HID bulb and ballast matching
#1
12-10-2008, 01:05 PM
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Miami
Posts: 3,294
HID bulb and ballast matching
Me and a friend were having a debate the other day. I'm very familiar with full size HIDs, such as high pressure sodium (HPS), and metal halide (MH) lamps. He is saying that you have to replace the blubs from the same manufactur as the ballast. He said that the dude he got his no name kit from said that. I know it's just some BS so he will get the bulbs from him. Now if the bulbs are the same wattage and are for an analog ballast, they would be compatible correct? Or do they have diffrent plugs or require diffrent ignitors or somthing I have no idea about? I know I'm right, but you never know...
#2
12-10-2008, 01:07 PM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
i know you can use any color bulb with any balast, well to play it safe id say the same company
#3
12-10-2008, 01:08 PM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
x2 any bulb and ballast. All automotive use HIDs should have the same connectors, I don't even think you get different bulbs with the 55W kits.
#4
12-10-2008, 01:10 PM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
well considering they are all 35w, and pretty much every votalge vfor every hid of this size is the same id say any with any but i really dont knbow
#5
12-10-2008, 01:10 PM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
Proof:
ORIGINAL: DDM Tuning
Sold in pairs only. Bulbs sold come with the industry standard Amphenol type connectors. Sinc we have no way of knowing which ballasts bulbs may be attached to, we can only offer a 1 year warranty on separate bulb sales. Even so, these are the same bulbs contained in our Lifetime Warranteed DDM bulbs. Sold only in pairs for proper color and brightness matching.
Sold in pairs only. Bulbs sold come with the industry standard Amphenol type connectors. Sinc we have no way of knowing which ballasts bulbs may be attached to, we can only offer a 1 year warranty on separate bulb sales. Even so, these are the same bulbs contained in our Lifetime Warranteed DDM bulbs. Sold only in pairs for proper color and brightness matching.
#6
12-10-2008, 01:12 PM
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Miami
Posts: 3,294
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
I know with the big boys you can't hook up say a 1000w bulb to a 400w ballast. They need to match. Although these use a different gas then the big boys, they are they same principle. Also tippman, color has nothing to do with wattage, but the gas.
#7
12-10-2008, 01:28 PM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
^ Right. But, you're never going to find that big of a difference in an automotive application.
More proof:
The ballasts are different wattages but the bulbs are the same.
More proof:
DDM 35 and 55 Watt Slim Ballast HID Kit
You can't buy a system with a smaller ballast. Fully digital, draws less than 6 amps at startup and 3.4 amps at normal operating temperature. This system provides 3200-3400 Lumens at 35 watts and an amazing 5000 Lumens at 55 watts per bulb. In comparison, a typical halogen bulb produces 900-1200 lumens.
What is the difference between 55w and 35w kits?
Our 55w HID kits are 40% brighter than the standard 35w kits.The 55W system ballasts are about 1 cm longer than the 35W ballasts. 55w kits tend to wash out some of the color of the HID bulb due to the light output( for example, a 55w 8000k will look similar in color to a 35w 6000k kit).55w Kits are not recommended for smaller fog light housings because they tend to concentrate a large amount of heat in a small area.
You can't buy a system with a smaller ballast. Fully digital, draws less than 6 amps at startup and 3.4 amps at normal operating temperature. This system provides 3200-3400 Lumens at 35 watts and an amazing 5000 Lumens at 55 watts per bulb. In comparison, a typical halogen bulb produces 900-1200 lumens.What is the difference between 55w and 35w kits?
Our 55w HID kits are 40% brighter than the standard 35w kits.The 55W system ballasts are about 1 cm longer than the 35W ballasts. 55w kits tend to wash out some of the color of the HID bulb due to the light output( for example, a 55w 8000k will look similar in color to a 35w 6000k kit).55w Kits are not recommended for smaller fog light housings because they tend to concentrate a large amount of heat in a small area.
#8
12-10-2008, 03:35 PM
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Miami
Posts: 3,294
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
Hmmm that's very interesting. Lol I was still right, but that's good to know for the future. I would like to get a pair of 55w digital ballast sometime soon.
EDIT: I love my digital 600w HPS ballast, my old one used to stay pretty warm, but with the digital it barely has any warmth at all. Digital ballasts and amps FTW
EDIT: I love my digital 600w HPS ballast, my old one used to stay pretty warm, but with the digital it barely has any warmth at all. Digital ballasts and amps FTW
#9
12-11-2008, 12:52 AM
RE: HID bulb and ballast matching
hmmmmm........ I wonder what those HPS and MH lamps are for?