Hello everyone. Im new here, so would like to say a big hello first of all. Iv been reading the forum for a while, lots of useful info.

I have abit of a question though, that i cant find the answer to.

I drive a 2013 fabia se (with the projector dipped and reflector high beam). Iv got 5000k HIDs in the low beam and the same in the high. Once the bulbs have warmed up, i love it. However, i have been lead to believe that HIDs use a very high voltage, very briefly when first starting, and then go down to 35w. Is this correct?

If so, does anyone know if i could cause any damage to the car by using them in high beam, as theyre on and off alot?

I may just be over thinking the entire situation but it would be great for a second opinion.

Cheers guys

Oli

do you have the projector headlamps? if so, the high beams are just the shutter gate opening and closing, using the same bulb for both low and high beam function.

do you have the projector headlamps? if so, the high beams are just the shutter gate opening and closing, using the same bulb for both low and high beam function.

that's only true of the darker lights with the DE module.

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The initial draw is high but as far as I know does not cause any damage to the car but may reduce the lifespan of the bulb itself.

HID ballasts designed for automotive use have high initial current draw because the law says (at least it used to be) that the brightness of the headlamps must exceed 50% within 2 seconds after turn on. When the HID lamp is initially "struck", meaning it arcs between the electrodes when it is turned on, the arc voltage is extremely low, 8 to 12 volts (usually) when the lamp is cold. At this time the lamp current is very high because it is overdriven (by design) in an attempt to heat it up ASAP (in order to make it bright)! This is needed to meet the 2 second-50% minimum brightness turn on spec mentioned above. If your HID bulb is 35 watts, the ballast may actually deliver roughly 70 watts for many seconds! Multiply this by two, for both lamps, we now have about 140 watts. Now the ballast has an efficiency of about 80 to 85%, so now the input (12 volts) wattage could reach 170 watts.

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Ooh. That makes much more sense now. Thanks.

At £57 a set and a 2 year warranty, im not overly bothered about the reduced lifespan of the bulb, or ballast for that matter. Just as long as im not stressing any wiring or anything else on the car itself. Iv heard of people running 100w halogens in high without any problems, so surely a brief 2 seconds of 170 watts would be okay?

Cheers again

I would have thought so.

I guess it's the same idea as bi-xenons.

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Just an update on this.

I did use hids in high beam, and it was amazing once it had warmed up. However it was slightly annoying how it was useless for about 10 seconds until it did warm.

Only had them in for a month or so and the bulbs blown. So im going to send them to be fixed, but i dont think ill put them in high beam again.

Im using halogen 55w mtec bulbs at the moment, which are abit disappointing. I do have 35w 5000k dipped beam in the projectors though.

So, anybody using 100w high beams? Is it recommended? Or not a good idea?

First I would try some upgraded 55w bulbs, like Night Breaker Unlimited's (+110%) and they're about £15 a pair in H7 on a well known auction site. 

Going to 100w could damage the wiring with prolonged use or even damage the headlight itself with the extra heat.

Yeah tried em all mate. The yellow colour differance compared to the hids is a little annoying though haha.

Thats what i feared. I think ill steer clear not worth damaging the car is it

Stonesie is bang on unfortunately. The wiring loom isn't designed for 100w, nor are the units.

100w are for off road use and as such are not road legal.

Having said that........I ran them in my clio tce with no problem

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Hmm dont think id like to take the risk :/. I know they arent road legal, but im not bothered about that as its only high beam.

How about fast bright hid ballasts? They look to cure the problem, however im unsure how they achieve the fast start up time. Maybe even more of a power boost on start up though? If so, im not interested in that either and will just live with what iv got i think.

Cheers guys

I'm not familiar with the fast bright ballasts, would like to know more.......some research required :-)

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Found a few threads mate. Warm up time of a second or so people seem to think. They seem very well like on the ukgser (bmw r1200gs bike) forum.

Just cant seem to find out how they work. I dont want to stress the wiring with any stupid start up power, normal hid ballasts are bad enough i think.

However, the fabia electrics will all most certainly be better than a motorbikes (although gs's will have some of the best motorcycle wiring about id have thought. Certainly better than most) and they seem to hzve no complains at all

I used to run these in an ibiza a few years ago as dipped beam http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/uk/products/Cars/Bulbs/Performance+Bulbs/RW664

they were the closest I've came to hid from a normal bulb. They are 80w but had no issues in the ibiza with them over 70k miles. Would they be ok in a 2011 monte carlo?

In the monte with the blackpack projector lights, id be getting them set to the right levels first by an mot station (many come wrong apparently) then putting in either 35w or 55w hids 5000k. No warm up time for high beam cos itd just be one kit with a solonoid. I think they could be pretty good.

As to whether theyll be fine, who knows, skoda certainly wouldnt recommend it and you can only really find out by doing it yourself. If it does burn a wire out or some plastic componant though, it could be an expensive job.

I dont think id dare to be honest, id be worrying about it too much haha

Especially with your lights being on hours at a time. Its not like a seperate high beam where theyre on for brief periods

Just an update on this.

I did use hids in high beam, and it was amazing once it had warmed up. However it was slightly annoying how it was useless for about 10 seconds until it did warm.

Only had them in for a month or so and the bulbs blown. So im going to send them to be fixed, but i dont think ill put them in high beam again.

Im using halogen 55w mtec bulbs at the moment, which are abit disappointing. I do have 35w 5000k dipped beam in the projectors though.

So, anybody using 100w high beams? Is it recommended? Or not a good idea?

 

I've got projector dip and reflector main on my 2011 VRS.

I'm using 100W bulbs in both dip and main beam from these guys. http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/uk/products/Cars/Bulbs/Performance+Bulbs/RW464# Packet says 100w but website says 80w, might be typo.

I never get flashed so lights must be set properly. These bulbs do a decent job but I think in the long run I’m going to have a 55w 4300/5000K HID kit fitted in dip and leave the 100w in main.

I didn’t think the 100w bulbs were that much better than the 50w osram's that were in it when I got the car but every little helps.

 

I also have a friend with a Monte which has the single projector with the shutter for main beam. He's put 100w bulbs in his as the factory ones were like candles in the wind and the headlight glass housing is tinted (silly idea from skoda). He's had no problems with them at all and running them for the last 12 months.

 

I'd say slam a pair of 100w's in there take her for a spin see what you think. They should only cost £25 for a pair at max.

 

Oh and definitely get the headlights aligned properly on a beam analyser at a reputable MOT station. Those Monte’s are set sooo badly.

Wouldn't 100w bulbs run the risk of over heating the wires tho? I have hids in mine there 1000x better than the standard lights

Sounds like youve got the same headlight unit as me then mate.

Hmm im tempted. If the headlights were drawing too much current for the wires, would it not blow the fuse first? In theory?

This doesnt combat the problem of the extra heat in a plastic reflector though. Theres alot of unlit country roads around here so full beam is used quite alot.

I agree Skodalouie they are soo much better, its just a pain having to wait for them to warm up in high beam. Also, i cant keep taking them out to send back if theyre gonna keep breaking every 2 or 3 months