Question : What is the difference between HID and LED lighting Systems?
Answers:
HID Lighting
High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting replaces the filament of a light bulb with a capsule of gas. The light emanates from an arc discharge between two closely spaced electrodes. This discharge is hermetically sealed inside a small quartz glass tubular capsule. HID lights require a ballast, which carefully regulates the voltage supplied to the capsule of gas. The amount of light produced is greater than a standard halogen bulb while consuming less power; this light more closely approximates the color temperature of natural daylight.
In all High Intensity Discharge lamps, light is produced by passing a current through a metal vapor. Free electrons colliding with an atom in the vapor momentarily knock an electron into a higher orbit of the atom. When the displaced electron falls back to its former level, a quantum of radiation is emitted. The wavelength of radiation depends on the energy zone of the disturbed electron and on the type of metal vapor used in the arc tube.
HID lamps produce 5 percent of their output when first ignited, requiring a few seconds (usually 15-20) to reach full output. Also, if power to the lamp is lost or turned off, the arc tube must cool before the arc can be re-struck and light produced. Halcyon HID lights require approximately 5-10 seconds before they can be re-lit.
LED Lighting
Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) are light sources utilizing diodes that emit light when connected in a circuit. The effect is a form of electroluminescence where LEDs release a large number of photons outward; the LED is housed in a plastic bulb, which concentrates the light source.
The most important part of an LED is the semi-conductor chip located in the center of the light source. The chip has two regions separated by a junction. The p region is dominated by positive electric charges and the n region is dominated by negative electric charges. The junction acts as a barrier to the flow of electrons between the p and the n regions. When sufficient voltage is applied to the semi-conductor chip, the electrons are able to cross the junction into the p region.
When sufficient voltage is applied to the semi-conductor chip, electrons can move easily across the junction where they are immediately attracted to the positive forces in the p region. When an electron moves sufficiently close to a positive charge in the p region, the two charges “re-combine.“
Each time an electron recombines with a positive charge, electric potential energy is converted into electromagnetic energy. For each recombination of a negative and a positive charge, a quantum of electromagnetic energy is emitted in the form of a photon of light. This photon has a frequency determined by the characteristics of the semiconductor material (usually a combination of the chemical elements gallium, arsenic, and phosphorus). LEDs that emit different colors are made of different semiconductor materials. Said simply, LEDs are tiny “bulbs” fit into an electrical circuit. However, unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don’t have a filament. LEDs are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, making them energy efficient and extremely resilient over extended periods of time.
Question : What are the advantages of having a Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting system?
Answer : There are three main advantages to installing an HID system in your vehicle.
- An HID bulb produces roughly 3 times more lumens than a halogen bulb.
- HID bulbs consume 30% less power than halogen bulbs.
- With no filamentto vibrate and fatigue, HID bulbs last roughly 10 times longer than halogen bulbs.
Question : How do I find out which HID kit to order?
Answers :The vehicle owner’s manual may tell you what type of bulb you need however another place is on the bulb itself. The bulb type and wattage should be printed or molded into the base. For a quick check online try the Sylvania Replacement chart.
Question : Which bulb color is the brightest?
Answers : 5000k to 6000k are the brightest and also the purest white (some already sense a slight blue tint in the 6000k). The colors above 6000k become progressively more blue but less bright. Similarly, below 5000k, as the tint becomes warmer some brightness is sacrificed.
Question : Why do I need ballasts?
Answers : Standard car headlights run on a 12 volt electrical system. HID Xenon lighting systems require over 20,000 volts to ignite the bulbs. Once lit, they only require 35 watts to keep them running. A ballast is necessary for the lamps to turn on and to regulate the voltage. It is therefore an integral part of the system. Even the wires that connect the bulbs to the ballasts are special high voltage lines made just for this purpose.
Question : What is the difference between genuine Xenon HID lights and Xenon gas-filled bulbs?
