I want to build my own HID Spotlight

[markdi]

I never mentioned mounting the bulb

I measured the distance from the seat of the bulb flange to the center of the filament of the h4 bulb using a caliper
and compared it to the center of the arc cavity of the d2s bulb to get a rough idea of the bulb position.
then I had a aluminum tube that I cut that fit pretty tightly into the bulb hole on the reflector.

I cut it to an appropriate length(I epoxied it to the base of the bulb with the glass bulb centered in the short tubular spacer) so that I could adjust the bulb by sliding it in or out of the reflector-to adjust the spot.


the arc carataristics change while the bulb is warming up.

so you need to mount and support the reflector and bulb (outside of the thor)aimed at a target.

let the bulb and reflector warm up for 5 minutes.

adjust your bulb position for best spot.

epoxy it into place.

the bulbs have such a long life that it will last a very long time unless you drop the light and break the bulb.

this post would have made more sense but I ate so much chocolate that I am getting kinda sick.

and I am a johny come lately to hid thor mods.

many did it before me.

 

[markdi]

oh and have the wire(from the hv igniter) that goes to the tip
of the bulb pointing down twards the bottom of the refector on the thor.

my hid vector has a better beam with the hv wire twards the top of the refector.

 

[TheQase]

HID Vector eh?

Which one is better do you think? The Thor or The VEctor?

Which one was easier?

Etc

Im not worried about who did it first here, I think its better to be a follower (being a first timer and little electrical knowledge) when it comes to stuff like this. That way it is refined.

When i get better/have more money... I will be willing to take one for the team... that way we all learn here.

Thanks

 

[markdi]

the thor is easyier - less work more room

my hid vector is kool.

it has a 5.25 inch reflector and a 14.4 volt 4.5 amp nimh battery(64.8 watts) and a phillips dl35 d2s bulb 3600 lumens 4300k
it weighs 4 pounds.
it cost 110.00 for the ballast and bulb.
52.00 for the 12 c cell nimh batterys-shipped
I have had the vector for so long I do not know what I paid for it.

It would survive a drop to the ground at least as well as a x990

a x990 has a 3.5 inch reflector a 12 volt 4.5ah battery(54 watts)
and a tiwan made 3200 lumen bulb and it weighs 6 pounds.

 

[TheQase]

do you have a picture of it?

a 4lb HID sounds cool... i think i would like that...

i dont know though... i _AM_ looking for easy.. the Thor is just so big... *shivers*

 

[BatteryCharger]

[ QUOTE ]
markdi said:
the thor is easyier - less work more room

my hid vector is kool.

it has a 5.25 inch reflector and a 14.4 volt 4.5 amp nimh battery(64.8 watts) and a phillips dl35 d2s bulb 3600 lumens 4300k
it weighs 4 pounds.
it cost 110.00 for the ballast and bulb.
52.00 for the 12 c cell nimh batterys-shipped
I have had the vector for so long I do not know what I paid for it.

It would survive a drop to the ground at least as well as a x990

a x990 has a 3.5 inch reflector a 12 volt 4.5ah battery(54 watts)
and a tiwan made 3200 lumen bulb and it weighs 6 pounds.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you make any spotligiht with the same size battery and ballast as the X990 the weight is going to be very similar. I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt your vector weighs 4lbs. My Vector with a 4" reflector and no HID weighs over 4lbs. A bigger spotlight with a bigger battery and an HID ballast is not going to weigh 4lbs. Fully charged that battery can be over 17 volts - making the smoke come out of your ballast.

Also, the X990 does not use a taiwan made bulb. And your bulb may be rated at 3600 lumens, but that much doesn't come out of the front of the light. 3200 is what actually comes out of the front of the X990.

 

[markdi]

the original 3 amp sla weighs more than the nimh pack.
it weighed even more when the 2 6 volt batterys were in
a plastic case- the battery pack for my vector was removable.
my vector is plastic - not metal

I bought my mom an aluminum vector it does weigh quite a bit.

I would send any one who wants a picture of it a picture
just pm me

I guess I could send a picture of it on and on my scale.

I am pretty sure I read some where that the x990 has a tiwan bulb but I am probably wrong.

so there is no lumen loss out of an x990
it has a perfectly efficient reflector and lens
ya right I bet my hid vector has more output.

I wonder do you live close to me

how about a shoot out

how many times in these forums do I have to mention I know the difference between bulb lumens and what is emmitted from the spotlight/flashlight

my ballast says max voltage is 18 volts

along with various voltage drops - wiring - switch etc-the 12 cell pack works great.

