First HID build.... problem with bulb/reflector combo

Hi guys, I am new here and I could really use some help and you guys seem to be experts at this stuff!

I decided to do an HID mod on a Thor-X 10,000,000 Candle Power using a Philips XenStart 35w HID with its driver that I got out of a car. I had this stuff laying around the house so I figured why not. So I gutted the light, got myself a new ub1250 battery and wired everything up. The tabs on the back of the reflector cone I bent into a square shape that fights snuggly around the bulb fixture and used a little JB weld to tack it into place. I turn it on and the bulb begins warming up (the sound it makes is music to my ears) , everything is working and it is very bright. Than I look at the wall I am shining it on and I see something that resembles a giant black key hole in the middle of the light. When you go outside it only gets bigger and its to the point where you cant see what your aiming at.
I don't know much about HIDs or flashlight but this is the possibilities I thought of that could be the issue.
1.Bad Choice for HID bulb to use
2.Reflector is the wrong curvature
3.The bulb is positioned wrong inside the reflector
4.I don't know what I am doing and I screwed up lol

If anyone has any suggestions that might help fix or reduce this problem it would be greatly appreciated. I also took some pics so you guys could understand what I am trying to describe.

Thank you

Your bulb is either to far in or out, & you may want to break off the ceramic shield around the return wire.
Hid mod focusing can be a bit tricky, but some shims and a lil time/ patience should fix it right up.... if it's to far inside the reflector that is, if it's too far out tho, it can be a lil more tricky.
In my mods, I've bent bulb holders, used shims and even manufactured my own bulb holders (since China has such loose tolerances, no 2 bulbs are exactly the same, nor are any 2 reflectors)
There are many threads on here describing various methods on how to tweak and focus mods.
Hope this helps
P.s. Using the proper bulb for the reflector helps alot.;-)

Fritz is right on the money. You need to focus the lamp. It doesn't take much movement for drastic changes. I've found many times that from .005 to .025" will do it.

I was playing around with "focus" last night and I should remember this. IIRC, the hole developed when I moved the lamp too far back out of the reflector. So it I'm remembering correctly, you should start by trying to move the lamp forward into the reflector - which is the most difficult to do. Shims not needed in this case. You'll have to make the lamp flange thinner or somehow otherwise make mods to be able to move it forward.

FRITZHID and BVH.... I decided to go ahead and trust that you guys know what you are talking about lol (jk I know you guys know alot more than me). Tell me what you think of results of your instruction.






And here are the final results!



:thanks: Thank you guys so much now I am officially proud of my build because I can actually use it! I played around with the position of the bulb and it was perfect about a 1/2" back from where I had it. I know a snus tin and JB Weld is not the highest quality thing to use as a shim but it worked nicely. I actually really like removing the bulb by just taking off the lid! lol i used a little glue when I installed it though just to make sure it doesn't pop off.

FRITZHID you mentioned using the proper bulb for the reflect. is there actual rules for using a certain combo or were you just joking and I didn't get it lol :thinking:

mhemling33 said:

FRITZHID you mentioned using the proper bulb for the reflect. is there actual rules for using a certain combo or were you just joking and I didn't get it lol :thinking:

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Spotlights come with a stock bulb, MOST of which are automotive headlight bulbs (i.e. 9005, h4, h3, 9006, ect) and hid kits come with these bulbs as replacements for each automotive type, that light came with a specific bulb type, the proper replacement hid bulb would/should have just popped right in with the focus point being close to, if not dead on too the stock bulb, making focus and installation a snap.

FRITZHID said:

Spotlights come with a stock bulb, MOST of which are automotive headlight bulbs (i.e. 9005, h4, h3, 9006, ect) and hid kits come with these bulbs as replacements for each automotive type, that light came with a specific bulb type, the proper replacement hid bulb would/should have just popped right in with the focus point being close to, if not dead on too the stock bulb, making focus and installation a snap.

Click to expand...

I didn't even think about that, you have helped me out a great deal today thank you for everything

You're quite welcome
:welcome: