[Robert]

Eric,

Thank you for posting the Re: video. Regarding the part about the shield around the HID lamp: even with the shield, due the physical differences between and HID lamp (point source) and halogen (filament), you are still putting off glare to oncoming motorists.

I’ve take a screen capture from your video, converted it to black and white (to make it easier to compare without the variations in color), and took some Lightness readings in Photoshop of the area above your headlight beams. Both are taken from the exact same spot on your garage doors.

Notice that the halogen bulbs lightness is only 3/100 while the HID is 15/100. This is showing that in the HID photo, that area of the photograph is 5X lighter. Again, this is in the area ABOVE you headlight beams; the area which would be shining into the eyes of oncoming motorists.

With that being said, unless you shot both photos using the exact same exposure settings (ISO speed, aperture, & shutter speed), the photo isn’t an accurate comparison. Based on the fact that the beam hotspots looks pretty similar, I’d say that the settings were not held constant. If this is the case, the camera compensated for the brighter light in the HID photo and either increased the shutter speed, reduced the ISO, reduced the aperture, or some combination of the three. What this means is that the camera made the entire photo darker to achieve a proper exposure and the above “glare comparison” of 3 vs 15 would actually be an even larger gap than what we are seeing.

Rob

Attachments:

• HID-Halogen-Glare.jpg

[Robert]

Eric,

Thank you for posting the Re: video. Regarding the part about the shield around the HID lamp: even with the shield, due the physical differences between and HID lamp (point source) and halogen (filament), you are still putting off glare to oncoming motorists.

I’ve take a screen capture from your video, converted it to black and white (to make it easier to compare without the variations in color), and took some Lightness readings in Photoshop of the area above your headlight beams. Both are taken from the exact same spot on your garage doors.

Notice that the halogen bulbs lightness is only 3/100 while the HID is 15/100. This is showing that in the HID photo, that area of the photograph is 5X lighter. Again, this is in the area ABOVE you headlight beams; the area which would be shining into the eyes of oncoming motorists.

With that being said, unless you shot both photos using the exact same exposure settings (ISO speed, aperture, & shutter speed), the photo isn’t an accurate comparison. Based on the fact that the beam hotspots looks pretty similar, I’d say that the settings were not held constant. If this is the case, the camera compensated for the brighter light in the HID photo and either increased the shutter speed, reduced the ISO, reduced the aperture, or some combination of the three. What this means is that the camera made the entire photo darker to achieve a proper exposure and the above “glare comparison” of 3 vs 15 would actually be an even larger gap than what we are seeing.

Rob

Attachments:

• HID-Halogen-Glare.jpg

[Robert]

[quote=”moparfan7008″ post=58928]
…
The main problem I see with HID’s are when they’re misaimed. Properly aimed HID’s do seem brighter, but don’t seem to glare badly. (Or at least to me.)
…[/quote]

Hi Moparfan,

Unfortunately, there is a bigger program than just aim when it comes to HID lamps in a halogen housing. Aiming the beam downward would change where the majority/focus of the beam is, but there would still be escaped, scattered light (glare). The reason for this is that with a halogen bulb, the reflector’s focal point is specific to the bulb’s specs (i.e. where the hottest part of it’s filament is located). From there, the reflector is design to block (cut off) surrounding light (again, working from the bulb’s specs). With an HID lamp, the source (positioning) of the light is different (halogen vs HID have fundamentally difference lighting characteristics) and the reflector is unable to properly focus the beam and restrict stray light.

Hopefully that all makes sense. 🙂
If part of it wasn’t clear, please ask any questions.

Rob

[Robert]

[quote=”moparfan7008″ post=58928]
…
The main problem I see with HID’s are when they’re misaimed. Properly aimed HID’s do seem brighter, but don’t seem to glare badly. (Or at least to me.)
…[/quote]

Hi Moparfan,

Unfortunately, there is a bigger program than just aim when it comes to HID lamps in a halogen housing. Aiming the beam downward would change where the majority/focus of the beam is, but there would still be escaped, scattered light (glare). The reason for this is that with a halogen bulb, the reflector’s focal point is specific to the bulb’s specs (i.e. where the hottest part of it’s filament is located). From there, the reflector is design to block (cut off) surrounding light (again, working from the bulb’s specs). With an HID lamp, the source (positioning) of the light is different (halogen vs HID have fundamentally difference lighting characteristics) and the reflector is unable to properly focus the beam and restrict stray light.

