Why does HID ballast go bad?

Asked by: Kimberly Pack

In most cases, ballast failure occurs as a result of the surrounding environment. 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 do I know if my HID ballast is bad?

If your HID bulb cannot produce its full brightness or strobe periodically, this is most probably a ballast problem. When a ballast begins to fail, it may have problems regulating and providing a stable current, hence the dimming and flickering of your light source.

How long does HID ballast last?

Buying HID Ballasts: Make the Right Choice
Choose quality over price because a premium ballast can last up to 3-5 years. If you are new to the world of HID automotive lighting, find a reliable seller who will offer high-quality products with warranty.

How do I reset my HID ballast?

Wait for the bulb to shut off and turn on the headlights. After turning off your headlight switch, turn it on again. The ballast was reset.

Can HID bulbs work without ballast?

All compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs require a ballast, which is often integrated. All HID bulbs require a ballast, which is sometimes integrated. No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast.

Can a HID ballast be repaired?

Do you want to know when to repair and when to buy a new ballast? If yes, you must learn how to reset HID ballast. Not all failures require a replacement; sometimes it is because of a damaged ballast. By resetting your ballast, you can make it work again, extend its operational life, you save money in the long run.

What happens when a ballast fails?

The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren’t. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.

Why does my HID flicker?

Flickering usually means the car is unable to supply enough power to the ballast. You can easily test this by connecting the HID kit directly to the car battery. If the kit works, it is a power issue. To resolve this, you will need a wiring harness.

Can I use any ballast with any HID bulb?

Technically speaking you can use any HID bulb with any HID ballast as long as you can connect them. There is no such thing as 8k ballasts, it might be a different style ballast, but it absolutly does nothing to define the color.

Is 35w or 55w HID better?

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. Just because your HID bulb says 10,000K or 12,000K does not mean that it is brighter.

Can I put LED lights in my HID headlights?

An LED lamp and driver is another option to upgrade your HID lighting. In this scenario, you remove the ballast, replace it with an LED driver, and add a light array (or bulb).

Can I use LED instead of HID?

They have an average lifespan of more than 20,000 hours, which means they need to be replaced far less often than HID headlights, which have an average lifespan of up to 5,000 hours. LED headlights are also more durable. If you’re looking for long-lasting, high-quality headlights, we suggest ALLA Lighting LED bulbs.

Are HID ballast waterproof?

It is shock proof, water proof, dust proof and very heavy duty, you won’t be disappointed!

How long do ballasts last?

12 to 15 years

According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.

Can you use 35w HID bulbs 55w ballast?

You can use 55w ballasts with standard 35w bulbs, but the life of the bulb will be shortened a bit, and their color will Wash Out a bit.