Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

[Shreeni0403]

guys i need help, recently i noticed that my reflector has started melting from top in a straight line just above the HID, starting from near HID and extending right upto top of reflector. what do you think is the reason my HID is a cheap chinese one (although not cheap-i got it for around 3000). it is 8000K. my reflector is original one and not duplicate. mine is 35 watt HID.

From how long are you using the HID ? I guess you are using HID in slow moving traffic conditions or even when bike is stand still. Try to avoid this.

Reflectors gets heated a lot if lights are on in idle.

[pavanchirmade]

@Prince: Is your headlight original Rinder?

[sajjt]

From how long are you using the HID ? I guess you are using HID in slow moving traffic conditions or even when bike is stand still. Try to avoid this.

Reflectors gets heated a lot if lights are on in idle.

Shree, can u share the source of information? HID will heat up more than a halogen bulb at the time of startup and after stabilization, it will come to a steady state with full brightness with less heat. And whats the connection with the idle speed? In idle speed, the alternator will not giving the required current rate so the entire load will be taken from the battery AFAIK.

@Prince,

Reflector blackening is due to poor UV shield in the HID Capsule, better off from the capsule to avoid more.

BTW, how do you manage with a 8K which is beyond usable range even on good weather? Some where I read that 8K onwards considered to be fancy factors not for visibility. Even 6K was not a good choice when its raining.

[abhijeet080808]

And whats the connection with the idle speed? In idle speed, the alternator will not giving the required current rate so the entire load will be taken from the battery AFAIK.

I guess what he meant is that, at idle air flow is nil and hence the relfector heats up. At speed, the moving air cools down the reflector setup a lot.

[pavanchirmade]

Indeed 6K and 8K are bad for rainy weather. But both are still usable in good weather. I was using 6k and a friend 8k and the only time we faced problems were in fog and rain.

[sajjt]

I guess what he meant is that, at idle air flow is nil and hence the relfector heats up. At speed, the moving air cools down the reflector setup a lot.

Abhi, the moving air is just cooling the outer glass and the reflector is meant to withstand the heat of 55/60W halogen Its the heat vents with the rubber tubing behind the HL assy is helping the recirculation of air within the assy not the moving air AFAIK.

[princesirohi]

@Prince: Is your headlight original Rinder?

yes, my headlight/reflector/everything is original.

Shree, can u share the source of information? HID will heat up more than a halogen bulb at the time of startup and after stabilization, it will come to a steady state with full brightness with less heat. And whats the connection with the idle speed? In idle speed, the alternator will not giving the required current rate so the entire load will be taken from the battery AFAIK.

@Prince,

Reflector blackening is due to poor UV shield in the HID Capsule, better off from the capsule to avoid more.

poor UV shield, is it possible to check whether an HID bulb has good or bad UV shield. plz tell me. well, the damage to the reflector is already done and apart from melting in area just above the lamp, in other areas the shine of reflector is reduced.

BTW, how do you manage with a 8K which is beyond usable range even on good weather? Some where I read that 8K onwards considered to be fancy factors not for visibility. Even 6K was not a good choice when its raining.

in normal whether it is ok, no problem at all, in rains and fog, it doesn't perform good but still since the light of 35 W HID is more than 35 w halogen which i was earlier using as stock bulb, so no complaints, actually compared to halogen it is better. only thing is when compared to a 4300K HID, then its not good in fog. and at that thime, i could source only this one as cheap, so went for it.

From how long are you using the HID ? I guess you are using HID in slow moving traffic conditions or even when bike is stand still. Try to avoid this.

Reflectors gets heated a lot if lights are on in idle.

i am using HID since January 2010, so, 1.5 years to be precise. i use it mostly on highway from aamby valley to pune and on tours. my total riding --within city is less than 5% of total riding. and i have a habit of switching off teh HID at traffic lights to save battery and not to attract cops. and i do not use it at standstill.

I guess what he meant is that, at idle air flow is nil and hence the relfector heats up. At speed, the moving air cools down the reflector setup a lot.

Indeed 6K and 8K are bad for rainy weather. But both are still usable in good weather. I was using 6k and a friend 8k and the only time we faced problems were in fog and rain.

can you guys pinpoint the problem, i am not going to change anything now, will keep using it for say 6 more months, then change HID bulb (low radiation UV type or whatever) and reflector together.

initially, when i had installed the HID, i used to observe that glass in front of headlight used to become a bit hot after a 1 hour ride actually it used to heat up a it even after a short ride and then on a long ride the temperature stays that much.

plz help to identify the problem? and has it ever happened with anyone else?

also if i drill two holes- one in front on the clear lens glass at the bottom and another one in the rubber housing at the back that hold HID bulb...kind of cross ventilation.

[Shreeni0403]

Shree, can u share the source of information? HID will heat up more than a halogen bulb at the time of startup and after stabilization, it will come to a steady state with full brightness with less heat. And whats the connection with the idle speed? In idle speed, the alternator will not giving the required current rate so the entire load will be taken from the battery AFAIK.

I exactly meant what Abhi has written below. I don't have any source of info for that but its my first hand experience.

I had kept the light on when the bike was not moving for 15mins + and got a bubble on my reflector (in unicorn). Next I made sure not to use headlight when bike is stand still and I didn't come across any bubble on reflector.

I guess what he meant is that, at idle air flow is nil and hence the relfector heats up. At speed, the moving air cools down the reflector setup a lot.

Abhi, the moving air is just cooling the outer glass and the reflector is meant to withstand the heat of 55/60W halogen Its the heat vents with the rubber tubing behind the HL assy is helping the recirculation of air within the assy not the moving air AFAIK.

[hunkofgals]

@princesirohi

it is common for the reflector to get heated up, upon usage of the headlight
and in case of hid it gets quickly heated up
so no issues with that
and about the melting inside the reflector might be due to some mis-alignment of the bulb, or the bulb too close to the glass (MAYBE)
.
and dont drill any holes
cuz the relector might be expensive to replace
if once screwed up

[anupam_busaboy]

Fellaz, Need an Upgrade to ma P220F headlamps. Checked out Osram Nightbreaker 12V 50/60W in a car accessory shop. He's quoting 900 bucks for one Bulb.
Should i buy two nightbreakers for the low beam and high beam? And is this the actual price?

[Aneesh@4GHz]

Guess its 900 for a pair. ( For two bulbs).

[vineeth aredath]

Hi all, here is ma new light upgrade, 2x 55w hid with regular ballast on high beam and 0ne 40w single hid with slim ballast on low beam. a Big thanks to navnish for supplying the bulbs and ballast in time. Also i would like to thank Dr. Vivek for his help and guidance in fixing them.

here am attaching a small video of the setup. again sorry for the poor quality video. misplaced the cam so will post a better video later.

YouTube - ‪mask1.mpg‬‏

[princesirohi]

guys, please look at my post in previous page and reply.

[NANOtechnology]

Fellaz, Need an Upgrade to ma P220F headlamps. Checked out Osram Nightbreaker 12V 50/60W in a car accessory shop. He's quoting 900 bucks for one Bulb.
Should i buy two nightbreakers for the low beam and high beam? And is this the actual price?

Nightbreaker 55/60 turns out to be an H4 bulb.
Cannot use H4 bulbs on p220...

It needs H7.

@ pawan

Dude, did you check the amps ?

@ vineeth

Great output.

[harshitcyborg]

Rewiring Pulsar's Headlight

Somebody please help me..! I need to know how to rewire pulsar's headlight circuit.. Badly need advice.. If anyone can post me some pictures of how to rewire the electricals for the headlamp, it will be greatly helpful.. Pleaseeeeee helppp meeeee...!