I'm trying to install an HID kit. I just wanna make sure that I satisfy circuit polarity rule. I'm a mechanical engineer so I have limited experience dealing with circuit. I know this is a common knowledge but I don't want to overestimate myself.

My question: What happen if I put the circuit polarity backwards? For example, (+) end from the bulb meets (-) of the wiring harness and so as the (-) end of the bulb. Will it burn the whole circuit? or the circuit just wont turn on?

Thanks!

 

Another ME! I'm working on my BS. For the bulbs, the connectors only work one way. For the ballasts, depending on the kit. If you get it backwards it won't fire. It you got it correct, it will fire.

 

Fire meaning trigger the bulb? not burning the circuit right?


PS: Familiar with Vince Young? LOL. I am a proud UT alumni.

 

Fire = trigger = HIDs on haha
The ballasts should have polarity protection circuitry built in to make sure it won't allow current to flow if reversed.

 

Correct. Nothing will go wrong.

 

I too am an ME by degree but I've learned electricity on the job. Familiarize yourself with electricity since you'll probably be using it more than you think. And it'll be handy on the job as well as working on cars.

For the HID kits, the circuit protection is for the kit itself. This doesn't protect the fuse in your car. I reversed the polarity by mistake on my kit and blew a fuse for the foglights. The kit was fine though.

If you look at the colors of the wires going into the harness, you can usually figure out the polarity of the wires. The common color coding for wiring is black (negative) and some other color like red, blue or yellow for example (positive). Wiring in cars are also a solid color with a stripe on it. The above example is for the solid color of the wire and not the color of the stripe. Therefore, the negative wire may be primarily black with a red stripe.

But to be sure, get a volt meter and check the plug sockets to be sure. Unplug the bulb. Measuring DC voltage, turn on the foglight switch and put the two test leads on the two sockets. If the polarity is correct, it should read +12 volts on the meter. And the red lead on the voltmeter is your positive terminal. If the voltmeter reads -12 volts, the leads on the voltmeter are backwards (the red lead is on the negative terminal and the black is on the positive).

Hope this makes sense and good luck with your install.

 

The kit I got from HIDExtra I actually had to reverse polarity because the connector was set up a weird way, but worked fine and didn't blow any fuses. Although I'm a ME, I'm interning under Electronics Sector at where I work. haha