HID headlight troubleshooting ** interesting behavior

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

I know this isn't oilhead related other than my bike, but I put it here to get the attention of the resident brainiacs.

 

About two weeks ago, I noticed that my HID had changed color. It is a significant finding because I've been riding the bike most of the winter, and hadn't noticed a change, but suddenly the color is not the 5200K it originally was, but much redder, bordering on violet. The brightness is significantly down, as now the fog lights can be seen on the road in front of me, whereas it wasn't even worth turning them on before.

 

Today I went looking for the obvious. All the wires are secure and intact. The bulb looks, well, like it always has. I've disconnected all the connections, cleaned them and added a bit of dielectric grease. The alternator is charging correctly and voltage at the last connection before the HID kit harness is sealed to the ballast is 14.1. Essentially I've ruled out hi/low voltage to the system.

 

I have an el cheapo volt meter that says it does kV (Kv?) measurements, but haven't attempted to measure the voltage going to the bulb itself.

 

Behavior goes like this:

 

The arc strikes as usual. As the lamp warms, it brightens and changes color. At the time that it used to take to warm up, it is the original color. BUT it keeps going until it's red/violet. While it's doing that, it seems like the kit keeps trying to strike the arc- that is there are a couple of sudden bright bursts as it's warming. (I'll see if I can get a good video of it)

 

 

 

[T__]

b o n e y, can’t give you anything real specific but I have seen a few HID’s in the auto industry go to a purplish color & so far in all cases it has been the bulb.. When compared to a new good bulb the one that went to the purple hue had a little more yellowish look to the inner element.. Not sure if it was a gas leaks or internal problems..

 

Twisty

 

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

At 0:09 you can very briefly see the original color:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G59kGKpR0I

 

This one at 0:08:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qf2QX1XjYM

 

 

Thanks for the quick response. At least I know where to start.

[T__]

b o n e y, if you can find a tec line or tec E-Mail for the company you got your kit from I wonder if they can help you with info or even offer to send you another bulb.. Can’t be the first one they have heard of..

 

Twisty

 

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

After 5 or 6 years? Maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

Next up; Can I switch it with a different HID bulb from a different manufacturer? I have HIDs on the other bike too, but from someone else. I'm thinking I could test to see the light output from the bulbs with different ballasts. That might give me an idea of what is failing.

[T__]

Boney, that I can’t tell you.. If you can find the specs on all the bulbs & match the specs then I would imagine you could swap bulbs..

 

Twisty

 

 

 

[twowheelsonly]

Hi

 

You can use your bulb from another kit as long as it is the same wattage.. The connectors seem to be standardized in the last couple of years..

 

Stewart

[11101110]

I think your bulb is on its way out. HID change color as they age and tend to get "pink eye" right before the go. The ballast is able to adjust for the aging but only to a point then the signs of failure start to appear rather quickly, though not a quick as a filament bulb.