ILLEGAL HID RETRO FIT
- Thread starter billhess
- Start date
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Well, you get at least one cheer. i see a lot of headlights that are crap or aligned wrong on the road. I wish cops would look into this, at least a little. You really shouldn't have a windshield full of glare when you meet a car on the road.
LukeA
Flashlight Enthusiast
Youtube commenters should learn to speak at least one language before commenting.
TorchBoy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Is there anywhere where it is actually legal? I don't think so. Why are they sold?
mtbkndad
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2005
- Messages
- 1,295
That is an interesting question.
I had a chance to meet with a rep for the manufacturer for the Amondotech Iluminator last summer. That company has a tiny DOT approved ballast.
They are very specific that even with the proper DOT approved bulbs, these lights can only be used in applications that will NOT CHANGE THE BEAM PATTERN OR LIGHT OUTPUT IN ANY WAY.
In other words, the only cars their ballasts could be used in here in the US would be cars already setup for HID. They may make a less expensive replacement ballast/bulb combo for cars ALREADY OEM designed for HID, but in any other car they would not be acceptable.
I do not understand who would want the expense of HID in a car not designed for it once the beam pattern and light output were somehow made EXACTLY the same as an inexpensive standard bulb. :thinking: That just sounds like a stupid waste of money to me.
Particularly since XeRay has mentioned many times that it is just plain illegal to put these in cars not designed for them.
Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:
The problem with HID retrofits is really glare and radiation. The biggest problem is by how different the HID lights up vs. Incan. Incan bulbs use a hot filament to produce light. The hottest part of the filament is of course the center. Now to look at HIDs. In HID, the light is produced by arching of electricity. Though the funny thing about this type of light is the majority of the light is produced closest to the electrodes of the bulb causing weird effects in many of the standard incan. Reflectors of car headlights. I have seen these put into Honda Civics and you can see double images of the reflector along with a weird arch coming from the left headlight. Finally HID lights do put out a great deal of harmful rays just like an arch welder does. The headlights designed for this setup also contain glass that filters out these harmful rays so you don't get the inching, burning feeling in your eyes like you would if you looked at these straight on from an illegally modified headlight. I can safely say that these lights are illegal for a reason.
:shakehead
scaredofthedark
Enlightened
for "off-road use only"
i think they have that as the disclaimer on any aftermarket modification
On many of these modified HID bulbs/packaging, the companies who has made these modifications to the standard usually phillips bulbs will place on it "for off road use only" as part of the fine print. Many people just enjoy the crisp white/blue color of HIDs so they buy these and just put it into the car. When i asked a few companies that sell these modified lights why anyone would want to buy them if they are illigal, they told me that the main reason they hold it is for show. they intend people with only show cars to use them while the car is at a show, though they stated that many people use them on the road because they think it looks cool.
Joseph13
Newly Enlightened
I work in the motorcycle industry, and know for a fact the HID units are being installed in motocycles as well. There are two main types of installs: 1st) auxillary HID bub, reflector and housings are installed to add additonal light for night time/ off road use, although mostly used on highway. 2nd) low and or highbeam incan bulbs are replaced with HID, in other words HID running when the vehicle is on. The stock incan swap to HID does increace driver visibility at night, such as 4 lanes to the left and right are glaring white.
