monkey and other guys with HIDs

[Scottericsonon]

Are you guys running your lights on a switch to keep them from cycling before you actually start the bike?thanks

[1tinindian]

I'm using an HID in mine and just crank it.
Been doing this for a good couple of years.
Is that a problem?
I do have the Euro switch gear and can turn mine off if needed.


Leon

[FJmonkey]

No separate control for my HID. The light circuit is cut during the START cycle by OEM design. I assume to allow full battery power to the starter for better cranking.

[aviationfred]

My HID headlight is connected to the OEM wiring harness. No extra switch.

I recently checked the actual Amp draw for my HID headlight. At 2000 RPM the amp draw is 3.2 amps.

Fred

[Firehawk068]

Same thing with mine.
No separate switch.

[Scottericsonon]

ok I appreciate the responses...
Iwas reading that the lifespan of the bulb was tied to how many times it was "fired" and was worried aboutt prematurely wearing it out by firing it before AND after the bike was running
might just be an old wives tale too

another question....DDM ship from here in the US? or from china?

[FJmonkey]

The last item DDM sent me came from China. But that was a few years ago.

[ribbert]

I've had an HID headlight that has lasted much longer than I expected. The illumination is not very good but it's a great for being seen with in the daylight. I have auxiliary lights for seeing.

Interesting to note that my VX Prado ( Lexus something or other in the US) has HID low beam with projector lenses and halogen high beam. I never understood why until I stumbled across information suggesting HID's are not as good for general high beam requirements. The colour change when switching from one to the other is quite dramatic. The car is 4 years old, not sure what the current model has.

This is not my opinion, just stating the facts.

NIMO

Noel

[ribbert]

Are you guys running your lights on a switch to keep them from cycling before you actually start the bike?thanks

Not me, and I can't turn my headlight off if I wanted. I plug my heated vest in before I mount, heated grips on, headlight on and cranking has never been a problem. Not just because it starts easily, it spins over very quickly.

Noel

[FJ_Hooligan]

ok I appreciate the responses...
Iwas reading that the lifespan of the bulb was tied to how many times it was "fired" and was worried aboutt prematurely wearing it out by firing it before AND after the bike was running
might just be an old wives tale too

I've been using an HID light on my FZ1 for about 3 years now.  It's much brighter than the Halogen in the other headlight.  I kept 1 Halogen because I like the contrast between the bright white HID and the yellowish Halogen.  I like to think it catches other drier's attention because it looks different.

I've been pleased with the HID until the last few months.  I started to have trouble when starting the engine.  The starter momentarily kills power to the headlights while cranking.  This does cycle the light and l noticed that sometimes the HID light went off and didn't come back on.  If I noticed this while sitting in traffic reflection off car in front of me), usually a quick stab of the starter button would bring it back on.  But lately that quit working.  Next I could cycle the ignition quickly on trailing throttle and that worked for a while.  Then that stopped working too.  Last week I noticed that when energized, the bulb would spark but not turn on.  I tried a different bulb with same results so I swapped the ballast.  Within a week, the on/off behavior started up again.  It was a real quick degradation and the second ballast was ruined within a week.

I considered installing a switch so I could turn the power off, start the engine, then power the HID.  As I was going through my cabinet looking for another HID ballast I ran across an LED H4 bulb setup that I bought last year.  Haven't seen it at night yet but in the garage it looks as bright as the HID.  If that's the case in the real world, I may be through with HIDs.

[simi_ed]

David, I've had similar experiences with the HID on my old car.  The lamps start failing to arc when the HV starter energizes. If you continue to do this, IT WILL take out the HV starter in the ballast. These units typically output 20-23 KV to arc, then maintain the arc by outputting 80-ish volts to keep the lamp lit.  If the arc fails to strike it will continue to generate arc voltage until it either times out (better grade parts) or the arc lights or the ballast fails (lower grade parts).
So, your diagnosis is probably correct: bad bulb & 2 cooked ballasts. If you bought these parts from DDM (as many of us have) they'll warranty everything. Tell them that you replaced all the parts & tested with other 'known good' parts and these are the 'culls'.  
I understand about the hassle of failing bulbs & ballasts but I will never willingly go back to halogen bulbs.  More lumens for less watts, minimal heat too-I'm sold on HID. I prefer the look of halogen, so I order 4000-4300K bulbs

This does suck, but that seems to be the deal. FWIW, I think I've put 2 replacement bulbs in the FJ do to problems with the high-low shield moving which appeared as a shaking filament would in an incandescent light.  DDM has warranted all of them as well as 2-3 ballasts & maybe 3 more car bulbs in the last 5-6 yrs.  I've never changed a ballast on the FJ or had failure to launch (ignite) issues with that HID lamp.  

[FJ_Hooligan]

Hey Ed,
Thanks for the info.  I don't remember who I bought them from but I'm sure it was some Hong Kong out fit off of eBay.  I'm sure I didn't pay too much (which is probably why they aren't lasting so long).

I'm going to give the LED a try.  I really liked the light output from the HID, it really improved my visibility.  Hopefully the LED will be as good.

[simi_ed]

David, please pass along any results when you get a LED bulb. Inquiring minds want to know and are open to change. As I said, I'm not willingly going back to incandescent, but I might move forward to LED.

[Jeff0308]

my wife's Toyota Corolla has HID globes in it. Nicew white low beam. Yellowish halogen highbeam. cars 5yrs old No problems at all with the globes. My Toyota Prado had standard globes in it. Dullish. I replaced them with the  Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited. What a difference. Clearer crisper whiter light. I'm very impressed. never thought it could be so different. Yet to put the Osram Nightbreaker Lazer globe in yet. Curious as to how it compares to the current LED, which is great on low beam but useless on high. Dangerously low light