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

[Ian Fisher]

Were any of those LS's available with HID's as an
option? Its possible that the relays are already in
place.

It is possible to run the HID's without relays but
it's a huge gamble. Not everyone will have problems
but you would be overloading the stock wiring in the
SHO if you did it without relays.

For some good reading, go to www.hidplanet.com and
read the forums and/or FAQ there.

Are the Lincoln relays cheap? If not, why not consider
Bosch relays or a pre-made harness like the
suvlights.com harness? It already comes with BOSCH
relays and can't be easily replicated for much less
than they charge. Their 9007 harness is an excellent
deal and well made.

Ian

--- clubairth@bellsouth.net wrote:

> Ian:
>  That is kinda my question. But I will install the
> factory Lincoln relay 
> setup when I get time. I have found as least 4 or 5
> people that are running 
> HID's without the relays in the LS and have no
> problems yet?
> .
> .
> .
> 
> > 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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