[Shotimes] OT: HID's and Headlight Relays?

[Ian Fisher]

Yes, you should use relays. The  ballasts can draw as
much as 40a each upon startup. You don't want all of
that going through your headlight switch.

A decent headlight harness such as the one from
www.suvlights.com should work fine.

As far as beam pattern and output, the SHO headlight
isn't setup optimally for retrofitted HID capsules.

Ian

--- clubairth@bellsouth.net wrote:

> The factory relays are mechanical.
> .
> .
> 
> 
> 
> >I know you don't want to use solid-state relays, so
> the slow 
> >electrical-switching characteristics of a
> mechanical switch might not be 
> >ideal, either, for longevity.
> >
> > The relays are also a safety feature. Don't want
> 90V sitting on the light 
> > switch should a module component fail.
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> >>
> >>Sorry for the OT but lighting is kind of a SHO
> issue! At least it is for 
> >>me!
> >>
> >> Do HID headlamps need headlight relays? Would
> they work better with 
> >> relays?
> >>The HID uses much less power, about 35W is
> somewhat standard. Regular
> >>Halogen lights are usually 55W and up. The ballast
> inside the HID takes 
> >>care
> >>of firing off the high voltage start up pulse. I
> know on my SHO the relays
> >>made a noticeable difference before I upgraded the
> bulbs.
> >>
> >> This came up on my wife's Lincoln LS. The factory
> HID option has relays
> >>installed in the under hood power distribution
> box. If the car has
> >>conventional Halogen lighting from the factory
> then no relays. The spot is
> >>there for the relay but no sockets.
> >> But people like me have been upgrading our cars
> by just plugging in the 
> >> HID
> >>to the stock wiring with no problems. Everything
> seems to work fine? Now 
> >>as
> >>cheap as Ford/Lincoln is I know those relays are
> in there for a reason!
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