senor honda

Edited by 1320 Engineering.
Good article even though 1320 is no longer within the Tampa Racing area.

What decreases life of HID bulbs?
Most of us have played around with halogen bulbs and found out that the only thing that really decreases their life is over voltage and high G-forces. HID bulbs are more fragile, probably the number one reason is because the bulbs are running with non approval ballast. It does not matter how good the other part of the kit and bulbs are. If the ballast characteristics are not OK, the bulbs will die prematurely.

* KELVIN (k) - A basic unit of thermodynamic temperature (color temperature) used to measure the whiteness of the light output. The higher the number is the bluer (or purpler) the light is.

# Some HID terms
* Capsule - The Xenon gas inside the capsule and the mercurial Metal Halide Salts emits light of high degree of brightness.
* Ignitor - An electric current transformer that light the bulb by discharging a high electric pulse using an electric current switch through an electric current from the Ballast.
* Ballast - Supplies and controls the electric current (±20,000V) to the Xenon capsule

Why HID and not just a "super white" replacement bulb?
Conventional filament type bulbs use dated technology operating on the standard 12v DC powered system. HID system converts the 12V DC to an incredible 20,000V AC current, which produces an arc of light within the xenon gas bulb housing.
# Can HID conversion kit retrofit any conventional halogen headlight system with genuine HID?
Yes. And some fog lamp units too provided that space allows. Our kit is a truly direct drop-in retrofit HID conversion type. It transforms ordinary automotive and motorcycle H1, H3, H7, 9004/5/6/7 headlight systems into the most advanced HID technology.
# I'm not sure if I've just purchased a pair of "HID bulbs" or not. It says "HID" & "Xenon" on the packaging but nowhere does it mention the need for two dedicated HID ballasts to power like what your site mentions.
Sorry but yours are not genuine HID bulbs. You merely purchased a pair of blue-coated (ie: intensity compromised) halogen bulbs which are mislabeled to trick buyer into believing that they are of the same thing as genuine HID capsules. It is true that certain aftermarket halogen bulbs contain traces of xenon gas, but calling them HID bulbs is mislabeled, if not devious. HID capsule requires 35-watt HID ballast to run and doesn't contain any filament. HID capsule outputs 3 times the intensity, consumes less power, and lasts 5 times longer than halogen counterparts - stock or high output.
# Most people install 8000k and 6000k in their car, what is the difference?
While our 6000K (Light-Purplish/white) and 8000K (Xenon-Blue) HID bulbs both make driving a more enjoyable experience, there are some differences worth mentioning. The 6000K will be brighter than the 8000K.On the other hand, 8000K offer a distinctively eye pleasing look sure to turn heads.

My car came with OEM HID headlight system, why do I care about your products?
US car dealerships (foreign & US brands) are allowed to sell HID capsules in 4,000K range only.
So swap your existing OEM capsules (4,000K) with our 5,000K model for a slightly bluer tone. Our D2S & D2R capsules pop right into your Headlight housing. No additional ballasts or wiring are needed. And ours cost only a fraction of what the dealer charges you.

# Tell me more about Color Temperature (K)?
Color Temperature is a measurement in Degrees Kelvin that indicates the hue of a specific type of light source. Many people believe the misconception that color temperature is a rating of the brightness of the bulb or HID kit. This belief is completely false. The reality of the matter is that the higher the color temperature, the less useable light output you will obtain. A perfect example would be a black light. This light has a color temperature of approx 12,000k and has almost no useable light or lumens output.
As the color temperature increases, the color of the light moves from yellow -> white -> blue-white. HID headlights provide light at a higher color temperature than standard halogen headlights, which gives them a crisp white appearance. HID lamps come in 4300K, 5000K, 6000K, 8000K, 10000K, 12000K or 14000K. The difference is the coloring from white through blue to purple. As a reference, sunlight at noon is 5250°K. You'll want to make yourself familiar with the different hues to make your choice. Higher color temperature doesn't mean brighter. As a matter of fact, higher K Kits, such as 10,000K, 12000K and 14000K, have been manufactured for individuals that are more concerned about the actual color output as opposed to the actual useable light output.
# What can I do to prolong the lifespan of my HID capsules?
Glad that you asked. HID capsules are very delicate & fragile components indeed.

1. Do not touch the capsules except their base portions. This means no touching on the glass of the capsules, shafts, halogen bulbs, etc. If you do touch them by accident, use a cotton with alcohol to wipe off the skin oil carefully.
2. Disable DRL (daylight running lights). This annoying feature sends insufficient voltage to the capsules when you first turn your key and as a result, only 1 of 2 capsules are usually fired up properly. You can 'fix' this by starting up the engine fast before the DRL kicks in.
3. Do not turn on the engine with the HIDs on.
4. Do not turn off the engine with the HIDs on.
5. Do not allow the HID ballasts to be exposed to excessive water/moisture even though they are water-proof to a certain degree.
6. Do not leave your HIDs on when car is idle. This overheats them.
7. Do not turn them on & off repetitively. This hurts all bulbs - incandescent, halogen, HID, LED, etc.
8. Inspect headlight units to make sure the seals are good. Make sure no moisture buildup inside the housings.

# What other significance of this conversion should I be aware of?
* Beam Correction - Although our system produces accurate beam with minimal glare nor improper projection, it is always wise to check its focal length and adjust if necessary. Incorrect beam pattern endangers oncoming traffic. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) & Department of Transportation (DOT) received lots of complaints regarding haphazard glare from both aftermarket as well as OEM HID systems.
* Converted halogen-to-HID headlight systems are brighter than even OEM HID system - HID system in a light-intensifying halogen housing is brighter than HID system in a light-diminishing OEM HID housing. This is why we can't stress enough the importance of checking your projection beam pattern after conversion.

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