Because it is RICE with out projectors.. and you made an assumption on the comment about the electrical gremlins.. I never said anything about the housing making a difference. But you can drop it already. Radioflyer made a class act post that should be the end of this thread

 

nice post

I have wondered if the power draw exceeds the resistance of the stock wires? could cause a burning situation? Do hid's require larger gauge wire?

 

I have never seen HID causing burning. The initial surge at startup seems to require more voltage than amperage (I could be wrong)

The ballasts are actually step-up variable output transformers. At start up voltage output can reach as high as 23000 volts! After ignition, the voltage stabalizes around 8000V. The actual amperage used is very little so the wire doesn't have to be very big because the volume of electrons being moved (amps) is significantly less than the current pressure (volts).

on the input side of the Ballast, the power is a standard 12volt input and whatever fuse your ballast came with. In my instnce, the electrical gremelns may have been caused by the bulb swap. Capsules made by different companies and of different kelvin ratings have varying quantities of gases in the capsule that requlre slightly different voltages to ignite. in the case of my 6000K D2S bulbs, they require a little more umph so it was nessicary to up the fuse rating on the input side.

For those of you who remember physics class, the law of the conservation of energy, you can't get somthing from nothing. The HID transformer converts the input to AC current because DC voltage is constant. Then the transformer increases the voltage while decreasing the amperage. The basic 35watt HID kit puts out about .0015 amps at startup and .0044 amps running. So why does this require a 7.5-10 amp fuse on the input? If you visualize the flow of electricty like the flow of water, the transformer is like water cannon and on rare occasion at startup before flow is established, there are bubbles. This can be reduced by raising the fuse value to the ballasts to make sure there is a good source for the ignition.

For this reason, it's reccomended that you not run your HIDs when starting your car as voltage drops significantly when cranking the engine.

 

I love mine and would NEVER change back to the OEMs!

 

Yes, I remember you redoing yours a while back...I'll probably just live with it for now until time to change the bulbs out. Didn't you go to the 6000k for your headlights to help match the fogs?

 

I have read the entire post, and found it to be interesting and informative. In the near future I am going to go with HIDs in the fog lamp housing with 5 1/2" round fog lights in the front license plate area like the C5Rs had. I an currently running Toshiba IR bulbs in my low beams . Much better that stock, but still wanting. There is a reason the C5Rs used HIDs in the low beams and the big round fog lights in the front plate area. The stock lighting just plane sucks for night driving. Yes I know they are pure race cars and go real fast. But the stock set ups are not adequate for night driving on un lit roadways. For those of you who say they are good enough, than more power to you. I still have 20/20 vision and excellent night vision, but anything over 45 mph on dark roads that you are unfamiliar with and you wind up having to over drive your lights un less you go to the brights, but that is another story. And yes, my headlights are clean.

 

Be sure to post pics and a review of the "nostril lights" I have yet to see them in action.

If i recall correctly, the C5R's headlights were ~3000K color which is excellent for poor weather and significantly improves night vision over white light. Also the fixed headlights have a significnatly improved reflector but i'm not positive they're HID. Since the car was partly sponsered by Hella, im' sure if they were HIDs, Hella would have sprung for the projectors. I'm pretty sure the decision has more to do with weight savings. The non-pop up units weigh about 25lbs total less than the stock pop ups and the while the additional weight of wiring, ballast and projector housing doesnt' sound like much, the C5R was kept low light by shaving weight everywhere. The curb weight is somewhere around 2500 compared to the stock C5's 3000-3200

 

This is how not to install hids

See the horrible glare it causes for all around.


Radioflyer RPM

You two know what is up and have done a superb install on the hids. How much could we expect to pay for that setup or creation of our own if you do not mind sharing.

 

RPM462's setup is the ACA kit which runs ~700-1000 but it's completely bolt on.

My custom kit so far has cost me $350 and about a week's worth of labor. (mostly trimming) I did the entire install with a dremel tool and a hack saw. It would have gone faster if I had the proper equipment (band saw, drill press, grinder, scroll saw etc)

jrprich is also doing a custom projector install but he's using Valeo projectors (specifically designed projector for HIDs with fine tuned optics) We're still waiting to find a suitable bezel/trim for the projector as is it not an enclosed unit like my Hella 90s.

 

Perhaps over the Christmas holiday I can find a suitable shroud/bezel/trim for the setup .......It seems a little thing, but without the right shroud/bezel/trim it will look like crap and I will never be satisfied with the project.
The Valeo projectors have an odd shape that is difficult to cover and still cover the cuts through the stock reflector as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

 

Yes, he's right, I got in with a group purchase with Corvette Garage and paid around $775 for mine. Took me about 5-6 hours for install, but took my time and did some on a Friday night and finished it up on Sat. So far no problems at all with them...knock on wood! What's nice is that the low beams stay on when the brights are on as well.

 

5-6 hours to install.........wondering what about the install took that much time ?

 

Once you get the old assemblies out you have to trim/break some protruding metal edges off to fit the new projector assemblies in and allow them to be adjusted up and down. I just took mine in the house and did it while watching TV so was in no big hurry.

 

I took about the same time (but I am SLOW ) - there's a pretty good amount of effort getting everything laid out, tucked away, finding locations for ballasts (I put mine near the intake).

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1692317

 

jumping on everybody's sh|t because they aren't using projectors is not going to win you very many fans around here.

there's no need for you to be the HID police in every thread.

i have projectors but i'm not about to go harping on every other member just because they don't use them. give it a rest already.

 

When I was consulting rallylights.com about my Hella 90's they told me that in some areas, DPS was pulling over and confiscating cars and placing huge fines on people who were using HIDs in reflector housings. Here in Texas we don't care as much, but in stricter states like CA, It's something to think about.

Technically, any non-DOT approved item on your car makes it illegal... but it all boils down to how much you are prepared to risk. Personally i could give less than a poop about DOT. I switch to projectors cause i thought they looked pimp.

 

It is just NOT

 

I don't care what you think is cool. I think it is not cool to run a setup that is harmful to others.

I find it annoying and was blinded and suffered temporary blindness for an hour because of some inconsiderate person. It was as if someone was welding in front of my face. I was fighting reflection in 3 mirrors from behind me 2 miles back on the highway.

I had pain and saw spots for an hour. So yeah i am a bit passionate about it and tired of seeing the corvette being bastardized by fads coming from the rice world.

All i have done is point out the difference and the wrong of not using the proper housing if you want to use hids.

I call that being informative and not a push over.

 

Man, this is the second or third thread I have read in the last couple of days where members are at each other's throats. What's up with this? I thought we are all here to learn from each other and enjoy as a group our passion for Vettes!?!