I'm making a monster...

[beach honda]

start with that. HID parts are ordered....

 

[Locoboy5150]

Oh man, you're actually going to upgrade the already powerful Professional's choice halogen spotlight? Yikes! :devil: That thing is the king of halogen spotlights.

Please keep us updated with progress reports. I'm anxious to see what you do to it because I have essentially the same housing used for my Peak PKCOTH halogen spotlight. I'm especially curious about how and where you're going to mount the ballast for the HID bulb. I'm not positive but I don't think that there is a lot of room inside the housing.

 

[cccpull]

Got one of those and have considered modding it, but I really like it as it is. Of course, your results might just nudge me into it.:popcorn:

 

[Prater]

Subscribed!

I just picked up one of these today, can't wait to see how it turns out!

:popcorn:

 

[SmurfTacular]

What is the make and model of that spotlight?
How much does it cost?

 

[Prater]

What is the make and model of that spotlight?
How much does it cost?

It's the "Professionals Choice 20 Million Candlepower Spotlight"

Got it at Advance Auto Parts for $59.99

Hope this helps!

 

[SmurfTacular]

Do you recommend it? Is it worth $60?

 

[SmurfTacular]

I searched for "professionals choice", but nothing came up.
I began searching eBay and just happen to find it.
this one is called a PEAK PKCOTH spotlight. I think its the same thing

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220511288239




is this correct?

 

[Prater]

That is the older less powerful model I believe. The new ones are 20 MCP and have LED's around the bezel for area lighting.

I haven't had a chance to test mine yet because you have to charge the battery for a full 24 hrs before first time use.
It's about done now so I'll let you know tonight! One thing I can tell you is that it is BIG!

 

[SmurfTacular]

I searched for "professionals choice", but nothing came up.
I began searching eBay and just happen to find it.
this one is called a PEAK PKCOTH spotlight. I think its the same thing

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220511288239




is this correct?

Please let me/us know how it it. And I plan on putting HID's in it anyway. Is there enough room inside for a single slim ballast?

 

[Prater]

Wonder what happened to the "OP" (beach honda)?

I'm waiting to see if it's worth it to mod it to HID or if he had any problems getting the ballast in.

This thing does have amazing throw in stock configuration, but of course being a flashaholic now I would like it to be a little brighter.;)

 

[ANDREAS FERRARI]

Don't you just love the reflector on that monster?????

Hope he completes his build!!!!!

 

[Locoboy5150]

:popcorn:

 

[Prater]

Well I went ahead and ordered a kit (DDM 55W-5000k bulb) and got it all to fit inside of the housing!:thumbsup:

But I can't get it to focus properly......:sigh: If I pull the bulb back almost out of the socket, I can get it to be a nice spot.

But then I will have to figure out a way to secure it. Any idea's?

I have it shimmed out about a 1/4" right now and it's basically just a big flood light.

 

[M@elstrom]

I can't get it to focus properly......:sigh: If I pull the bulb back almost out of the socket, I can get it to be a nice spot.

But then I will have to figure out a way to secure it. Any idea's?

Ask and Ye shall receive! :D

I made a focus collar that sat outside the rear of the bulb retainer (see below) then pot riveted it in place... accurate measurement is everything but it's not like you can't make a few prototype collar/shims (I know I did) :thumbsup:

 

[kramer5150]

I have shimmed 2 HIDs... maybe this will give you some ideas.

first is the stanley. I made a copper shim using plumbing pipe. The shim just drops right into the H1 socket.

I had to bevel one of the edges so it would sit flat in the socket

Second one is a 55W HID that require more drastic measures. I cut sheetmetal into 7,8,9 mm strips and rolled them up to make the shim. Its a matter of test fitting them individually to find the one that works best. I think I settled on the 9mm.

insert the shim into the H4 socket, install the bulb onto that. I used large paper clips and fabricated new spring clips.

I also removed the ceramic wire insulator on the big HID. It fixes the pie shape wedge in the spill-beam, and does not appear to significantly alter bulb life. Its probably a durability/reliability enhancement for the automotive environment.

Results:
50 yards
ROP 3853-H

Stanley:

DIY-HID 55W

250 yards
control

ROP 3853-H

DIY-HID 55W

So most definitely the results are worth your effort. Most of these cheap spotlights are defocused for flood to make them more useful as general purpose lights.

 

[daf3m]

Nice cannon!:twothumbs

 

[Prater]

Thanks for the great ideas M@elstrom & Kramer5150! :thumbsup:

Looks like I've got some work to do this week.

 

[M@elstrom]

You wont regret it... these massive reflectors punch out a decent beam with a properly focused bulb :thumbsup:

Most of these cheap spotlights are defocused for flood to make them more useful as general purpose lights.

Mine wasn't but I found the HID bulb had slightly different filament-to-base specification (when compared to the stock H4) below you can see the difference in beam quality between the stock halogen, unfocused & focused HID bulbs ;)

 

[lhw1993]

What is the battery that u guys use to light up the HID with ballast ?? Can i use 6V lead acid battery to light it up ??