1*2 Xenons without Ballasts

[jesus]

1) Would I just be able to use a normal bulb in these if I had some 1*2 lights without ballasts etc? Like normal halogen headlight bulbs?

2) Would I be able to get say... a 6000k aftermarket HID kit and put them in 1*2 lights, and would this be legal because they have the reflector thingy whatever it's called in them?

All help appreciated!

 

[Da]

1) Would I just be able to use a normal bulb in these if I had some 1*2 lights without ballasts etc? Like normal halogen headlight bulbs?

No, totally different lamp fitment.

2) Would I be able to get say... a 6000k aftermarket HID kit and put them in 1*2 lights, and would this be legal because they have the reflector thingy whatever it's called in them?

No, all aftermarket HID lights, even the conversion kits, are illegal without auto-levellers and washers.
It depends how 'legal' you wish to be.

 

[jesus]

Ahh thanks mate, that's that idea down the drain then.

 

[Bash]

dont worry about the Kelvin rating that people sell you, a Xenon arc lamp will produce between fifty six and sixty two. The only possible way to make the bulbs colder is filtering through a dichroic, which is not needed to make ur car legal. Do remember because of the Arc it is 3x more efficient then a vacuum based bulb.

Explain question one.

 

[jesus]

dont worry about the Kelvin rating that people sell you, a Xenon arc lamp will produce between fifty six and sixty two. The only possible way to make the bulbs colder is filtering through a dichroic, which is not needed to make ur car legal. Do remember because of the Arc it is 3x more efficient then a vacuum based bulb.

Explain question one.

So you'd recommend doing it/not doing it then? I might just put a HID kit on my non-Xenon lights and take it off again at MOT time.

 

[Bash]

Yeah I recomend it Da is right however the EU law states all manufacture HID must have washers and self levelers but there are no such guidelines for aftermarket parts.

 

[jesus]

Ahh I see. Thanks for all the help lads.

 

[Bash]

The term ur using HID standards for High Intensity discharge, this is the type of lighting system. Arc lamps need to have a constant DC current unlike a vacuum blub which can take a variable current. In order to create this constant within the HID upgrade their will be a ballast box, this connects to ur car's headlight wiring and is normally hidden behind the bumper. you then connect your Xenon arc bulbs to the ballast and put them in your head lights, its honestly that simple. You can see more and if your worried about pissing people off, go down to a petrol station in Dover and buy a main land Europe headlight diffuser.

 

[jesus]

Trouble is I don't have the Xenon arc bulbs, and if these alone won't make it legal then it would be a tad pointless for me to buy them and the HID kit as well.

 

[Bash]

HID kit is the whole thing, blubs, ballasts and cables. completly legal worth it.

 

[jesus]

But it won't be legal in my non HID/Xenon/standard 1.2 Clio lights. I'm doing it anyway, it's the cheapest option, but I'll remove them for MOT day (even though some people on here said they passed with them... hmm).

 

[Bash]

it is legal, as I said there are no EU giudelines for an aftermarket HID upgrade. BUT PLEASE. What ever you do, do not plug normal lights into the HID ballast!

 

[jesus]

it is legal, as I said there are no EU giudelines for an aftermarket HID upgrade. BUT PLEASE. What ever you do, do not plug normal lights into the HID ballast!

Ohh I get it now!

What will plugging 'normal' lights into it do?

I'm not that silly anyway :rasp:

 

[Bash]

It will surge the Ballast box, if it doesnt blow a fuse it will melt a resistor the when u plug ur xenon blub in it will explode. I once had a 25kw HMI explode when striking, we have to tell every to look away every time we turn that light on because if it does explode it will blind you. Your Xenons are now way near as powerfull as a HMI but just be aware it can happen.

 

[jesus]

Balls then, I might just keep these 'Xenon white look' bulbs that I got. They aren't too bad...

 

[Da]

I had 182 xenons on my 1.2 mate for over 2 years and never had any hassle. IMO you're more likely to get way with it if you opt for the proper kit rather than an after market kit!

 

[jesus]

Even though they don't have washers/auto-adjust etc.? That was my other option, just buying 1*2 Xenons and leaving them as they are (4300k).

 

[Da]

I added the washers, but no I didn't have the auto-levellers. Passed MOT's no probs (with Renault!)

 

[jesus]

How much of a job is it to add washers?

 

[Da]

Not much really, I did it in about an hour for around £50 all in. Gives them more of an OE look.