Answers : High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights have a glass chamber of gas that replaces the filament of traditional halogen light bulbs. The gas is ignited with an approximately 23,000 volt charge and stays illuminated by a constant 12v source that is provided by a ballast which is connected directly to your battery.
Cheap xenon-filled halogen bulbs do not use the same technology and are tinted blue to give off a white light. They still have a filament and produce less light output then standard halogen bulbs of the same wattage.
Question : Could I not just purchase a stronger watt halogen bulb to get a brighter light?
Answers : Factory halogen bulbs operate at 55 watts. Using a higher wattage bulb will produce more light but the output will still be dim compared to a true HID system. If you choose to use higher wattage bulbs, you increase the current draw on your entire electrical system and run the risk of melting your factory wiring or harming the rest of your electrical system.
A true HID system runs at 35 watts while traditional halogen bulbs are 55 watts. Even though XENON HID lamps draw less current, they produce 3 times the light output as the higher wattage halogen bulbs.
Question : What does the HID conversion kit include?
Answers : The kensun hid conversion kits conversion kits are made from quality HID components that are designed to meet stringent quality standards. Each kit comes with all of the necessary components and hardware to install this system into your vehicle.
2 HID bulbs
2 Ballasts
1 Plug and play wiring harness with fuse and relay wired inline
1 Easy to follow installation and wiring diagram.
These units are plug+play and will require no cutting of any wires during installation.
Question : Could I install the kit myself?
Answers : For anyone who is somewhat mechanically inclined, this installation is considered 'do-it-yourself'. Our kits are ready to install right-out-of-the-box and come with everything that you will need. We also provide you a full set of easy-to-read, step-by-step instructions to guide you.
Question : What should I do if I touch the bulb?
Answers: Never touch the bulb glass with grease, oil, or your skin as oil from your hands can shorten the life of the bulb. If you do touch the bulb, remove these oils with alcohol and a very soft cotton cloth. HID bulbs that are exposed to oils and grease will shatter and are not covered under the 2-year warranty.
Question : Can I switch back to my original halogen bulbs after the HID conversion kit has been installed?
Answers : If need be, the entire kit can be removed and the original halogen bulbs replaced within 20 minutes. The HID conversion kit can then be re-installed into another vehicle that uses the same bulb size.
Question : Will I lose the ability to use the High beams?
Answers : For vehicles using a single bulb for hi beam and low beam make sure to select the bulb size should be H/L (stands for hi and lo). after installation you will have the regular light HID and the hi beam will be halogen we also have a selection that the regular headlights and the hi beam should be HID contact us for details
Question : Will DRL (daytime running lights) or Auto Switch On affect the HID kit?
Answers : For vehicles with DRL that use the same bulb for both DRL and low beam you will need to deactivate your DRL. DRL operate on reduced wattage or fluctuating current levels. This will cause the HID system to flicker and burn out prematurely. Please ensure that your OEM headlight harness is providing a constant 12 volts to ensure that no damage will be caused to the HID system.
The Auto Switch On will not affect the HID conversion kit or bulbs. The lights will simply turn on just like your factory halogen bulbs turned on before.
Question : Are these XENON HID light systems street legal?
Answers : No. All XENON HID conversion kits, no matter the source, are not DOT approved if installed outside of the factory. Moreover, in the U.S, this is not street legal for use on public roads. As a result, we officially endorse the kit for exhibition and off-road use and will only sell the kit to be used for these purposes. We are not responsible for buyers who violate the terms of sale. They will assume all responsibilities for any unauthorized or unintended use other than exhibition or off-road use.
Question : I am interested in putting these lights in my Motorcycle which only needs one ballast along with one light. I was wondering if you can offer anything like this or if we can work out any kind of deal.
Answers : You can order the kit that you need. When you check out, you can enter "bike" for the coupon code and you will get 40% off the kit's price. We will send one bulb and one ballast. We are not able to send these partial sets with next day shipping.
