Higher Wattage Ballast?
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Higher Wattage Ballast?
Is changing to higher wattage ballast 35w > 50w going to help the light output in our oem headlights? any disadvange in doing this?
Because a lot of aftermarket ballast comes in 50w which claims it will have 40% more light output than 35w.
Because a lot of aftermarket ballast comes in 50w which claims it will have 40% more light output than 35w.
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From: Boston, MA
for example the site http://www.therpmstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=56&osCsid=f2 e79eed440338ee4d8a0076c6a6d6b3
said 4500k bulb increase the lumens from 3400 > 4200
and 5000k 3300 > 4100
by just using the 50w ballast
we need someone to confirm this, my friend said it worked for his OEM audi light but the color turned yellowish so he upgraded from oem to 5000k bulb
said 4500k bulb increase the lumens from 3400 > 4200
and 5000k 3300 > 4100
by just using the 50w ballast
we need someone to confirm this, my friend said it worked for his OEM audi light but the color turned yellowish so he upgraded from oem to 5000k bulb
Last edited by etang789; Mar 13, 2006 at 10:02 PM.
It'll make it brighter but not necessarily better. Going with a higher wattage ballast will make the bulb life shorter, introduce more glare to oncoming drivers, and not provide more light where you really needed it, in front and away from you.
And actually, there's a lot of theories on why brighter lights aren't necessarily better. One of them is that bright lights close to you will cause your pupils to close up and not allow objects in the distance be registered by your brain as easily, and thus cause you to have poorer night vision.
Might as well save the money and go with the projector headlights from an 06.
And actually, there's a lot of theories on why brighter lights aren't necessarily better. One of them is that bright lights close to you will cause your pupils to close up and not allow objects in the distance be registered by your brain as easily, and thus cause you to have poorer night vision.
Might as well save the money and go with the projector headlights from an 06.
Look here for more info on changing ballasts.
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/hl-hid-ballasts.htm
Apparently, overpowering a bulb can also cause it to explode, which is a bad thing.
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/hl-hid-ballasts.htm
Can I replace a ballast with a different brand, from an electrical standpoint?
Yes, it will work, but it will not be optimised. The life expectancy of HID bulb can be lowered, the ballast can be overloaded. The key here is that a ballast is designed for a specific HID bulb. The standard D2S was a label for regulatory organisations (DOT, ECE) to incorporate into current regulations so that it could be used on public road. It covers basics like the physical size, 23KV ignition voltage and ~85V maintenance voltage. In real life, there are as many standards as there are manufacturers. Expect to see differences in among various ballast brands:
Startup sequencing. At what curcumstances is 20kV too much, at what curcumstances is 22kV too little.
Length and shape of ignition pulse strike.
Length and shape of transition from ignition pulse to maintenance voltage.
Detect and vary parameters for variuos bulb temperatures.
Yes, it will work, but it will not be optimised. The life expectancy of HID bulb can be lowered, the ballast can be overloaded. The key here is that a ballast is designed for a specific HID bulb. The standard D2S was a label for regulatory organisations (DOT, ECE) to incorporate into current regulations so that it could be used on public road. It covers basics like the physical size, 23KV ignition voltage and ~85V maintenance voltage. In real life, there are as many standards as there are manufacturers. Expect to see differences in among various ballast brands:
Startup sequencing. At what curcumstances is 20kV too much, at what curcumstances is 22kV too little.
Length and shape of ignition pulse strike.
Length and shape of transition from ignition pulse to maintenance voltage.
Detect and vary parameters for variuos bulb temperatures.
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