HID lighting question

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:35 pm

Hi, guys/gals. I am planning to install my HId kit this weekend and I understand that I should put in a relay. Please know that I know nothing about relays and this is the first HID kit I will have ever installed.

Is there a particular relay I need to get? Also, is there a certain way they need to be wired? I want to make sure they work perfectly the first time out. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, all!

Dan · **Joined:** Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:45 pm **Posts:** 10

Technically you don't need a relay, because your factory headlights are already using one, but it is a good idea to add one anyway because the factory relay isn't rated for your HID lamps and may not be able to run enough current to power up your lamps. As for what kind you need, I would go with a relay kit that is made for HIDs (and your specific socket type), just because it will just be plug and play and easy for someone who isn't familiar with relays. Are you sure that your kit didn't come with a relay? Sometimes they do. I don't know if they sell relay kits at local stores though, so if you would rather just pick up a relay and wire it up yourself it isn't all that difficult. You should be fine with a relay rated at 40A (what is the Watt rating on your lamps?) Just connect the 12v line that goes to your stock headlights to the trigger tab on the relay (usually labeled as 86 I think). The relay will need to connect directly to the battery through a fuse (probably rated around 30 A) to the tab labeled 30 (not positive of the numbers, but the packaging of the relay should specify these). You will need to ground the relay as well, you can just tap into an existing chassis ground for this, and connect it to tab 85 on the relay. Now you will connect the output line of the relay (tab 87) to the input on your ballast. Also make sure to use thick enough gauge wire for the power leads, I would go at least 14g, maybe even thicker. Again though, the pre-made relay kits may be an easier way to go.

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:16 pm

Thanks for the response, Dan. That really helps. I don't think the kit comes with a relay harness. I actually wish I would have researched a bit more before I bought. I thought I did but apparently not. Oh well.

The good news is that my Jet chip came today and that seems like it was well worth it.

EDIT: Sorry, the kit is a 55w kit.

shibby · **Posted:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:46 pm

Lord Helmet wrote:

Thanks for the response, Dan. That really helps. I don't think the kit comes with a relay harness. I actually wish I would have researched a bit more before I bought. I thought I did but apparently not. Oh well.

The good news is that my Jet chip came today and that seems like it was well worth it.

EDIT: Sorry, the kit is a 55w kit.

if your not good with wires go to ddm tuning and order the relay kit you will more than likely need it you may also need a resistor if the lights flicker or shut off some times auto headlamps play hell with hids

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:45 am

Shibby, I thought that the relay would also correct any flickering issues on start-up, no?

I'm ok with wires, no issue there. but If I can buy the harness at a fair price, I'll save myself some time and do it that way.

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:51 am

Lord - I'm thinking about the 55w DDM Tuning kit myself (5000K)

Can you do me a favor and take before/after pictures from a driver's point of view @ night? If it's not too much trouble that is...

shibby · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:38 am

Lord Helmet wrote:

Shibby, I thought that the relay would also correct any flickering issues on start-up, no?

I'm ok with wires, no issue there. but If I can buy the harness at a fair price, I'll save myself some time and do it that way.

mine shut off when the vehicle was running even with the harness i ended up adding a resistor or capacitor to solve the problem i will look up the numbers for it you can get them at radio shack for like $2 bucks i had the same problems with my dodge charger its something to do with auto lights

also i would just by the harness its alot cleaner that way

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:38 am

shibby wrote:

Lord Helmet wrote:

Shibby, I thought that the relay would also correct any flickering issues on start-up, no?

I'm ok with wires, no issue there. but If I can buy the harness at a fair price, I'll save myself some time and do it that way.

mine shut off when the vehicle was running even with the harness i ended up adding a resistor or capacitor to solve the problem i will look up the numbers for it you can get them at radio shack for like $2 bucks i had the same problems with my dodge charger its something to do with auto lights

also i would just by the harness its alot cleaner that way

Thanks for the advice, shibby. I'm not sure how to put in a relay, let alone a capacitor so any help there would be good. :lol:

Brendon, I'll try and remember to do that. My camera is on it's last leg though so I'm not sure how well it will turn out. We'll see.

shibby · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:13 pm

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby wrote:

Lord Helmet wrote:

Shibby, I thought that the relay would also correct any flickering issues on start-up, no?

I'm ok with wires, no issue there. but If I can buy the harness at a fair price, I'll save myself some time and do it that way.

mine shut off when the vehicle was running even with the harness i ended up adding a resistor or capacitor to solve the problem i will look up the numbers for it you can get them at radio shack for like $2 bucks i had the same problems with my dodge charger its something to do with auto lights

also i would just by the harness its alot cleaner that way

Thanks for the advice, shibby. I'm not sure how to put in a relay, let alone a capacitor so any help there would be good. :lol:

you can always try to install them first and see if the work it only takes a min or two

Brendon, I'll try and remember to do that. My camera is on it's last leg though so I'm not sure how well it will turn out. We'll see.

