Help with HID lamps. And other bits...
 

Fitted a set of HID lamps in place of my foglamps. (MY99)

I want to wire them up to come on with main beam instead of foglamp switch only, but before i do that, i tried them out as if they were the original foglamps.
The problem is the first few times i switched them on they were fine, but i've just tried them again and although they initially lit up, they then blew the fuse. I replaced the fuse with the same rating (15A) and they blew again for or less immediately.
Now, i've checked the wiring and it's all fine, so i fitted a 20A and they *light up* fine with the 20A fuse but obviously i'm concerned.

Can anyone tell me if HID's draw a greater "start-up" current than ordinary halogen bulbs or do they draw less current? I know the HID's are rated as an equivalent to 35W in halogen terms but i'm just wondering about the start-up current.

Anyone got a P1 with HID's and can check the fusebox for example?

Cheers

And now for some of the other bits...

Can someone *pplleeaassee* send me a diagram on how to wire my new lamps to come on with main beam but have the option of leaving them off altogether by utilising the foglamp switch. (a la P1 stylee)

I've read a few threads in this forum for this but reading text is making my head hurt trying to get round it and would be easier for me looking at a diagram.

Many thanks if you can help.

The PIAA driving lamps are wired this way. Main beam + Front Fog switch, well on my RB5 anyway. Perhaps someone can send you a PIAA wiring diagram.

Stefan

I hope so.

Okay, made a couple of enquiries this afternoon.
Hella state that if fitting HID's you should have a 15A fuse per ballast! and a changeover relay per ballast!.
Can anyone explain why i would need a changeover relay?

A Subaru dealer was contacted also and apparantly there is a change of wiring loom necessary when changing from foglights to say aftermarket PIAA's due to the load demanded on that part of the wiring loom.

Anyone got any details on the above that can help?

Thanks (my head still hurts...)

Thanks John

One of the last comments made in that tutorial:
Anyone know where on the foglight switch this cable connects to?

Thanks

Nearest diag I have is for MY97/98 LHD, will be guidance only.

http://www.johnbanks.dsl.pipex.com/fog.gif

Thanks John.

I think left and right are same. Will have a look tomorrow to check.

The other thing is i can't seem to get my head round this thing about using 15A fuses per lamp on the HID's.

Would be great if anyone had upgraded to HID on their P1 to see what changes were involved.

Alan YHM re P1 Driving lights - big attachment.

message size 10632314 exceeds size limit
10485760 of server

Strange. :confused:

I've never had any problem with Freeserve before.

I've deleted a few mails which were left on the server, can you try again John? Thanks

Start up current is indeed higher, just for a few seconds, then once they're on they take much less than the conventional lights.

Also seen higher start up current in the cold weather, 15A was OK (per pair) for a few weeks then as the mornings got colder they started to blow the fuse on first turning them on as you say.

Got fed up and did it right after a few wekks, relay per pair of HID ballasts. Worked perfectly after that.

I've got a prodrive description of how to convert from fogs to spots for the bugeye, not sure if it's the same though, doubt it.

Thanks Chelspeed.
John has mailed me the changes Prodrive made to the vehicle loom for fog to spots, so pretty straightforawrd from there. (Thanks John).

What fuses did you use when you relayed your HID's? As said above, Hella reckon it should be 15A per lamp?. Thought this was a bit much. Do they draw a much greater current than halogens on start up?

Cheers

Alan :cool:

I used a 20A fuse to the relay and supplied both HID's off this relay. This was fine.