Write-Up: HID Conversion

IBx1 wrote:

The 6000K temperature is what I had, they're perfect. 8000K's look like 6000K's that haven't warmed up, and actually look pretty nasty. The 10000K's are obnoxiously blue so you don't want to go there.

6000K looks professional, go for that.

Yeah, I'd definitely not go above 6000K for color. I'm just trying to decide between the 43 and 6. Judging from the pictures 43 does seem to be significantly brighter than 6000. And I really want the clarity not so much the looks.

I think I might end up going with this kit here: http://www.kensun.com/product_detail.php?pid=1

Two year warranty, digital ballasts, 79.99 on amazon, and the company seems to have a good rating. Wish I could afford it before next week...

If you want clarity over looks, 4300K isn't going low enough that yellows would start to show. If you can find 5000K bulbs that's a good color too.

also note that a 8000K 55w unit will look more like a 7000K 35W unit.
so if you want to go just shy of 6k, get a 6000K 55w unit.

As for my luck with the kits, i bought them from ebay and the box said Xentec. i had a ballast go bad in the first month and the sent me a new one, no charge. then the other side ballast went bad and i tried to warranty it out (has a 2yr War.). they said send it back for them and they would either fix it or send me a new one. i still have not heard from them in 6mo+. (i just bit the bulled and bought another ballast from a different seller.
For $50 shipped, what do you expect?

i find it quite strange that all these different kind of lamps rate the devices in power consumption or a value of the kelvin colour!

strange when you go to home depot the hand held "super" flashlight is rated in candel power (1 million candel)

Its nice to know how much power a lamp consumes when you only have a limited supply but a measure of brightness would be much better. Also a figure of how well the headlamp shell directs the light would be good!.

some one mentioned that yellow is a good colour for poor weather, it would appear to be but you have to look to the off road racer crowd to see they use HID whites for a reason!! also the blue light for us older people actually gives us better contrast at night...

just my take on lamps.

Lian: The HIDS now work great with the replacement balast ($16 + free shipping)

Nigel.

Glad to hear it! The 6000K's are a great color light; crisp white that brings out the colors in the yellow dividers and grass on the sides of the road.

Quote :

i find it quite strange that all these different kind of lamps rate the devices in power consumption or a value of the kelvin colour!

Candlepower is still used for flashlights, but otherwise is an extinct term, replaced by "candela". Candela is basically a way to measure light from a bulb, which really doesn't tell us what happens over a distance, as the light is emitted and reflected by the lens.

Another way to measure light output is Lumens, which considers distance, and focus. The light from a single candle, measured on 1 sq foot of area, at a distance of 1 ft away = 1 Lumen. So it's like a candle power, except it factors in the lens as well as the bulb itself.

The Kelvin value is a good thing to know, because our eyes see different colors of light at different intensity levels. And you are correct that a "white" light gives the highest level of intensity (green is also a very visible light, but it can distort important color information). You are also right that our perception of color changes as our eyes get older. Even so, the Kelvin values generally indicate what is perceived as "warmer" and "cooler" light.

Most sources show the most pure HID white light as being right around 3800 Lumens from a 35W 4800ºK HID set-up. As you go lower or higher in Kelvin temp, the Lumens decrease for the same 35W power. So, ~3000 Lumens for a 35W 4300ºK (yellow) HID, for example. A higher Kelvin temp also results in less output. A 35W 6000ºK (blue) might also make ~3000 Lumens, and 8000ºK (bluer) would drop to ~1000 Lumens.

1000 Lumens is close to the output you get from typical high-output halogen bulbs, although the halogens use more power, so going higher than 8000ºK with HIDs, into the blue/purple spectrum, doesn't get you much if any more light intensity than a Silverstar or Eurolight bulb. This is because the halogens are closer to the white part of the Kelvin spectrum, at around 3000-4000ºK.

Some good links on Kelvin & Lumens:

http://www.v6performance.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8914
http://www.theledlight.com/lumens.html
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=84fc4a0d81c6e38d3627f6029f3508e3&t=21479
http://assets.sylvania.com/assets/images/masters/ProductComparison_Auto%206d116f89-f521-4e9f-9a82-6e31053c9567.jpg

GMFreak8 wrote:

I think I might end up going with this kit here: http://www.kensun.com/product_detail.php?pid=1

Two year warranty, digital ballasts, 79.99 on amazon, and the company seems to have a good rating. Wish I could afford it before next week...

