About to install my ballasts around the bumper support of the car. My question is, will saran-wrap around the ballasts harm the system in any way, and has anyone had to reverse the polarity on the plug before inserting it into the ballast? Any feedback will be appreciated.


Modified by EnjoyTheRideDC2 at 7:34 AM 12/31/2004

 

The only reason I wouldn't wrap them like that is because more likely than not, moisture will find its way inside and become trapped, rather than being kept out by the wrap. I believe the casing of the ballasts is more or less sealed anyway, so you should be able to install them without any additional "protection".

 

Agreed, my ballasts are totally exposed to the elements (Canadian Winter mind you) and I've had no probs. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't HID ballasts get fairly warm? (IE Could the heat possible melt the platic wrap?)

Si

 

yea i would definitely NOT saran wrap them, just for the simple fact that it isn't airtight, and moisture/condensation will be trapped, and probably harm it more than anything. if the units aren't sealed, you might be able to hot glue or use epoxy on the seams

 

yea.. don't wrap em.. water will get in there and i'm not sure if they get hot, but they might and you dont want melted plastic all over them..

 

if you open the ballast up, its covered with a material that no moisture could get in..

 

Glad I waited to hear from you guys...tHANKS!!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only reason I wouldn't wrap them like that is because more likely than not, moisture will find its way inside and become trapped, rather than being kept out by the wrap. I believe the casing of the ballasts is more or less sealed anyway, so you should be able to install them without any additional "protection". </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

why would you install them on the bumper support? This is an area that might cause damage to your expensive ballast in a front end collision. Why not put it in the engine bay.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calxtreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why would you install them on the bumper support? This is an area that might cause damage to your expensive ballast in a front end collision. Why not put it in the engine bay.</TD></TR></TABLE>oint taken for when i do my hid install.

 

i installed my ballasts on the inner fender . fits perfectly

btw take off the saran crap

 

I installed mine behind the fenders, worked out beautifully to me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calxtreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why would you install them on the bumper support? This is an area that might cause damage to your expensive ballast in a front end collision. Why not put it in the engine bay.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The area I was going to mount them was near the bumper support, generally right under the headlight. I really wasn't clear about the location I meant to say.

Took the advice and just mounted those suckers with nothing covering it. I'll probably look into purchasing the metal covers made specifically for the Phillips Ballasts.

For reference, I ended up mounting the Ballasts in the engine bay. The passenger side ballast underneath the ABS modulator, and the drivers side partially underneath the low beam section of the headlight . Drivers side may possibly be moved to the initial location I had thought of, which is in the area the windshield fluid reservoir belongs. Never used the thing, so just ripped it out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by black_cap &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I installed mine behind the fenders, worked out beautifully to me </TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here

 

you should try these, i found them on this site http://www.suvlights.com/

 

Yes I highly recommend the plastic mounting cases, which protects the ballasts and also provides holes for rigid mounting. You can also get them from HIDplanet.com.

I have mounted mine under my bumper support bar. I figure if I get in a collision, the ballasts will be the least of my worries. They do get very wet in the rain, but that's what the covers are meant for, to protect the ballasts.





custom harness:


all taped up:

 

i did it like skafia, one under the ABS, and one by the A/C box thing

[pics are too big to put as images]
http://www.skafia.com/itr/hid/full/step7-9.jpg
http://www.skafia.com/itr/hid/full/step7-10.jpg

 

Well not sure why they shrinked wraped the balast but i know for a fact that the hella ballast with all the connector except the power line comming from the original lights and be submerged under what and will work fine. there is a video somewhere on the net ima try to find it.

 

This may seem stupid but what type of hids going the low beam of DCs???

is it 9006???

 

http://hogens.com/car/showart.php?id=26

Make sure to upgrade fuse to 20amp

 

fuses are in place for a reason... u cant just change a 10a fuse to a 20a because u keep blowing them... there's a reason they blow... wire is only rated to so many amps... more amperage will just heat up and burn through the wire

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek9t &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">fuses are in place for a reason... u cant just change a 10a fuse to a 20a because u keep blowing them... there's a reason they blow... wire is only rated to so many amps... more amperage will just heat up and burn through the wire</TD></TR></TABLE>

HID ballasts actually draw less current than factory 55W halogen bulbs. However, upon initial start-up they draw a large amount of power until they start warming up to normal brightness. This is the only reason for the 20A fuses.

Look at the main cable from the battery to the starter, it doesn't even have a fuse on it because it draws such a large amount of current.

 

Patrick: I actually read your thread on HIDPlanet...haha. Thats kinda where I took the idea of mounting locations.

As far as fuse ratings, I used a 15a fuse and it didn't blow out at all. I have OE phillips ballasts with D2S bulbs...

 

best way to do it
the way i did it
use your stock headlight harness to set off a relay
and draw power directly from your battery, to power the headlight, also put a fuse to each ballast independantly, that way if one fuse blows, you still have at least 1 light

this will draw almost no current from your oem harness

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

HID ballasts actually draw less current than factory 55W halogen bulbs. However, upon initial start-up they draw a large amount of power until they start warming up to normal brightness. This is the only reason for the 20A fuses.

Look at the main cable from the battery to the starter, it doesn't even have a fuse on it because it draws such a large amount of current.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no need to explain it to me... just putting in 20a fuses is the wrong way to do it though... i dont care how u look at it

and that not the reason the cable from the battery to the starter has no fuse... i honestly dont know y it doesnt... as i feel it should though