Cylindrical HID Ballast Test

[z_Rocketvapor]

Tested one of the cheap cylindrical 35 W ballasts (from ebay) and a equally cheap H3 Hid bulb.

The ballast is rated to operate from 9 to 16 volts. I have this in a home made PVC flashlight running off 10 D cell Nimh cells but wanted to find the best operating range.

Here are my results:

Volts Amps Watts

16.40 no-start

16.02 1.94 31.08

15.05 2.25 33.86

14.55 2.46 35.79

14.12 2.60 36.71

13.69 2.78 38.06

13.04 3.00 39.12

12.87 3.04 39.12

12.36 3.24 40.05

11.47 3.52 40.37**

11.40 3.53 40.24

10.72 3.81 40.84

10.32 3.97 40.97

10.01 4.07 40.74

9.83 4.13 40.60

9.00 4.50 40.50

8.48 4.60 39.01

7.89 4.78 37.71

7.15 no start

**The max optical output (unknown bulb lumens) was at 11.47 volts.

The max current was at 10.32 volts. There was some noticeable dimming at 16 volts, and significant dimming below 9 volts but seems to do pretty well between 10 and 15. Does this seem similar to real HID flashlight ballasts?



I have 6 IMR26650 in the mail and will try this HID setup on these soon.

 

[materchan]

Sorry for bringing this thread back from the dead, but I've got one of those 35Watt ballast/bulb setups that I bought off of CN Qaulity goods and I was wondering about the connections. I think that the outside ring is the "+" connection to the Batt, the middle ring is the "-" connection, but I dont understand what the central connector is for. Is it switched from the "+" or "-" to control the high or low beam?

 

[jayrob]

Second that question please...

Can anybody verify which contact pad is negative, and what the other is??

Thanks!

 

[ma_sha1]

I had a 50w/38W a while back,
Outside: +
Middle -
Center power regulation by apply different volts

 

[jayrob]

I had a 50w/38W a while back,
Outside: +
Middle -
Center power regulation by apply different volts

Thanks for that! :thanks:

So per the picture, D is negative then. (probably also K, but the main is D correct?)

 

[ma_sha1]

Looks like D is closer to the center , K might be the -. Check with your volt meter.

 

[jayrob]

Oh yeah... When you said middle negative, I thought in my head 'center' / middle...

But you meant middle ring negative. (K contact)

I don't have the battery, but am ordering the round ballast for a custom build. So that is I why I'm trying to figure out the connections to the ballast...