Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

[MG]

The Light Thread

MODERATOR MESSAGE:As the name suggest this thread is dedicated to lights.Members can post queries related to light and also share their knowledge related to same.

The below quote was posted by Sksy on the older forum.

Originally Posted by Sksy_Biker

Few people have asked for this article so I will be making this as the thread dedicated to HID questions and answers. Some basic info about HID first:

What is HID

HID stands for high-intensity discharge, the technical term for the electric arc that produces the light. Automotive HID lamps are commonly called 'xenon headlamps', because of the xenon gas used in the lamps. The xenon gas allows the lamps to produce minimally adequate amounts of light immediately upon startup and speed the warm-up time.
The warm-up may take 5-10 seconds depends on voltage and colour. Sample video (connected to car battery in example): Video - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

Socket types available: H1, H3, H4 (High/Low Beam), H7, H8, H10, H11, H13, 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, D2C, D2S & D2R
Color temperatures: 3200K, 4300K, 6000K, 8000K, 10000K & 12000K Color temperature is not an indicator of brightness. Usual output of 4300K bulb is 3200 lumens. This is the maximum output. Higher temperatures will have lower light output. As a comparison a 130W halogen bulb will generate 1600-1700 lumens of light.
Anything above 4300K is for show. Human eyes see well with color temperature <5000K. Light >5000K have a blue tinge, higher you go with the temperature range will tend towards purple. Also studies have proven that light closer to sunlight is best, bluish light causes rider fatigue with longer usage. Not to mention the glare to oncoming vehicles due to higher color temperature (more scatter as temperature increases).
You also get colored Xenon. I've seen blue, purple even gold colored ones. Stay away from them unless you intend to be cop magnet and cause inconvenience on road.
Types of bulbs:
1. Single Xenon: Most common package with 1 HID tube per bulb focused to low beam.
2. Bi-Xenon : May not be available for all socket types. Has two HID tubes, one for each high and low beam.
3. Xenon/Halogen: Usually found in H4 socket configuration. HID tube is focused to low beam and additional 55W halogen for high beam.
4. Single Xenon hi/lo: Usually for H4 socket configuration. It has a single HID tube, but with an additional magnetic arrangement to switch between high and low beam. Useful for cases where you don't want to loose the extra warm-up time required when switching between low and high beam. The electromagnetic arrangement with bulb moves the tube to adjust focus distance.




Typical HID package contents:
-- 2 x Xenon Bulbs (Extra 2 Halogen Bulbs for H4 H/L) or 4 x Xenon Bulbs for Bi-Xenon model
-- 2 x Ballasts with Buit-in Starter/Igniter
-- All Necessary Wires & Installing Accessories (fuse/ cable ties)
Couple of pictures of 4300K H4 hi/lo (Halogen/Xenon) kit:




I had got a couple of sets of H4 Xenon kits for installing in bikes. The four individual bulbs and ballasts were meant to be used in:

1. Karizma (mine)
2. Comet GT250 (hisunil)
3. CBZ * (praveenkm)
4. Pulsar 180 (nfsnfs)

Of this 3 have already been installed (CBZ* is pending installation this week). The pictures of the kit are available here:

http://www.jeetenge.com/plogger/inde...el=album&id=28


The cost of the set worked out to about Rs.7500 per pair of bulbs and ballast. The Low beam is HID bulb and the High beam is 55W halogen.

Installation is pretty straightforward.

1. Place the ballast close to the headlight assembly (lower electrical interference and loss). The ballasts are usually water and shock proof and pretty sturdy.

2. Replace existing bulb to replace with HID bulb and complete the ballast to HID wiring.

3. The HID runs on DC only hence its better to provide it with a steady DC power. Hence connect the Ballast to the battery with a fuse of 15A in series. and an additional relay for switching the ballast on/off.

Basically the wiring is as follows. Start from the positive terminal of the battery through a 15A fuse and then to the terminals of the relay. The existing wires from the headlight swtich would be used to switch the relay on/off to complete the Battery->Fuse->Relay->Ballast->HID circuit complete.

