Kika

Is there anyone near the Torrance, CA area that installed aftermarket HIDs ballasts in their trunk that would be willing to meet me?

I have a handheld IR thermometer, and would like to measure the temperature of the ballast after headlights have been on for some time.

email me direct at at sheuk@saic.com if you can help me out.

I will post measured temps when done.
Thanks
Kika

MarkD

or I can shoot mine with an IR therm and get you the data... along with ambient temp. I suppose it would also be helpful to get the trunk's internal temp.

The kit I have are a Chinese version of the Phillips (<--likely also China mfg)ballasts with 4300 bulbs. Rectagular with one corner at a 45 degree angle. Same as the gentleman who installed them within the HL assembly. I assume that is what you are considering.
Let me know.
I'll probably do it anyhow since you got my curiosity up.

Kika

Mark D, that will work fine too. The generosity of this list NEVER ceases to amaze me. I am guessing that some ballasts will be alittle different than others, but not by a significant amount.
I am predicting/hoping temps will be less than 200Deg F.
Kika

Chuck W.

I'll be at West End allignment in Torrance on Monday, April 2, at 12:30 PM. You can test mine then.

Kika

Hi Chuck W.
sounds good! having Darin align the car? For anyone that needs an alignment, Darin, owner of West End, used to do all the 911s when he worked for Johnson's alignment. Darin lowered my 911Sc YEARS ago, I take all my cars to him. Great guy!

see you next Monday! Can you do me a favor and put hour headlights on for the drive over? I want to see what the operating temp is.

Thanks

Chuck W.

Not a problem.. see you there.

MarkD

Lost this thread.... it got bumped really quick. Busy place.

I will test mine also just as another data point... and for fun.

Kika

Did an experiment on my mechanic's bench, hooked up the HID's to a battery pack, which can't provide as much current as an alternator, but had enough to light the bulbs, with 12v and just under 4 amps actually 3.7A. 12Vx 3.7 Amps is 44Watts, which is a little more than the 35Watts advertised. However, this should be pretty close to what the HIDs will draw in the car. I left the lights on for about 15 minutes, the ballast only got to 80 degrees F in a 67degree F room.
i will still measure Chuck's Ballasts on monday, but I am pretty certain that these ballasts do not generate a significant amount of heat and are safe to mount inside the headlight.

MarkD

Agreed Kika... they barely felt warm when I was messing with them.
Still going to do the temp tests... need some time. Either tomorrow or Saturday.

grmnxtc

Good Data points...

My "quesstimate" of 80% efficency on the ballast wasn't too far off then....wow!

Also noted on the set I recently bought, that the spec says -40 to +105C CASE temperature!

Should be good to go.

Kika

Just got back from West End Alignment, where I met Chuck W. He drove over with the HIDs on, for about 90 minutes.
Ambient Temp ~75 degrees F

driver side ballast 80 degrees F
passenger side ballast: 117 degrees F

I atribute the higher temp on the passnger side to the proximity of the oil cooler under that fender.

In any event, there is NO way these ballasts generate enough heat to damage anything, unless there is a short or some catastrophic failure, as long as they are fused, I can't imagine any problems.

MarkD

I'm a bit late but here is what I found after about 20 minutes of run time:

Ambient temp 70.4 F
Driver's side ballast: 86.7 F
Pass side ballast: 92.3 F

Similar difference left to right.
So, this just supports what you already found.

Note: It is worth mentioning that the car was run for 40 minutes, the lights were on for the last 20 minutes.

Father of 3

I need to ge see Darin soon too. How long were you there Chuck?

Chuck W.

Just under 2 hours. He is booked for about 2 weeks in advance.