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HID BULBS

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by maximu$, Jun 19, 2012.

  1. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Battery through a relay ("wiring kit").

    And now we see you have H11 bulbs, you have halogens not LEDs. Therefore your cutoff and projection properties are going to be very very wrong.
     
  2. Martin Leduc

    Martin Leduc Junior Member

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    Meaning I will blind others drivers?
     
  3. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Not as badly as reflectors but yes. In some cases, you will blind yourself. This includes nearby highly reflective signs and fog/rain/mist.

    There is a certain amount of light that needs to be shined upwards since the US and Canada both use a road sign lighting system where the signs are mostly illuminated by the drivers' headlamps as opposed to stationary lights shining on the signs everywhere. So the "squirrel finder" as we call it is a cutout in the shield that allows light upwards, and this is an absolute value, not a percentage of light. The size, shape, and placement of this cutout is determined by the light source. That way a high lumen output throws the same amount of light above the cutoff as a low lumen output.

    If X lumens are thrown up by your halogen projector now that produces Y lumens of light, (100*X/Y)% of the light is being thrown up legally. Now you are going to put HIDs in a halogen projector. They produce Z lumens of light where Z >>> Y. Now you have Z * (X/Y) lumens going up. You can see how this will be much more than legal since Z >>> Y.
     
  4. Martin Leduc

    Martin Leduc Junior Member

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    I agree but if you know a place where I can buy new front light or the required projector socket? I've ask to many reseller and they dont have it.

    What is impresed me, is this fact. I've ask to my Toyota reseller and he said "We only replace the halogen bulb, we dont change nothing else". Doh.... You know what, I guest I will let my garage change it so if I got somes problems, they got the responsability and they will pay for.

    I guest this is the more secured way.
     
  5. Martin Leduc

    Martin Leduc Junior Member

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    By the way, you assume that your Halogen produice a result in %, MAX 100% if X Lumen = Y Lumen only ;) .

    Anyway I understand the concept and as you said, I can blind myself and I've experienced it by the past.

    I'll take a look on that and if, you know a part reseller for Socket and other things for the Prius 2012, I'll be pleased to take the details.

    Regards

    Martin
     
  6. KenRC51

    KenRC51 New Member

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    I want to install a 50w HID from theretrofitsource.com but cannot find the batter under the hood for the power relay. Where is the battery?

    Or would you suggest me getting the 35w HID so I do not need to tap into the battery for power?
     
  7. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    Battery is in the rear hatch.
     
  8. KenRC51

    KenRC51 New Member

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    I know the big battery is in the rear hatch but how about the regular battery where i can connect the relay to? Or the only battery the prius has is the big one in the rear hatch?

    If this is so then I can't install a 50w HID since it requires to have a relay for its own power supply.
     
  9. sLick415

    sLick415 Member

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    xenonsupply.com - H.I.D. kit. My personal review. | PriusChat
     
  10. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    In the rear hatch. Right/passenger triangle panel in the false floor.

    It has 2 batteries.

    1) All HIDs require their own relay. Startup currents are too high for the stock wiring. It is not what it was meant to do. You need a dedicated 12v source, and trigger the coil off of the bulb circuit. Or just buy a "relay wiring harness" which does all the work for you. TRS (theretrofitsource.com) have ones that work on the Prius.

    2) There are less than 3 ballasts on the market that are true 50W ballasts. Others are boosted with no increase in protection or upgrade in components leading to a short abusive life. One of these 50W ballasts is the 50W upgraded Denso ballasts again from TRS if you want to combine shipping.

    3) There are very few 50W lights out there. Most are 35W. Discount about 98% of ebay sales as you don't want those anywhere near you car. The Morimoto 5Five are one such bulb. Not the greatest quality, but of the 50W bulbs, they are pretty good.

    I would recommend getting good quality projectors, 35W bulbs, and 35W ballasts. It will outshine most 50W cheap crap kits.
     
  11. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    If you can't find the 12V battery, it might not bode well for a DIY installation of HIDs.

    Tom
     
  12. KenRC51

    KenRC51 New Member

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    So even with the 35w retrofitsource I would still need a wire harness? I thought you only need wire harness if you are going 50w bulbs?

    So is the 12v (normal car battery) battery under the front hood? I installed the retrofitsource 50w HID on my XB and was fine with the installation. Once I find the battery I'll be ok in installing the HID on my prius.

    So if the 35w HID needs a wireharness then I should just get the 50w from retrofitsource.

    On the xenonsupply's youtube video showing their installation kit but did not mention using a wire harness for the power source.
     
  13. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    The answer to ur questions has been answered a couple times already.

    ______________________________________________________________
    This has also been answered in the reply u just quoted

     
  14. Johnny C

    Johnny C Member

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    Where did you find your OEM Denso Ballasts? Was it from a 2nd Gen Prius or another car like a Lexus? Is it plug and play?
     
  15. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    The Denso's that I have can be found from the pre 06 gen2 Prius. They used the D2 ballast. In 06-09 they used the D4. The D2 ballast can run all of these rebadged bulbs however the D4 ballast cannot. The D4's are mercury free.

    U can also find the D2 Denso's ballast on many Lexus models.
     
  16. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    eBay is a great place to find those Denso ballasts. They are my favourite in all retrofits. I like the Denso Slim ballast as well and is much easier to find. You can buy them new on TRS.
     
  17. Johnny C

    Johnny C Member

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    Thanks for the info.
     
  18. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Yes, they are My fav too in my retroing.