After returning from a little jaunt down the coast, I got out and noticed my offside headlight was out. It's done this before but quite a while ago. Jiggled around with the ballast and connectors without turning them off and it made no difference.

 

Turned the lights off for a short while and then decided to try them again - the headlight that was out, miraculously starts working again.

 

Anyone else experienced this?

Yep. I'd say it was the ballast.

 

They're so bloody cheap these days you may as well get a new one just to rule it out if nothing else.

 

Could also be some moisture in the connections if the rubber insulators have started breaking down. Strip them and check, then fill with dielectric grease.

May as well change both sides so they match !

 

Yep. I'd say it was the ballast.

 

They're so bloody cheap these days you may as well get a new one just to rule it out if nothing else.

 

Could also be some moisture in the connections if the rubber insulators have started breaking down. Strip them and check, then fill with dielectric grease.

Component breaking down or bad solder joint.............. Just a guess......

Hi guys!

Could u let me know or photo, a ballast so at least I know if it happens to me? :)

I hope not a stupid request :blush:

The square things are ballasts, the things in the clear tubes are bulbs, the wires....well, they're just wires!

 

Talking of HIDS; this is something I need to order shortly so whats the best make out there ?

The 'best' is probably Philips, but you're looking at circa £200 for one of their kits.

what about ebay ones about £70 bux

No idea. There are so many out there. Remember to get H3C rather than H3. H3 bulbs will fit, but not as well as H3C. H3C also has a different sized bulb too which is designed for the optics of H3C fitment rather than H3.

 

There's an HID forum too, have a scout around that.

Mine does this, I've just been avoiding using it in the dark :D but on a serious note, I swapped the ballast out and it did it again, I believe it's actually the bulb, apparently they don't just blow as such but degrade.

Thanks for the info, not sure I have HID's though:huh:

I paid around £40 ones from flea-bay just to trial it incase I didn't like them. And they actually work a treat

Nothing wrong with ebay cheapies, they all come from Hong Kong anyway, whomever you get them from lol the bulbs do deteriorate rather than just blow, so i would put money on the bulb.

Allthough this was a problem that affected early Selin translators, bear this in mind when buying HID ballasts:

 

"All of the Chinese sourced ballasts I was able to test sent voltage spikes into the cars electrical system as high as 300 volts (!!!) This is

also repeatedly hitting every other computer in your system." - Jim Selin

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/forums/general/view/2579166/Hey-Greg-sorry-I-hadnt-replied-to-your-email-yet.html

Edited August 8, 201411 yr by AndrewG
Attributed quote

My HIDs cost £22 delivered from eBay.

Joel and I recently bought these

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360958257557?var=630305422525&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

So far so good though I think what my lights most need is a good clean!!

 

I'd add that we both had problems with the first order in that they sent the wrong parts but they were very quick to resolve and no additional cost so I'd recommend them

Those are remarkably cheap, I think I'm going to go with 55watters this time, the previous 35 watt Chinese ones that cost about £30 have last about 3-4 years, so no complaints really.

We went for 55s too....but I have realised how dirty my lenses are so they really do need a clean to make the most of these

What is the difference in terms of light output from 35w to 55w? I've always based it on the kelvin scale. If I were to have 2 HID kits at say, 4300k one at 35w and one at 55w, what would be the visual difference? Would there be one?

Allthough this was a problem that affected early Selin translators, bear this in mind when buying HID ballasts:

 

"All of the Chinese sourced ballasts I was able to test sent voltage spikes into the cars electrical system as high as 300 volts (!!!) This is

also repeatedly hitting every other computer in your system." - Jim Selin

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/forums/general/view/2579166/Hey-Greg-sorry-I-hadnt-replied-to-your-email-yet.html

 

Andrew are you running HIDs? As I havent fitted any yet, and with the Selin, wasn't going to as per you link re the "intereference" from the HIDS.

The square things are ballasts, the things in the clear tubes are bulbs, the wires....well, they're just wires!

 

Don't forget these all are sitting in a moulded plastic insert that ultimately is resting in a box which structure is cardboard......hehehe !!

 

I've always bought the cheap kits and have plenty of spares/extra kits that i can just swap out but in the main they're reliable and your pocket doesn't hurt on failure, those that sell at 'inflated' prices have sourced as Graham as said from the far east anyway.

 

As for 35w against 55w and you can even get higher, you would expect more output the higher you go, personally i'd stick with what my stock is and that's all 55w, 5000k and i use in both fogs and dipped.

I have been thinking about going with 4300k. I think mine (from memory) are 6000k. I hate the blue ones; 8000k and upwards are awful and look nasty (and have a lower light output. 6000k isn't bad though, but I want it to look a little more 'oem' so when I come to replace them, I'll get some 4300k with H3C fitment (currently have H3 fitment).

8000k colour is strictly for saxos !!

 

Ignore H3c for HID lights H3 is the only bit you need to look out for.

 

I don't think you'd notice any real difference between 4300 and 5000, up the scale at 6000k does have a very slight blue tinge.

 

Likewise no remarkable difference between 35w and 55w but i would recommend 55w, there is a slight difference in price for a reason.

 

Ignore H3c for HID lights H3 is the only bit you need to look out for.

 

 

Incorrect, there is a difference that I am not going to ignore. The fitment of H3C is FAR better than the H3, in addition, the orb is a different size designed for the H3C fitment giving less light bleed as it sits slightly further back in the projector. If I can get H3C then I will as a preference in getting it spot-on. It is available.

Incorrect, there is a difference that I am not going to ignore. The fitment of H3C is FAR better than the H3, in addition, the orb is a different size designed for the H3C fitment giving less light bleed as it sits slightly further back in the projector. If I can get H3C then I will as a preference in getting it spot-on. It is available.

 

Yes I stand corrected, the H3c is a stumpier bulb at 5mm less - i didn't even know it existed as a HID light bulb option that is !!

Edited August 8, 201411 yr by phutumsch