35w HID vs 55w?

Huck · 03-27-2012, 02:26 PM

Please forgive me if I don't explain this completely correctly, I'm still learning about HID kits and may not get all my tents or facts straight.

I've been doing a lot of reading on his kits and the like, and I keep coming across the following statement: 55w ballasts are better than 35w. The reason for this is that your electrical system is sending a constant amount of power to your lights, and 35w ballasts are basically 55w ballasts with a bigger resistor so that not all of the power goes through to the actual lights. This apparently results in more heat (from the greater resistance) and some companies have said that this is what causes some of the HID bulbs to flicker or cut out. They say that (and this is where I can't remember exactly, so I may not say it quite right) the headlight electrical circuit gets kinda spazzed out because of the extra resistance, do when we put an aftermarket bulb in, it will cut out or not stay on for long because the headlight circuit is shutting itself off to save itself.

The way I've read it, we have two options.
1. Use a 55w ballast and allow all the power that the car is sending through, resulting in brighter lights.
2. Use the stock 35w ballast, blocking some of the power and getting lighting that is not as bright.

Is this correct or have I missed something? And even if it's not correct, is it worth it (read: difficult?) to upgrade to a 55w ballast? I think I've seen them on retrofit for less than $300.

Sent from my iPhizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff

Huck · 03-28-2012, 11:01 AM

Anybody?

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff.

Hawk6 · 03-28-2012, 11:09 AM

Huck I've thought about changing out my lights as well but I've giving up seeing all the issues people have. So until someone can no **** and answer I'm dropping the thought. Let me know if you figure it out as it seems to be hit and miss no matter what brand or vendor.

Huck · 03-28-2012, 11:11 AM

Will do, I'm still a ways away from doing it, I just like to read up and know what I'm talking about before I make the jump.

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff.

Hawk6 · 03-28-2012, 11:22 AM

Same here but even switching out to like a 6000 to get a bluish tint seems to be like I said hit and miss

Huck · 03-28-2012, 11:37 AM

When I bought my car used whoever had it before me put 6200k's in there, they look great. You're right though, it does seem to be kinda random. I have to do more reading to see if I can learn some more.

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff.

03-27-2012, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 41 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	35w HID vs 55w? Please forgive me if I don't explain this completely correctly, I'm still learning about HID kits and may not get all my tents or facts straight. I've been doing a lot of reading on his kits and the like, and I keep coming across the following statement: 55w ballasts are better than 35w. The reason for this is that your electrical system is sending a constant amount of power to your lights, and 35w ballasts are basically 55w ballasts with a bigger resistor so that not all of the power goes through to the actual lights. This apparently results in more heat (from the greater resistance) and some companies have said that this is what causes some of the HID bulbs to flicker or cut out. They say that (and this is where I can't remember exactly, so I may not say it quite right) the headlight electrical circuit gets kinda spazzed out because of the extra resistance, do when we put an aftermarket bulb in, it will cut out or not stay on for long because the headlight circuit is shutting itself off to save itself. The way I've read it, we have two options. 1. Use a 55w ballast and allow all the power that the car is sending through, resulting in brighter lights. 2. Use the stock 35w ballast, blocking some of the power and getting lighting that is not as bright. Is this correct or have I missed something? And even if it's not correct, is it worth it (read: difficult?) to upgrade to a 55w ballast? I think I've seen them on retrofit for less than $300. Sent from my iPhizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

03-28-2012, 11:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 41 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	Anybody? Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff. __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

03-28-2012, 11:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 41 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	Will do, I'm still a ways away from doing it, I just like to read up and know what I'm talking about before I make the jump. Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff. __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

03-28-2012, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 41 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	When I bought my car used whoever had it before me put 6200k's in there, they look great. You're right though, it does seem to be kinda random. I have to do more reading to see if I can learn some more. Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff. __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

03-28-2012, 11:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hawk6 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vero Beach, Fl Posts: 125 Drives: 2012 370Z Blk Cherry Rep Power: 13	Huck I've thought about changing out my lights as well but I've giving up seeing all the issues people have. So until someone can no **** and answer I'm dropping the thought. Let me know if you figure it out as it seems to be hit and miss no matter what brand or vendor.

03-28-2012, 11:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Hawk6 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vero Beach, Fl Posts: 125 Drives: 2012 370Z Blk Cherry Rep Power: 13	Same here but even switching out to like a 6000 to get a bluish tint seems to be like I said hit and miss