HID 55w?
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Driver
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 142
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From: new jersey
HID 55w?
so i have a 2000 rx300. have silvania silverstar ultra halogen headlights, they are bright but not bright enough. my buddy just got a nice quality kit, put it in his AUDI and it is so much brighter than his old halogens. if i put in a quality after market kit that is 55w ballast will it melt or short anything? or should i go with the 35w ballast kit instead? will it scatter real bad since i do not have projectors? when it comes to electrical and lighting i have no idea what's going on 
so any input would help guys. thanks.
-Ivan
so any input would help guys. thanks. -Ivan
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,531
Likes: 1,379
From: Austin, TX
The water has been muddied so much that even the folks who should know are confused about wattage.
In reality, the wattage is the energy consumed to produce light (when we talk about light bulbs) [divide the wattage by 12.2 or 12 to get Amperage in cars].
Since folks are interested in amount of light/brightness, the industry started the trend of using watts for brightness [If you read the fine print, they state that, bulb consumes 25Wats to produce light equivalent to 45watts]. Better course of action should have been to publish Lumins or efficiency.
Hids use larger turn-on current, but steady state draw less current than the filament type halogens.
Sockets/wiring burn out due to two reasons.
Thermal conduction [hot bulb]
and loose connector which under large current acts like electric heater coil.
Back to your question; If really the wattage for hid is more than 5% of what Lexus specifies, i would be hesitant and at 10% or mre, I would skip the swap.
Salim
In reality, the wattage is the energy consumed to produce light (when we talk about light bulbs) [divide the wattage by 12.2 or 12 to get Amperage in cars].
Since folks are interested in amount of light/brightness, the industry started the trend of using watts for brightness [If you read the fine print, they state that, bulb consumes 25Wats to produce light equivalent to 45watts]. Better course of action should have been to publish Lumins or efficiency.
Hids use larger turn-on current, but steady state draw less current than the filament type halogens.
Sockets/wiring burn out due to two reasons.
Thermal conduction [hot bulb]
and loose connector which under large current acts like electric heater coil.
Back to your question; If really the wattage for hid is more than 5% of what Lexus specifies, i would be hesitant and at 10% or mre, I would skip the swap.
Salim
I don't like reflector headlamps as they tend to glare...a lot...
I'd do a proper retrofit if you want HIDs. It'll save people in front of you from getting pissed off when you are right behind them glaring into their rear view mirror
I'd do a proper retrofit if you want HIDs. It'll save people in front of you from getting pissed off when you are right behind them glaring into their rear view mirror
Rookie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 85
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From: -
dont bother
I own a 55 watt HID kit 4000K for my rx 300 and they are no brighter then my Great pair of 55 watt Slyvania silverstar ultra's
I have done side by sides
I have tried everything
without a projector i just wasted $100
oh
and they scatter like no other..the filament length is different from halogens designed for the reflectors so the light goes..everywhere...
I own a 55 watt HID kit 4000K for my rx 300 and they are no brighter then my Great pair of 55 watt Slyvania silverstar ultra's
I have done side by sides
I have tried everything
without a projector i just wasted $100
oh
and they scatter like no other..the filament length is different from halogens designed for the reflectors so the light goes..everywhere...
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