VoodooMann · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:02 pm

just remember. if no one has told you yet, any aftermarket HID kit of ANY type or description or price, is 100% illegal. DOT approved or not.

but other than that. I can't wait to see how it turns out. remember to re-aim your headlights so you don't blind people with all of the scatter.

shibby · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:00 pm

VoodooMann wrote:

just remember. if no one has told you yet, any aftermarket HID kit of ANY type or description or price, is 100% illegal. DOT approved or not.

but other than that. I can't wait to see how it turns out. remember to re-aim your headlights so you don't blind people with all of the scatter.

i use the 55 what kit they were way to bright so took them out and use them as fog lights now and still get flashed alot when the foglights are on i will more than likely just replace the headlights with silverstars bulbs

Knightrider03m · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:46 pm

shibby wrote:

VoodooMann wrote:

just remember. if no one has told you yet, any aftermarket HID kit of ANY type or description or price, is 100% illegal. DOT approved or not.

but other than that. I can't wait to see how it turns out. remember to re-aim your headlights so you don't blind people with all of the scatter.

i use the 55 what kit they were way to bright so took them out and use them as fog lights now and still get flashed alot when the foglights are on i will more than likely just replace the headlights with silverstars bulbs

The 55w kit is a huge overkill for any housing. I have the 35w kit and its fine. I get flashed every blue moon with those. I did have HID fog lights (35w) and just about every other driver flashed me with those so I think with our KKs, we should be fine with 35w HIDs in our headlights only.

shibby · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:38 pm

Knightrider03m wrote:

shibby wrote:

VoodooMann wrote:

just remember. if no one has told you yet, any aftermarket HID kit of ANY type or description or price, is 100% illegal. DOT approved or not.

but other than that. I can't wait to see how it turns out. remember to re-aim your headlights so you don't blind people with all of the scatter.

i use the 55 what kit they were way to bright so took them out and use them as fog lights now and still get flashed alot when the foglights are on i will more than likely just replace the headlights with silverstars bulbs

The 55w kit is a huge overkill for any housing. I have the 35w kit and its fine. I get flashed every blue moon with those. I did have HID fog lights (35w) and just about every other driver flashed me with those so I think with our KKs, we should be fine with 35w HIDs in our headlights only.

maybe i will order a 35 watt kit for the headlights then i wanted to change my fog bulbs to 3k so there yellow instead of bright white

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:15 pm

shibby, I wanted to do that same thing with the yellow fogs.

I'm thinking about not even putting in the 55w kit now and ordering the 35w kit instead.

shibby · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:22 pm

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby, I wanted to do that same thing with the yellow fogs.

I'm thinking about not even putting in the 55w kit now and ordering the 35w kit instead.

i just happen to have the fog light bulbs thats why i put the 55 watt kit in the foglights i will order a 35 w kit for my headlights now i think

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:51 pm

shibby, I just did some searching and found that you can just buy the 3k, yellow version of foglight bulbs. I think I'll go that route. Once the HID headlights are in, I don't see the need for HID's in the fogs as well.

shibby · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:59 pm

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby, I just did some searching and found that you can just buy the 3k, yellow version of foglight bulbs. I think I'll go that route. Once the HID headlights are in, I don't see the need for HID's in the fogs as well.

the reason i use the hids is cause the bulbs last longer and are brighter. a set of silverstars is the same price as hids the bulbs in my jeep now were in my charger for 3 years still work great.also just to let ya know you wont need a relay or anything but the hid kit for the fogs they work fine just plug them in with no relay

Lord Helmet · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:02 am

shibby wrote:

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby, I just did some searching and found that you can just buy the 3k, yellow version of foglight bulbs. I think I'll go that route. Once the HID headlights are in, I don't see the need for HID's in the fogs as well.

the reason i use the hids is cause the bulbs last longer and are brighter. a set of silverstars is the same price as hids the bulbs in my jeep now were in my charger for 3 years still work great.also just to let ya know you wont need a relay or anything but the hid kit for the fogs they work fine just plug them in with no relay

Good point. Never thought of it like that.

Good to know on the fogs too.

shibby · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:46 am

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby wrote:

Lord Helmet wrote:

shibby, I just did some searching and found that you can just buy the 3k, yellow version of foglight bulbs. I think I'll go that route. Once the HID headlights are in, I don't see the need for HID's in the fogs as well.

the reason i use the hids is cause the bulbs last longer and are brighter. a set of silverstars is the same price as hids the bulbs in my jeep now were in my charger for 3 years still work great.also just to let ya know you wont need a relay or anything but the hid kit for the fogs they work fine just plug them in with no relay

Good point. Never thought of it like that.

Good to know on the fogs too.

Ive bought several sets of lights different brands the bulbs never lasted longer than a year thats why i went to hids that and the extra light

Knightrider03m · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:42 pm

I wouldn't put 3K HIDs in the fogs. That was what I had and got flashed by every other car.

HID lighting question

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