. I agree the 8,000K and above do not provide a good light.

HID's use and enormous amount of energy to ignite so starting with them on can cause issues like either the bike not starting or the bulbs not igniting. A switch or HID Delay Kit {$20 off eBay or make your own} is a good investment. Once running current draw drops down to 0.25 of an amp so they are extremely efficient ONCE warm.

I think you are overstating this also. There is quite a large inrush current with my HID inverters. I have a digital clamp meter, but its not fast enough to measure this inrush. I run mine (two different bikes) with no relays - I will report if theres a problem. Theres no way they only draw 0.25 amp when warm - its more like 3 or 3.5 amps.

If anyone is concerned about glare, then just dip them. If they are still blinding people then adjust them downwards. If they are still blinding people, then you have a problem elsewhere.

Steve

[Katman]

If they are still blinding people, then you have a problem elsewhere.

Steve

The problem lies with cocks who think their own safety ranks higher than that of any other road user.

[Mom]

The problem lies with cocks who think their own safety ranks higher than that of any other road user.

Interesting comment mate, I was actually surprised to see this member advocating dipping headlights actually.

[Gremlin]

Damn you LBD... I have tootled off and got my +90% bulbs...

Picked them up today, and in a cruel twist of fate, my tyres turned up, so now the bike is sitting at the shop and they will fit the tyres whenever they are free.

Looks like the bulb will be in by the weekend, and then I can test it out.

[ynot slow]

My bulbs turned up today not bad,ordered last Friday and here from England this morning.

[Hispid]

Has anyone tried LED cluster bulbs?

[CookMySock]

Has anyone tried LED cluster bulbs?

For headlights? I haven't.

I have tried LED cluster for tail/brake combination lights, and I was not impressed with the particular bulb I tried. It is very bright from the rear, and not so much from the side.

This type is very bright directly from the rear. I have two of these to sell - offers?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-218501007.htm

This one is bright from a wider angle.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-218493957.htm

Steve