How to Repair an HID Ballast
- Step 1 - Check Voltage and Amps Check to make sure you have the proper voltage and amps for the HID ballast you are running. ...
- Step 2 - Check the Wiring Check the wiring on the ballast as well. ...
- Step 3 - Change the Solenoids Sometimes the solenoids are the problem. ...
- Step 4 - Solder the Connections ...
- Step 5 - Purchase a New System ...
Why is my HID ballast not fitting?
How to check if a HID ballast is overloaded?
What is a HID ballast?
What to do if you don't get one or the other ballast?
Can a HID ballast fail?
About this website
Can a ballast be repaired?
Sometimes, the colour coding on the old ballast does not match the new ballast. We recommend that you always hire a qualified electrician to have a ballast repair or ballast replacement service done.
What causes a HID ballast to fail?
Common Causes of Ballast Failure Heat and moisture are great enemies to your HID ballast. When it is too cold or too hot, the ballast can burn out or fail to start headlights. A combination of heat and constant condensation can also cause severe corrosion over time.
How long do HID ballasts last?
How long do HID ballasts last? Some survive for 3-5 years. If they're well-maintained, ballasts typically last for up to 20 years.
Can HID bulbs work without ballast?
Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast. Like we mentioned, you just screw them into the socket, and you're done. Fluorescent lamps and HID (high intensity discharge) light bulbs do require a ballast. Both lamp families use two different types of ballasts: magnetic and electronic.
What are the signs of a bad ballast?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:Flickering. ... Buzzing. ... Delayed start. ... Low output. ... Inconsistent lighting levels. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.More items...
How do I test my HID ballast?
By connecting the multimeter to the ballast, you will see right away whether you have a working or a bad ballast. If the multimeter measures and detects current, voltage, etc. you will know that your ballast is perfectly fine.
How much does it cost to replace a headlight ballast?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
Can you use 35 watt HID bulbs with 55 watt ballast?
All parts of the HID kit should be of the same wattage. It means that 35W ballasts should be used with the 35W bulbs and 55w ballasts with 55w bulbs.
Will a 35 watt HID bulb work with a 55 watt ballast?
Yes. Actually, a 35w 5800k Xenon Bulb means: At 35w, the output colour will be 5800k. If we connect 55w ballast to 35w 5800k Xenon Bulb, the colour will shift to around 5000k approx.
How do you bypass a HID ballast?
How to Bypass a BallastTurn off the power. Flipping the light switch to the “off” position does not necessarily end the flow of electricity. ... Locate your ballast. ... Cut the hot and neutral wires. ... Cut the socket lead wires. ... Remove the ballast. ... Connect the input wires to the output wires.
Is it safe to bypass a ballast?
Safety risk The most significant negative to a ballast-bypass linear LED is the risk of electric shock since the sockets carry line voltage. It's a common practice to place a finger on the lamp pins while you are trying to install it, and this becomes a risky endeavor when using single-ended ballast-bypass lamps .
What's better 35 watt or 55 watt HID?
You will get about a 50% brightness increase by going from a 35-watt ballast to a 55-watt ballast. So the 8,000K HID bulb will go from 1,000 maximum lux to 1,500 maximum lux at 25 feet, but the color will shift to a 6,000K color.
Will a bad ballast burn out bulbs?
The ballast provides enough voltage to start the fluorescent bulbs, and once they are started, it quickly lowers the current to produce just enough electricity to produce a steady light source. Without the ballast, a fluorescent bulb would attach directly to 120-volt current and quickly burn out the bulb.
Why does only one of my HID headlights work?
HID Headlights - Intermittent On/Off If you are experiencing your HID headlights working sporadically, you most likely have a power draw issue. You will need to install a power relay harness to fix the issue. Connect it directly to your vehicle's battery. Always make sure your power relay harness is properly grounded.
Why does my HID ballast buzz?
If you hear strange sounds, like buzzing or humming noises, in your HID bulb, even if it is off, then that means your ballast is continuously working. Your ballast might be struggling to maintain the current and is causing an audible voltage regulation problem.
Signs that your ballast is bad
Before you go out and buy new ballast for your lighting system, check to see whether it is the source of the problem. If you don’t, you’ll be wasting money and time.
Checking the ballast
Aside from looking for indications that your ballast is failing, it would be best if you also examine the ballast directly. If you notice any of these indicators of damaged ballast, try resetting it or replacing it with a new one.
Conclusion
Check your ballast if you’re seeing the above complaints in your HID lighting system. It may be past time to replace or repair them. Also, ensure you restore your car headlight lenses using a restoration wipe. Because losing your lights on a dark road is not a good condition to be in, you should detect problems before they occur.
Why are my HID lights not working?
You most likely have a power draw issue if you are having your headlights work intermittently. To fix the issue, you’ll need a power relay harness . You can connect it to the battery of your vehicle. The power relay harness needs to be grounded.
What does an HID igniter do?
To start things off, a high-volt must be transmitted to the HID pulse bulb. The igniter is a device that can discharge a lot of power in a short time.
Why is my HID ballast not fitting?
One of the most common problems with an HID ballast has to do with the connections. Sometimes they can come loose and not fit together. To ensure a proper connection, you will want to solder the connections so that they are making good contact with one another.
How to check if a HID ballast is overloaded?
Check to make sure you have the proper voltage and amps for the HID ballast you are running. You can check the amps and volts by using a multimeter. If the voltage or amperage is too high, your ballast could be overloaded. If this is the case, you will need to reset the voltage and amperage appropriately or change the light so that it correlates to the ballast ratings and requirements.
What is a HID ballast?
The controller or intensity regulator for an HID lamp is called an HID ballast It is a great energy- saver, and in the long run, it will save you on the regular maintenance costs that usually occur with regular magnetic ballast HID lamps. In addition, it tends to produce a much higher intensity burst, thereby creating a much stronger light in ...
What to do if you don't get one or the other ballast?
If you are not getting one or the other, then you will need to adjust the wiring. Purchase a ballast repair kit, review the instructions, and replace or repair the wiring according to directions included in the ballast replacement kit.
Can a HID ballast fail?
The life expectancy in any lamp that uses an HID ballast is much longer than that of any other type or kind. That being said, your HID ballast can still fail for reasons unknown. For example, it may spark but fail to fully ignite. Fortunately, there are a few ways to go about repairing and fixing an HID ballast.
