Headlight modulator and HID's

[FJamR]

Want to run HID's, and was wondering if a headlight modulator will work with them. I'm thinking the modulator would be between the ballast and bulb, so the ballast would retain it's operating power. I think I've heard before it won't work.

Also has anyone run a Comagination modulator? They have a solid state relay and seem very small compared to some others I've seen on the market.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

I guess it should work for a very short time, Until either the igniter,ballast or bulb give out, Which would likely be on the first ride.

HID's do not like to be turned on and off alot.

Get the Silverstar Halogens if the modulators are a must.

 

[Toecutter]

What GB said!

HID's need a few seconds to come up to operating temp. Turning them on and off that rapidly would not be good.

 

[bramfrank]

Previous sarcasm aside;

It would have to be mounted between the battery and the ballast - there's between 10,000 and 25,000 volts feeding the bulb.

If you put it between the battery and the ballast I suspect that the ballast would never ignite the bulb - it might not blow up, but it absolutely wouldn't work either.

While I run a Comagination modulator, realise that they are ALL solid state, because they don't run the voltage to zero - they cycle using a government specified waveform from between 17% of battery voltage to full on, 240 times a minute - this (among oher things) preserves the filament by eliminating the thermal shock that would result from a full off condition 4 times a second.

Since the reflector on the FJR isn't designed to accept an HID bulb, almost any attempt to stuff a one in the relflector will be less than optimal. Sure, it'll throw a lot of light, but it isn't likely to be well contained and oncoming traffic is not going to like you unless at the very least you put a large shield in front of the bulb to prevent them from lkooing at the plasma ball.

My solution is to use external (auxiliary lighting) HID fixtures. I suppose what they call PHIDs are OK, but Hella makes a raft of absoluelty amazing fixtures.

I had the Micro DE Xenon on my old Concours, The were amazing. I still have one reflector from the set - the other literally disintegrated (when I crashed) and I am actively looking for a second - then they will be mounted on my FJR. Pricey, but IMO worth it.