HID Driving Light Question?

[jzak]

Hey Guys,

I just ordered some 35w HID 6000k exterior lights. The purpose of these lights will be for improving driving visibility. I'm not planning on using them as spot or flood lights.

That being the case, could I just splice them directly into the headlight wires, or would that create problems?

Thanks!

 

[elwood blues]

I would say that spicing them in to the headlights would be a bad idea. The headlights on the CJ don't have relays built in to them, all of the current runs through the pancake switch on the dash. You're best bet is to properly wire them, with relays, on a separate switch somewhere on the dash.

 

[73CJ]

You'd want tem on a separate switch anyway.

Separate fuses too.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Make a dedicated circuit with relays and fuse.
LG

 

[PaRenegade]

You should try improving the existing headlights with new wire and relays, for brighter lights. Jimbo sells a pre-wired harness for this.
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f7/an...-pre-made-head-light-upgrade-harnesses-19110/

If you go that route, or you already have, then you could do as you initially said and splice into that circuit just to use to trigger the relay. Because with the headlight power load taken away (and in the new circuit), adding / splicing will not overload the circuit. It uses minimal amperage to trigger the relays.

 

[jzak]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Sorry to not replying sooner. Finally got around to installing the lights today. I bought a push-pull switch, and installed it on the dash just above the light switch, with a fused wire assembly that came with the lights.

What a amazing difference. You can see for miles.

I still have one issue I could use some feedback on. Out of the dozen or so cars that passed by me, about 2 or 3 flashed their lights at me. I made sure that the HID lights weren't pointed higher than the existing headlights. Also, when I usually leave my high-beams on, I can see the on-coming drivers face. Thats not the case here.

So am I dealing with some light sensitive drivers, or am I actually blinding these people? The lights are supposed to be designed as driving/fog lights.

Thanks!

 

[jzak]

Here's a pic of the lights:

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Aim them more to your right & lower.
You want them below your h'lights.
LG

 

[SlowPocono]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Sorry to not replying sooner. Finally got around to installing the lights today. I bought a push-pull switch, and installed it on the dash just above the light switch, with a fused wire assembly that came with the lights.

What a amazing difference. You can see for miles.

I still have one issue I could use some feedback on. Out of the dozen or so cars that passed by me, about 2 or 3 flashed their lights at me. I made sure that the HID lights weren't pointed higher than the existing headlights. Also, when I usually leave my high-beams on, I can see the on-coming drivers face. Thats not the case here.

So am I dealing with some light sensitive drivers, or am I actually blinding these people? The lights are supposed to be designed as driving/fog lights.

Thanks!

I can't say if you're blinding them or not, but you are certainly annoying them.

You're driving a Jeep CJ, right?

If you are driving so fast that the stock headlights aren't adequate, there's either something wrong with them or there are safety issues beyond being able to see.

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

Proper head light adjustment is dead on at 25'. 50% of the people on the road should not be driving and what % of that should not drive at night? I know a few that can not see with the Euro blue lights coming at them, had to grab the wheel more then once. Some of these new lights are just as bad to some people and they think you have high beams on.

I used to drive against this guy in a K5 Blazer who drove around with his high beams on. I was in my van & I would flash him, nothing, the next night I left my highs on nothing. Then I would turn on my Bosch fogs w/the high beams and a solid honk nothing. So I took my KC Daylighters (w/Sylvania regular HL) and put them in place of the fogs w/toggle for H/L. And that night flashed him nil hit the vans Highs nothing, as soon as I flipped that toggle he swerved and went to low beams, passed him with 2 honks. Every night after he seen me coming and dimmed before I could flash him. He saw me at the corner store one night and said sorry. I told him what I just said in the first paragraph, and he said sorry again.
After that wanted to set up a pair of cornering lights to the tie rod.

So please be care full of oncoming drivers.

 

[jzak]

I can't say if you're blinding them or not, but you are certainly annoying them.

You're driving a Jeep CJ, right?

If you are driving so fast that the stock headlights aren't adequate, there's either something wrong with them or there are safety issues beyond being able to see.

I'm sorry dude, but what you just said made absolutely no sense to me. What does driving fast have anything to do with stock headlights?

HID is standard on most news cars, because it substantially improves the drivers night vision. Having a CJ5 with drum breaks, and if I turn to hard i'll probably flip over, means it's vital i see EVERYTHING on the road! With my stock headlights, if a Deer crossed the road, I wouldn't see it until it was too late. Now I have enough time to safely swerve out of the way, of stop.

If having HID lights annoy a few drivers out there, so be it! I'd rather be a inconsiderate driver, then a dead one!

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

Amen to that please be care full some people will have road rage/weapons.

 

[73CJ]

And when the on coming don't dim. I give them a tap of extra 450W and wouldn't you know they sure dim fast!

 

[GatorBate]

Connect a relay to your high beam circuit and then run through you new switch to ground. Use the relay to power up your HID lights. That way when you dim your lights it will automatically kill the extra lights without having to fumble around the dash in the dark for the switch.

I did this on a truck I use to drive. It worked great for me because I would forget to turn off the big lights once in a while.