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The setup looks nice in the engine bay, but they're not as bright as I'd hoped they'd be.
Can I just disconnect the bulbs, and replace them with a 55w; or do I have to change out the ballasts also?
The setup looks nice in the engine bay, but they're not as bright as I'd hoped they'd be.
Can I just disconnect the bulbs, and replace them with a 50w; or do I have to change out the ballasts also?
No such thing as 55w bulbs, the only thing different is the ballasts. So you'd have to buy 55w ballasts and simply replace the ones in your engine bay.
Originally Posted by Kris9884
^^^ I hear the 55w are more prone to burning out or vibration issues but I'd love to be proven wrong as I'd also like brighter 6k HID's.
As bulbs are used they slowly shift color temps towards blue. As they do that they output less lumens typically. 55w ballasts typically shorten the bulbs lifespan and force them to burn out faster than a 35w ballast. So typically with a year 55w ballasts will burn a bulb out to the point where a 35w ballast installed on the same bulb over the same period of time will be outputting similar light by the one year mark.
That's why when you see some mid 2000's cars with OEM HID's some of the bulbs are very blue or purple. They're just burning down to the contacts and the color temp has shifted that much due to owners not replacing the bulbs.
55w ballasts are no more prone to vibration than 35w's. The biggest factor in vibration dampening is just manufacture quality, but most ballasts are designed to withstand vibration and be waterproof anyways.
If I remember 55w ballasts shorten the lifespan of bulbs by about 50-66%, so instead of a typical 3,000-5,000 hours, you might see 1,000-2,500 hours. At least I think that's what the typical lifespan of these bulbs is, at least if memory serves me.
I switched to 55w ballasts when I installed my TSX retrofit, so I can' really answer how large of a difference they made due to the Projector retrofit and clear lens making an impact on headlight visibility. But If I do replace my ballasts again I think I'll just go back to 35w, as I was unaware of the impact the 55w ballasts had on longevity until after I had purchased them.
For real; thank you.
Now I don't feel as bad about having 35's; lol.
So if I understood you correctly, then within a year, 55w ballasts will be as bright as 35's, while the 35's will remain as bright? Further, if I update my projector lenses, or at least clear up my headlights (but better yet, do both) then my 35's will be even more effective?
Sweet!
So if I understood you correctly, then within a year, 55w ballasts will be as bright as 35's, while the 35's will remain as bright?
35w ballasts will degrade bulbs as well, but they do it slower than 55w ballasts.
So for the first year or so 55w output more lumens, but as the bulbs burn hotter and the heat degrades the contacts inside the bulb itself faster. 35w ballasts still degrade a bulb, the process is just slower. So the 35w's won't remain as bright, but the process of degradation with 35w's is slower, so they'll be brighter than 55w's after a year, but they still suffer from the same degradation.
Don't know if that was clear in my first post. And yes, clearing up the headlights, doing a retrofit, or even just opening the headlight and cleaning the stock projector helps a lot.
I bought those same xentec's in the diamond white and they still look blue to me. They arrived with a bad balast, but the company replaced it within a few days, no harm no foul, But I have to wonder if build quality of those is an issue. Only time will tell.
Started gathering parts for my build today...ordered a Mishimoto radiator & trans cooler along with a AEM 320lph in-tank fuel pump. Have to go to Toyota to source seals and gaskets to rebuild the new heart. Then I'll be getting the CX Racing frount mount intercooler kit with BOV as well as the radiator hard pipe kit. I also need to find a SC400 drive shaft and output flange.
I went to check on my SC yesterday and all four of my tires are flat. I'm hoping to get an air compressor in the next few days so I can get them filled up with air. The car is almost on the ground right now.
100,000 km service 90% complete. Front of engine now all back in one piece after this photo was taken. Radiator to be fitted & fluids added tomorrow then hope for the best.
^^^^^^^^I love that they look stock until you compress the brake or hit the blinker, good job!
Here's one headlight finished and re installed. Sanded, buffed etc etc JUST the area where the low beam shines through, I think it looks factory. The lines already give a rounded area where its almost as if they were meant to be removed but never got around to it or something. It's not perfect but I don't think it could get much better either lol..
03-22-15, 09:34 PM