Does anybody have any experience with this companies product?
These sound like a good deal. If they honor their warranty without a hassle, it is a good deal.

Am considering HID's for the G/F, as she is complaining about her headlights not bright enough at night.
She does more night driving lately.

I'm happy with the PIAA's in mine for now.

priced as 2 bulbs etc... for a single beam headlamp ...

AA wrote:

Most sources show the most pure HID white light as being right around 3800 Lumens from a 35W 4800ºK HID set-up. As you go lower or higher in Kelvin temp, the Lumens decrease for the same 35W power. So, ~3000 Lumens for a 35W 4300ºK (yellow) HID, for example. A higher Kelvin temp also results in less output. A 35W 6000ºK (blue) might also make ~3000 Lumens, and 8000ºK (bluer) would drop to ~1000 Lumens.

1000 Lumens is close to the output you get from typical high-output halogen bulbs, although the halogens use more power, so going higher than 8000ºK with HIDs, into the blue/purple spectrum, doesn't get you much if any more light intensity than a Silverstar or Eurolight bulb. This is because the halogens are closer to the white part of the Kelvin spectrum, at around 3000-4000ºK.

Every source I've looked at shows a very different scale.
If you go to Kensun's website, it shows that their 10,000k will put out 2200lm of light output. For reference, their 4300k shows 3200lm. That makes more sense to me because I have 12,000k and they are still a LOT easier to see with than the halogens, oem or silverstar. If the best I could get out of them was under 1000lm, I wouldn't be using them.

I checked around and looks like you're right that 10000ºK HIDs put out more than 1000 Lumens. But I discovered that halogen bulbs can also put out more than I thought: up to 2000 Lumens, and often 1500 Lumens easily. Here's a chart that shows some perspective.



So at least you can see how high output halogens can compete with high Kelvin HIDs, but HIDs in the 4000-6000ºK (white) range are clearly much brighter.

Rickw wrote:

GMFreak8 wrote:

I think I might end up going with this kit here: http://www.kensun.com/product_detail.php?pid=1

Two year warranty, digital ballasts, 79.99 on amazon, and the company seems to have a good rating. Wish I could afford it before next week...

Does anybody have any experience with this companies product?
Are they priced for one bulb assy., thereby need to order 2 per vehicle.?

Am considering HID's for the G/F, as she is complaining about her headlights not bright enough at night.
She does more night driving lately.
I'm happy with the PIAA's in mine.

I'll let you know. I think I'm going to go with the 4300K HIDs from them.

That was the Kelvin rating I was looking at also.
Based on output (Lumens) they look like the best bet.
Please let me know what you think after getting them.
Build quality, ease of install, complete wiring kit included, etc.
Also, if you can post a link to the site you are buying from. (Amazon) I think is what you said.?

I looked at one of the Links Aaron posted for a quality set made by Phillips (German Made) and they were quite a bit more money,
several hundred $$ more, but you get what you pay for. I think they listed a Lifetime Warranty.
Thanks,
Rick

Rickw wrote:

That was the Kelvin rating I was looking at also.
Please let me know what you think after getting them.
Build quality, ease of install, complete wiring kit included, etc.
Also, if you can post a link to the site you are buying from. (Amazon) I think is what you said.?

I looked at one of the Links Aaron posted for a quality set made by Phillips (German Made) and they were quite a bit more money, but you get what you pay for.
Thanks,
Rick

Will do. I'm 99% sure I'll be getting the 4300K ones. I just have to wait for the cash and it'll be the next thing I buy.

Here's the Link

I'm not sure where the kensun kits are made, but by looking around they seem to be of comparable quality in reviews to the Philips made ones. With a two year warranty that seems to be backed up rather well, I might as well try them. Looks like they extensively test them too: http://www.kensun.com/enviromental_report.php

Isreal seems to be the test center location, and I seem to remember reading somewhere that they are made in an ISO 9001 factory and employ philips patented technology (just not the name), of course I can't find that info now so maybe I was dreaming.

