Question about HID conversions.

[mr_magicfingers]

When you have a HID converstion done (or buy the kit) is it just the main (dipped) beam that's converted? I know HID's take a few seconds to warm up and give output, and I thought that arc lights aren't supposed to be cycled rapidly so do you have a regular Hi beam?

Question occurred to me when giving a quick flash of the Hi beam the other day and thinking that a HID Hi beam might not actually work for short periods like that. I pondered this for the rest of the ride. Yes, I should probably get out more

J.

 

[Thunder]

When you have a HID converstion done (or buy the kit) is it just the main (dipped) beam that's converted? I know HID's take a few seconds to warm up and give output, and I thought that arc lights aren't supposed to be cycled rapidly so do you have a regular Hi beam?

Question occurred to me when giving a quick flash of the Hi beam the other day and thinking that a HID Hi beam might not actually work for short periods like that. I pondered this for the rest of the ride. Yes, I should probably get out more

J.

Hids do take a second or 2 to come to full brilliance so I can see why your asking, but personally taking into account they are brighter than a standard bulb even at the stage of being turned on I can't see a problem with having them on the high beam.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Hids do take a second or 2 to come to full brilliance so I can see why your asking, but personally taking into account they are brighter than a standard bulb even at the stage of being turned on I can't see a problem with having them on the high beam.

Ah, righto, I was concerned about the fast turn on/turn off as I thought arc lights shouldn't do that. Sounds like it's not something to worry about then. Cheers.

 

[rob mac]

I have both dip and main converted to HIDs (1200 GSA). For night illumination I have never found the need to use main beam anymore as just one HID on the dip is so good, putting on the main merely raises the overall height of the beam rather than gives any more range, so, nice for checking out tree tops for snipers but not much else. I wonder, if I had HID on dip only and Halogen standard main for "flashing" purposes, would it even be seen/recognised due to the high intensity of the HID that's on all the time?

 

[topcat2006]

I have just the dip beam converted but have put an osram night breaker in the main. I find that HID's do not project very well whereas a conventional bulb does. You do see the difference of having the main beam in this way as you get light projected further down the road.

I have also done the same in my van which I travel about 60,000 miles a year in and it works very well.

Hope this helps.

TC

 

[Allan Davies]

, putting on the main merely raises the overall height of the beam rather than gives any more range, so, nice for checking out tree tops for snipers but not much else. QUOTE]

Not just me then
I have been wondering how to solve that problem, it's now solvled itself. Saves me going down the road and back with my srewdriver trying to adjust what can;t be adjusted

 

[jodi]

hid

I have just the dip beam converted but have put an osram night breaker in the main. I find that HID's do not project very well whereas a conventional bulb does. You do see the difference of having the main beam in this way as you get light projected further down the road.

I have also done the same in my van which I travel about 60,000 miles a year in and it works very well.

Hope this helps.

TC

Hi TC
Is the osram night breaker readily available and just a straight swap job, or do you need a different fitting etc?

cheers

 

[freeloader]

I'm about to go back to conventional H7 bulbs in my F800GS, due to discolouration of the dip beam's reflector, plus the fact that I was never happy with a HID for the main beam because of the reaction time.

However I've just bought 2 of Halfrauds' Extreme Brilliance bulbs - expensive at about £24 each but currently they're doing them on BOGOF. Just waiting for replacement lamp units rear caps from BMW before I fit those. I'd already tried them in my Discovery and yes, I did notice a considerable increase in light over the standard bulbs.

 

[Fanum]

I'm about to go back to conventional H7 bulbs in my F800GS, due to discolouration of the dip beam's reflector, plus the fact that I was never happy with a HID for the main beam because of the reaction time.

However I've just bought 2 of Halfrauds' Extreme Brilliance bulbs - expensive at about £24 each but currently they're doing them on BOGOF. Just waiting for replacement lamp units rear caps from BMW before I fit those. I'd already tried them in my Discovery and yes, I did notice a considerable increase in light over the standard bulbs.

Bet they won't last more than 6 months

 

[freeloader]

Bet they won't last more than 6 months

Vibration, I guess? They lasted fine on the Discovery. Is short life of these bulbs a documented problem, and if so does the same apply to the "Not-quite-so-extreme-but-still-50%-brighter-than-standard" bulbs that Halfrauds also sell?

 

[brassmonkey001]

I'm about to go back to conventional H7 bulbs in my F800GS, due to discolouration of the dip beam's reflector, plus the fact that I was never happy with a HID for the main beam because of the reaction time.

However I've just bought 2 of Halfrauds' Extreme Brilliance bulbs - expensive at about £24 each but currently they're doing them on BOGOF. Just waiting for replacement lamp units rear caps from BMW before I fit those. I'd already tried them in my Discovery and yes, I did notice a considerable increase in light over the standard bulbs.

You'll miss that extra output.

Mr Magicfingers - it depends what your set up is. If you have a H4 bulb then the change between dip & main is caused through a solenoid which moves the 'filament' and is actually faster than lighting up a halogen bulb.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

thanks for all the replies. Seem to have the questions answered for now. I'm not currently riding a GS, just an old XJ600 so not worth converting, but hopefully over the winter a GS will come into my life and that will be worth doing from all accounts.

Cheers.

J.

 

[freeloader]

You'll miss that extra output.

Yeah I know...

Mr Magicfingers - it depends what your set up is. If you have a H4 bulb then the change between dip & main is caused through a solenoid which moves the 'filament' and is actually faster than lighting up a halogen bulb.

Wish mine worked that way - full power HID main beam on demand, mmm.

 

[GSband]

Have to agree with the above. On my R12GS the only HID is the dipped beam. The HID dipped beam is so bright I don't really need the main beam, and the main beam is used for signalling only. Since HID warms up too slow for quick flashes, I use a normal H7 bulb for the main beam. I've put the strongest bulb that I could find (Osram Nightbreaker, but there are others), to make sure it gets seen next to the HID dip beam. Strong normal bulbs (like Nightbreaker) have a low life expectancy, but since main beam is hardly ever working ... This works to my satisfaction.

 

[Packer]

It does take a moment for the head to achieve full power but even when it first strikes it's about as good as the standard halogen. Once it's warm you can switch it off for oncoming traffic for quite long periods and it still strikes up at full power immediately the oncoming vehicle(s) is/are past you.

I'm not saying that an HID main is good for range but if you point it out to sea you can see the curvature of the earth. More usefully you can ride at daylight speeds on straight roads as you can see to infinity and beyond.

1150 though!

 

[D6]

run the 1150 on h i d , but have a couple of normal spots on high too, to give that instant flash if needed, not for the extra light

 

[Roger Chatterton]

It does take a moment for the head to achieve full power but even when it first strikes it's about as good as the standard halogen. Once it's warm you can switch it off for oncoming traffic for quite long periods and it still strikes up at full power immediately the oncoming vehicle(s) is/are past you.

I'm not saying that an HID main is good for range but if you point it out to sea you can see the curvature of the earth. More usefully you can ride at daylight speeds on straight roads as you can see to infinity and beyond.

1150 though!

Can you tell me what you saw beyond infinity .....? Sounds like the M11.

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

Can you tell me what you saw beyond infinity .....? Sounds like the M11.

I think he's BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!