Since the High beam is just 55W the existing wiring can also be used for that purpose.

Once the ballast, HID are placed and the wiring is complete, the setup is done. You are now ready for a shining light experience.

[dcs]

nice information
I am planning to go in for HID for my ZMA as I ride mainly at Night.
can u suggest me where in Ludhiana/ punjab can I get an HID and what are the popular, relaible brands?

[Sandeep_K_Ram]

This is my article on fitting a HID on a P200 - might be relevant to a P180/150 UG3 as well .

Finally I got my HID kit and assembled it successfully on the P200 . The bulb has a Colour temp range of 6000K and so it has a blue tinge to it . I have made the entire system work on DC and the effect of the new lighting is absolutely stunning . I will be trying to make a video of it and post it here . So that is one major experiment completed successfully. If anybody needs any specific details pls do mail me.

[Sandeep_K_Ram]

Isn't that a Halogen bulb ? It must be a simple straight fit then.

You have to remove the front fairing - two screws at the top and two below the cowl. Pull out the fairing slowly ...watchout for the cables ...you need to disconnect one socket on the right hand side as you do it.

Then you just remove the old bulb and put this one in . Put back the fairing and connect back the socket ... done .

[L.P.]

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram

Isn't that a Halogen bulb ? It must be a simple straight fit then.

You have to remove the front fairing - two screws at the top and two below the cowl. Pull out the fairing slowly ...watchout for the cables ...you need to disconnect one socket on the right hand side as you do it.

Then you just remove the old bulb and put this one in . Put back the fairing and connect back the socket ... done .

How Much Did it cost you..???

[L.P.]

Originally Posted by Deepakumar

What is care tht we have to take b4 removing bulb and installing new. is tht true tht if we touch the bulb ith bare hands 10 to 15% of lighting is reduced? if we have touched it accidentally, wut shud we do to clean it?. and thanks for ur answer!

Am sorry boss..this not a corrcet piece of information that you have.. if it would have been true then mechanic would use sophisticated machines that could plant the bulb..
if in case there are some grease or oil stain on the lamp.You can clean it by a cloth and minor colin touch..

Also if you want to install a new lamp.. you can easily do it yourself..

@deepkumar- "Osram Nightbreaker H4" After seeing its specification..its a direct fit in zma in place of original stock bulb..
PS: PLease use the multi-quote option instead of posting again and again.. OR Edit option..

[setuniket]

Deepak, after reading your post quoted by lappu. I had to sign-in and reply

Okay, installing a bulb in a bike is like changing bulb at your home, just that you need to unscrew the fairing as mentioned by Sandeep. Its not that tough and nothing will happen if you touch the blub, simply make sure your hands are clean or wipe the bulb once.

[Deepakumar]

Originally Posted by setuniket

Deepak, after reading your post quoted by lappu. I had to sign-in and reply

Okay, installing a bulb in a bike is like changing bulb at your home, just that you need to unscrew the fairing as mentioned by Sandeep. Its not that tough and nothing will happen if you touch the blub, simply make sure your hands are clean or wipe the bulb once.

can we get white fogs for ZMA ? if so where can i get them?

[setuniket]

Deepak, If you are based in Delhi. Head to Karol Bagh.

[Absoluthavoc]

ok guys, a lil help please, after reading a lot being said very highly of OSRAM Nightbreakers i went to the 2 wheeler market and 4 wheeler market @ Opera House mumbai to track down these bulbs.. but they were nowhere to be found. Infact there were no 60/55 (correct?) ones to be found.. all that everyone had was the 100/90 which i didnt pick up coz i was not sure for the compatibility into my p200.

Does anyone know where to get these bulbs here? some of the shops said OSRAM stopped making them and Philips are not too common in the market for the 2 wheeler specs.. not to mention the Philips vision plus were only available in a pair and were priced @ 1300/-