I just rather spend $80 on something with a two year warranty than spend $250 on a philips brand kit with a one year warranty (although you said lifetime on the ones you saw) and reviews that aren't any better than these.

From the domain name lookup this is what I get:

Visit AboutUs.org for more information about kensun.com
AboutUs: kensun.com

Registration Service Provided By: eNom, Inc.
Contact: info2@eNom.com

Domain name: kensun.com

Administrative Contact:
-
samuel Ettinger (gototry@gmail.com)
+1.17185543139
Fax:
po box 191098
brooklyn, NY 11219
US

Technical Contact:
-
samuel Ettinger (gototry@gmail.com)
+1.17185543139
Fax:
po box 191098
brooklyn, NY 11219
US

Registrant Contact:
-
samuel Ettinger ()

Fax:
po box 191098
brooklyn, NY 11219
US

Status: Locked

Name Servers:
ns499.websitewelcome.com
ns500.websitewelcome.com

Creation date: 09 Jun 2006 17:30:26
Expiration date: 09 Jun 2010 17:30:00

Just ordered the Kensun kit off of Amazon. I'll let you guys know how it goes when I install it.

Got the kit today. Can't wait to install it. So far my experience with Kensun has been great. Can't complain about the shipping speed.

GMFreak8 wrote:

Got the kit today. Can't wait to install it. So far my experience with Kensun has been great. Can't complain about the shipping speed.

You mentioned before you bought it that you found it through a vendor on Amazon for less than buying direct from Kensun. Who was that.? do you have a name or link.?

Rickw wrote:

GMFreak8 wrote:

Got the kit today. Can't wait to install it. So far my experience with Kensun has been great. Can't complain about the shipping speed.

You mentioned before you bought it that you found it through a vendor on Amazon for less than buying direct from Kensun. Who was that.? do you have a name or link.?

It's the same guy that offers them for sale on his site. It's direct from kensun. Don't ask me why the price difference. He has one for sale for 79.99 and the other which from everything I can tell is the same kit for $105.99. Only difference is "digital" is in the title. Kensun offers nothing but digital ballasts though.

First kit:
Link

Second kit:
Link

Seller Profile:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/at-a-glance.html?ie=UTF8&seller=A3GVO71WDMGEMM

The bulbs are different, but the prices are the same on the items I linked to versus the 9006 bulb versions.

I'm still a bit confused. Did you buy the First Kit or the Second Kit.
Neither one of them say 4300k, 9006 equivalent.?

You mentioned $79.95.?

Rickw wrote:

I'm still a bit confused. Did you buy the First Kit or the Second Kit.
Neither one of them say 4300k, 9006 equivalent.?

You mentioned $79.95.?

I didn't buy either I bought the $79.99 9006 version, which from all indications is the same as the $105 9006 kit. I'm not sure what the difference between them is other than cost and "digital" in the title.


Here is the kit I bought:
Link

Here is what appears to be the same kit, but more money:
Link

i just ordered :- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260510686236&viewitem=

lets see how good they are!!

Nigel

I opened the box of HID equipment I got today. Came in a nice metal briefcase. Seems to be of higher quality components. Although it's definitely japanese/chinese. The instructions are horrible grammar and spelling wise. Upon closer inspection it looks like the kit was actually made by a company called "supervision". Products are backed by a three year warranty. Looks like Kensun just slaps their logo on it. Which makes sense, looks like that's how a lot of these kits are. Either way, the price wasn't bad, it looks like a quality kit, and so far I'm happy with the purchase.

Won't get to install them for a while though. Car is going into the shop tomorrow. Gotta get the oil changed, and get the door handle and lumbar fixed. Also want him to check on a lose steering knuckle and pulleys. Stay tuned for the install

http://www.supervisionhid.com/

wow i'm a dumbass. I'm thinking to myself the whole time I'm removing the original bulbs "I got lucky, they aren't that hard to reach". Wasn't until I got both of them out that I realized I had removed the brights, not the dims.....

Who cares if it's cheap Chinese product (it's not Japanese) - at least you got a shiny metal briefcase, right? J/K, but that kind of stuff makes me run for the hills. Looking forward to seeing your install, though. Hope everything turns out.