Upgrade Driving Lights w/HID Replacements?

[Tom and Vipers]

I was wondering if you can replace the H3 Halogen bulb from a Hella or PIAA driving light with a HID (genuine w/ballast) and maintain the same optics?

Although the H3 HID replacement may fit, is the actual light source in the same place so that the reflector performance is maintained thereby producing the same illumination pattern?

The reason I ask is that I have seen some pictures of HID bulbs and they seem a lot taller/thinner than convention halogens. That would suggest the light source might be further from the mounting plane.

Tom

 

[Tom and Vipers]

I am aware of Sean's kit and will buy it if I decide to upgrade the Viper stock lights.

I'm interested in upgrading generic Hella and PIAA driving lights.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

I think one issue with upgrading a Hella or PIAA is that the ballast will have to be outboard which means how do you seal the special HV connector?

Further, I would expect the HV lead to have a large connector at the bulb end. So the driving light housing would have to have a hole large enough for the connector to pass thru which then, would have to be sealed weatherproof.

PIAA has a nice low profile model 930 light which costs $2000 a pair.

This is a LOT OF MONEY in my book.

I am interested in taking one of their similar halogen models and converting to HIDs.

Tom

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Tom;

Though I can't give you any specific advice on your question, I do concur on the critical nature of the light source within the envelope. I had to fine tune my HID bulbs in order to match the halogen light pattern. Quite tedious.....</FONT f>

 

[Tom and Vipers]

I'm assuming you refer tuning them in the Viper lamp assembly.

Here you have to match the other bulb.

Now that would be tedious.

For a run of the mill driving light with a single bulb and primitive illumination pattern, it may not be that difficult.

However, the fact that you had to tune your HID indicates that the position of the light source is indeed different.

I'd really just like to get the PIAA 930's but they are over twice what I think would be a fair price.