Hopefully that all makes sense. 🙂
If part of it wasn’t clear, please ask any questions.

Rob

[Robert]

Eric,

You have always provided a wealth of information and provided great videos. But, I have to respectfully disagree with you on the information you have provided to your viewers in this particular video.

Was the video well shot? Yes. Is it great for showing the concepts of adding custom/aftermarket parts to a vehicle and what to look for? Absolutely. Is showing/encouraging people to install HID lamps into halogen housings a good idea? No way.

For issues regarding installing HID lamps into halogen reflectors, please see this excellent article written by Daniel Stern: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Also, regarding legality here in the United States specifically, due to optical difference between HID and halogen bulbs, any HID conversion kit installed in a reflector designed for a halogen bulb will be in violation of U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 108.

Eric, you might find these three letters (by Jacqueline Glassman, [former] Chief Counsel, NHTSA) regarding HID conversions kits and FMVSS 108 of interest:
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/kim.ztv.html
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/deetz.ztv.html
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/Shih.3.html

There is also this letter from SEMA regarding the government clamping down on HID conversion kits because they are in violation of FMVSS 108:
http://www.sema.org/?q=node/4182

Respectfully,
Rob

[Robert]

Eric,

You have always provided a wealth of information and provided great videos. But, I have to respectfully disagree with you on the information you have provided to your viewers in this particular video.

Was the video well shot? Yes. Is it great for showing the concepts of adding custom/aftermarket parts to a vehicle and what to look for? Absolutely. Is showing/encouraging people to install HID lamps into halogen housings a good idea? No way.

For issues regarding installing HID lamps into halogen reflectors, please see this excellent article written by Daniel Stern: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Also, regarding legality here in the United States specifically, due to optical difference between HID and halogen bulbs, any HID conversion kit installed in a reflector designed for a halogen bulb will be in violation of U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 108.

Eric, you might find these three letters (by Jacqueline Glassman, [former] Chief Counsel, NHTSA) regarding HID conversions kits and FMVSS 108 of interest:
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/kim.ztv.html
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/deetz.ztv.html
http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/Shih.3.html

There is also this letter from SEMA regarding the government clamping down on HID conversion kits because they are in violation of FMVSS 108:
http://www.sema.org/?q=node/4182

Respectfully,
Rob

[Robert]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for posting up the new video with clarifications. It seems that the main take-away from the video is simply the importance of regular oil changes. With that being said, I’ve been changing my oil in accordance with Honda’s Maintenance Minder (2011 Civic, R18) which ends up putting my oil changes at around 7k – 7.5k miles. In your opinion, would this be a bit of a stretch for conventional oil? How about a synthetic blend? I’m currently running Pennzoil Platinum with a Honda filter for each oil change.

Thanks,
Robert

[Robert]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for posting up the new video with clarifications. It seems that the main take-away from the video is simply the importance of regular oil changes. With that being said, I’ve been changing my oil in accordance with Honda’s Maintenance Minder (2011 Civic, R18) which ends up putting my oil changes at around 7k – 7.5k miles. In your opinion, would this be a bit of a stretch for conventional oil? How about a synthetic blend? I’m currently running Pennzoil Platinum with a Honda filter for each oil change.

Thanks,
Robert

[Robert]

Great video, Eric!

Question: if you were to replace the brake hose with the caliper, what else would you need to do other than disconnecting the brake hose and installing the new one? When you disconnect the hose from the top, it a bunch of brake fluid going to drain out since you won’t have anything pinched off like in your video. If so, how will this affect the bleeding process?

FWIW, I’m debating doing this on a 2006 Crown Vic.

Thanks,
Robert

[Robert]

Great video, Eric!

Question: if you were to replace the brake hose with the caliper, what else would you need to do other than disconnecting the brake hose and installing the new one? When you disconnect the hose from the top, it a bunch of brake fluid going to drain out since you won’t have anything pinched off like in your video. If so, how will this affect the bleeding process?

FWIW, I’m debating doing this on a 2006 Crown Vic.

Thanks,
Robert

[Robert]

Thank you for your reply. Do you think it’s dangerous on a newer vehicle that has newer seals on everything?
Also, does anyone know how dealers detail engines when prepping used vehicles?

Thanks again,
Robert

[Robert]

Thank you for your reply. Do you think it’s dangerous on a newer vehicle that has newer seals on everything?
Also, does anyone know how dealers detail engines when prepping used vehicles?

Thanks again,
Robert

[Author]

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