Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: manny on 15 October 2008, 22:19:11

Title: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: manny on 15 October 2008, 22:19:11

Whats the difference between hid and projector head lights.They look the same from the outside.

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: JonArgraig on 15 October 2008, 22:23:50

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor020.jpg)

HID Head lamps 6500k

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor021.jpg)

Normal Foglamps

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor022-1.jpg)

Full Beam


I have mini facelift projectors, the pictures where taken on a unlit road under 3/4 moonlight

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: Andy B on 15 October 2008, 22:29:31

Quote

Whats the difference between hid and projector head lights.They look the same from the outside.

Projector lights still use incandecant lamps in them. HID are High Intensity Discharge & use a struck arc within the 'bulb' and use 35A
clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discharge_lamp)

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: manny on 15 October 2008, 22:36:50

The reason i ask is SEVS post about his head lamps look like HID,s but there not???

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: MutantCav on 15 October 2008, 22:39:54

Headlamp units look the same from the front...but different wiring, different connectors and a large silver box on the bottom with a thick wire running out of it to the HID bulb which is VERY different :)

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: manny on 15 October 2008, 22:43:34

So just because its got that large looking bulb in it doesnt mean its HID?

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: Entwood on 15 October 2008, 22:53:48

That "bulb" is just actually a lens to shape the beam .. projectors and HIDS use the same lens ... so many folks confuse the two .. internaly the bulbs/wiring is very very different

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: ngrainqey on 15 October 2008, 22:56:24

no thats just like a "projector" that magnifies the beam or some rubbish like that.
better than the horrible 94/5 headlamps that go yellow lol!
the hid lamps are just a projector unit with a ballast pack under which is actually a transformer or something similar and then has the high intensity discharge bulb in

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: MutantCav on 15 October 2008, 23:12:10

Will try get a pic sorted of HID unit tomorrow mate so you can see the rather obvious differences :)

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: manny on 15 October 2008, 23:12:18

Now i understand.Thanks lads :y

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: Andy B on 15 October 2008, 23:14:15

Quote

Now i understand.Thanks lads :y

The differences are best observed from behind the steering wheel. You can actually see where yu're going with HID's :y

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: manny on 15 October 2008, 23:22:39

In the vaux hand book it says that there only to be replaced by a stealer?Is that true or just a way of getting money out of your pocket? :)

Title: Re: HID lights.Whats the difference?
Post by: murse on 16 October 2008, 00:15:40

The 'dealer only' bit is due to much bigger voltages kicking about than in normal headlights.  As long as you know what you are doing (Haynes manual/FAQs) it is perfectly possible to do them yourself.