Same lighting element is in use so it would be normal useage as far as lifetime is concerned.I'm wondering how much extra wear is caused by flashing to pass on the HIDs, with them off of course, if at all.
Don't understand this question. Pulling the stalk back flashes the high-beams. Pushing forward turns on the high-beams and keeps them on. There is only one bulb in the HID system. When the high-beams are activated a motor moves the entire projector assembly up and down. That is why there is a momentary delay, and you can hear it move as well.bonus: why does it only blip on for a split second instead of stay open?
Let me rephrase.Same lighting element is in use so it would be normal useage as far as lifetime is concerned.
Don't understand this question. Pulling the stalk back flashes the high-beams. Pushing forward turns on the high-beams and keeps them on. There is only one bulb in the HID system. When the high-beams are activated a motor moves the entire projector assembly up and down. That is why there is a momentary delay, and you can hear it move as well.
You are correct to assume there is more wear going on when first lighting off an HID bulb. The ignitor basically hits the bulb with up to 25kv then drops down(don't know exactly how much, maybe a few hundred to 1kv) once the bulb is lit. I don't suggest you be an ass and flash everyone on the road but I don't think you will see a noticeable loss of lifespan from the bulbs from normal use.Let me rephrase.
I thought that the initial lighting of the bulbs caused the majority of the wear, so I just figured that a quick flash would wear them more than having them actually on.
When the headlights are off and you pull back the stalk (hence flash to pass) it flashes for a split second instead of staying on, like most other cars. I know the projectors move when the headlights are on, but that wasn't my question.
I didn't know that. Is that why you often see a car at night with one head light wagging up and down with the bumps in the road? Is that a HID with a broken motor?like most other cars. I know the projectors move when the headlights are on, but that wasn't my question.
Huh? If you have the factory HIDs its one and the same, no?I was always told to never use HID's as brights because they aren't really brighter than your regular lights until they warm up. I've never had them though, and don't really like them personally.. so I couldn't tell you firsthand.
That's probably a ricer with a half-a** install.I didn't know that. Is that why you often see a car at night with one head light wagging up and down with the bumps in the road? Is that a HID with a broken motor?
HID bulbs take all of 0.1 seconds to warm up, unless there is a problem with the circuit or bulb itself.I was always told to never use HID's as brights because they aren't really brighter than your regular lights until they warm up.
Broken motor or linkage, not terribly uncommon. I've had a few Mercedes customers with this issue, thankfully they bottom out in a more-or-less straight ahead position so they aren't pointing straight up or down.I didn't know that. Is that why you often see a car at night with one head light wagging up and down with the bumps in the road? Is that a HID with a broken motor?
Yeah I don't do it often, but I feel like every time I do it, I'm giving the bulbs the paddles are something. Massvie paranoia.You are correct to assume there is more wear going on when first lighting off an HID bulb. The ignitor basically hits the bulb with up to 25kv then drops down(don't know exactly how much, maybe a few hundred to 1kv) once the bulb is lit. I don't suggest you be an ass and flash everyone on the road but I don't think you will see a noticeable loss of lifespan from the bulbs from normal use.
edit: I've never tried holding the stalk back when the headlights are off so I will check that out tonight.
Umm.. I suppose? Unlikely though, it's usually an aftermarket job that does that.I didn't know that. Is that why you often see a car at night with one head light wagging up and down with the bumps in the road? Is that a HID with a broken motor?
Tim
They take .01 seconds to bright up.I was always told to never use HID's as brights because they aren't really brighter than your regular lights until they warm up. I've never had them though, and don't really like them personally.. so I couldn't tell you firsthand.
THE HIDS DO NOT MOVE.
There is a shutter assembly controlled by a solenoid. The shutter comes in from the bottom part of the assembly to cut the top of the beam off.
When you flash the highs, the shutter is mechanically retracted by the solenoid to allow full beam projection.
Yeah, this is what I thought. Isn't that what we were saying??THE HIDS DO NOT MOVE.
There is a shutter assembly controlled by a solenoid. The shutter comes in from the bottom part of the assembly to cut the top of the beam off. Trust me, it works that way.
When you flash the highs, the shutter is mechanically retracted by the solenoid to allow full beam projection.
The reason you see Hondas with wobbly lights is that in the olden days headlamp assemblies were mounted on bodies with plastic, which degrades, snaps, bends, etc. A lot of older cars do that.
The reason they flash is that the ballast is just giving the bulb the initial high-voltage zap (the arc). As you aren't really feeding that much current through the bulb that way, you aren't appreciably shortening its lifespan.
This ^^^ It's common knowledge where i come from too.Flash-to-pass, as a driving technique, has been the standard forever. In Michigan, understanding how to flash-to-pass, from both sides of the situation, is part of getting your driver's license....and I would assume it is standard in most other states too, just not covered very well by instructors.
Flash-to-pass, as vehicular equipment, has been standard since at least the 1940s, in various forms.
I'm very saddened that some drivers don't seem to be knowledgable on this topic.
Hmm now I'm confused... who holds the correct answer?The highest wear occurs when the HID lamp strikes an arc while still hot. Flashing to pass shouldn't put that much heat in the lamp so it shouldn't affect the life.
Everything you ever wanted to know about HIDs and then someHmm now I'm confused... who holds the correct answer?
What was being said was that the entire projector housing was moving up and down to form the low and high beams. That is not the case. There is only one moving part (well, two if you count the solenoid itself), and that is the shutter. It's on the bottom of the housing because the light beam is inverted as it passes the front lens.Yeah, this is what I thought. Isn't that what we were saying??
Oh mighty Wiki...Everything you ever wanted to know about HIDs and then some
High-intensity discharge lamp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ok, well this is the impression I was under all along...What was being said was that the entire projector housing was moving up and down to form the low and high beams. That is not the case. There is only one moving part (well, two if you count the solenoid itself), and that is the shutter. It's on the bottom of the housing because the light beam is inverted as it passes the front lens.
I said it was a good idea, I just said most (most) drivers don't know what it is. And for that reason it's probably going to do more harm than good. Unless your manuever involves a professional driver, I stand by that comment 100%. And the fact that Ford puts it in the manual is meaningless to even most Ford owners. As in how many threads are started here on topics clearly indexed and addressed in the manual? :winks@412 Horses. Ford even calls it "flash-to-pass" in the manual. My condolences for the idiot drivers in your area, but they are there for a reason, like letting someone in or, well, flashing to pass..