 

[markdi]

people who own a x990 and a beast say the beast is brighter than the x990.

the beast is rated at 2000 lumens.

so a x990 can not be emmiting 3200 lumens

 

[pyro]

the D2S bulbs used in the X990 (and SF Beast ?) are rated at 3200 Lumen +/- 450 Lumen, so the outputof both lights is about 2000 Lumens if the Lens/Reflector combo has a 75% efficiency.

 

[markdi]

I knew that all ready

actually if the x990 is dimmer than a beast which is emitting 2000 lumens than the lens/reflector is eating more than 37.5% of the light energy from the bulb.

I know the beasts lumen output is probably under rated but not by much-if it was a 2200 lumen light surefire would have said so.

 

[BatteryCharger]

[ QUOTE ]
markdi said:
the original 3 amp sla weighs more than the nimh pack.


[/ QUOTE ]

My 3AH SLA weighs 2lbs 1oz. The 10 C cell NiMh pack for my X990 weighs 2lbs 9oz. That's half a pound MORE. You say you have a 12 C cell NiMh pack, which will weigh even more than 2lbs 9oz.

The X990 is made up of a plastic case, NiMh battery pack, HID bulb and ballast, reflector, and lens. Your Vector light is made up of a plastic case, heavier NiMh battery pack, HID bulb and ballast, reflector, and lens. It DOESN'T weigh 2 lbs less. It's not like there is lead weights inside the X990. Please stop bashing the X990. You have no reason to.
[ QUOTE ]
markdi said:
people who own a x990 and a beast say the beast is brighter than the x990.


[/ QUOTE ]
Who says that? More importantly, how many "people" here own an X990 and a Beast? 1? Go look at the pictures on the shoot out thread. The Beast is NOT brighter.

 

[pyro]

The aluminium head of the X990 is quite massive,
some weight could be saved there, but not that much.

And why bashing the McCulloch,
it is the only one in that class
one can buy for money.

mods can´t be done by everyone,
the KumKang isn´t for sale any longer
(at least i couldn´t find one)
and the beast isn´t rechargeable,
besides the extreme price tag.

Oh, wait, i forgot the Wolfeyes crocodile
but i am not familiar with that thing yet

 

[MaxaBaker]

I don't think this argument is going to be settled until you both actually compare the lights in your hands or get proof(AKA pictures of the lights on a scale). Until you do that, don't turn this thread into a war. You aren't solving anything by simply stating what you know.

 

[markdi]

the 10 c pack in your x990 is in a plastic case
that slides into your x990.

the cells in my vector are not.

my hid vector mod does not have a removable battery score 1 for the x990.

it does not focous from spot to flood score 2 for the x990.

my vector was cheaper weighs about 4 pounds is brighter
has a phillips dl35 bulb-3600 lumens and a bigger battery pack and a bigger reflector.

I have a scale and a digital camera

any one living near me I will show it to them

I did not intend to bash the x990 I was using it for comparison.

so that I am not bashing the x990 any more(I am not usually-intentionally a trouble maker) I will quit responding in this thread-I do not want to get into trouble-get kicked out of cpf.


look at the beast thread for comparison of the beast to the x990 - I read in the beast thread that the beast put out more light than a x990.

 

[markdi]

I was wrong about the weight my vector weighs almost 4.25 pounds.

I was off by almost 1/16th

I will charge the lion pack for my camera and take a picture.

 

[MaxaBaker]

Good show markdi

 

[markdi]

I have my scale and my mom's.
they are both accurate as far as I can tell
after I zero them my mom's reads a little more weight
1/4 of the width of the skinny needle more.

I epoxied the nimh cells into the case of the vector.

first I used double sided tape to arange the batteries for the best weight distribution and balance
so that the light is not top heavy or biased front to back.

originally I used the sla that came with the vector.
after breaking the case apart and removing the 2 6 volt sla
battery's from it.
the 2 sla packs that I bought recently weigh quite a bit less than the original battery.

I thought the original pack would have lower internal resistance so I used it.

better runtime made me get the nimh cells.

the balance with the nimh batteries is quite nice.

but I find that 4.25 pounds is still heavy.

I have a money belt-I should have made a belt pack out of the nimh cells.

 

[cheesehead]

My Thor HID has a better hotspot than my X990 (even on "tight" focus), and uses an HID from a 2003 Lexus that cost me 55 bucks (any recent headlight assembly that was in a wreck, CHEAP, from ebay). Ebay HIDs headlight assemblies are the cheapest route, instant restrike too.

Also, the X990, is a big light, not that much easier to carry than the stupid big Thor.

 

[TheQase]

cheese, what exactly did you type in on ebay to get that deal?

Did you get bulb and ballast for 55 bucks? Or what?

 

[markdi]

ya my thor hid kicks ***

much nicer than my vector for output and beam quality

the x990 has instant restrike right ?