HID Conversion

[Justin B.]

I installed an HID conversion kit in my '95 RT over the weekend, it's BRIGHT!!!

[Ed Miller]

What bulb?  What kit?  I love HIDs.

[Justin B.]

http://www.xenonlink.com/index.php?cPath=69_70

[Ed Miller]

That's not bad.  Can you figure out from the packaging how much current the thing draws?  Not any claims of "90 watt output" or the ilk, but just how many watts it uses?  

Also, and I know this goes in a different section, but do you think that would work with a positive ground system?  

Can you see good both with the shielded low beam and the high beam?

Thanks,

[Bob_Roller]

Did you run a complete new harness for the HID, and then use the OEM wiring to activate the relay for the HID ?

I'm kind of curious what kind of bulb life to expect out of a motorcycle installation, my average for the PIAA halogen H4 bulb is about 24 months.

[Justin B.]

Ed, I have not personally installed an ammeter in line with the ballast but the web site states they draw about 35% less than the bulb.  So, if the low beam H4 dissipates 55 watts that would work out to about 4.3 amps.  So lopping 35% off that would leave you with a 2.75 amp current draw for the HID.

Bob, it comes with a fused wiring harness and relay that you hook directly to the battery and the headlight connections are just used as control signals.  As far as life, who knows...  The web site claims up to 10x longer life than a bulb...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Are those the lights that make me curse oncoming traffic?

[Justin B.]

Maybe, but I didn't go with the obnoxious blue ones - pure white...  

[Bob_Roller]

What color did you get the 5000 degree Kelvin, bulb ?

[Justin B.]

Yes, Bob, very happy with the color of the light.

[Ed Miller]

5K is the color I got for my car too, as it was the closest to the Sun's color which I believe is around 4500.  White, basically, though it looks blue compared to yellow halogens.]

Now I hope you'll let us know how long that moving part (the shield that switches you from high to low beam) lasts....  That's my only concern with the H4 versions.  

And would positive ground make any difference?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Yeah, the moving part.

Any idea how that works?

[Bob_Roller]

I sent the company an email, on what moves the shield to switch from low beam, to high beam.

See if I get a response.

[Justin B.]

Yeah, funny you should mention that.  :-?  My shutter operation has turned somewhat erratic so after following some troubleshooting steps provided by the vendor it appears they will replace the bulb.  The "shutter" seems to be actuated by a little solenoid (or tiny gizmo like a door-lock motor) and in the at-rest position it is in the "low beam" position.  On mine sometimes the shutter doesn't actuate unless I provide a wee bit of a tap to the rear of the bulb - seems like the mechanism is sticking or binding, or something...

[Bob_Roller]

I recieved a reply from the company, and it states that 'there is a motor in the back of the bulb that moves the bulb up and down to get the high and low beam'.

Sounds kind of interesting, can you get a picture of this Justin ?