WHY DO SOME LED BULBS NOT WORK IN DODGE RAM TRUCKS?
It all has to do with the actual power draw. For example, a 55W H11 halogen bulb draws 2.4Amps@13.3V DC which equates to true 32W. Now if you're installing LEDs that draw more than 32W then the truck's computer will either flash the lights every few seconds or shut them off competely. To resolve the issue is not to add resistors or decoders which actually add to the power draw but to find LED bulbs that draw as close as possible to halogens. It's only possible by testing each LED bulb at the same voltage as what the truck's running voltage is (ex. 13.3V).
Case Study: 2023 Dodge RAM Classic usding H11 low beam/DRL halogens
H11 ID-L LED BULB - 4.8Amp@13.3V = 64W // too high
H11 i8 LED BULB - 2.9Amp@13.3V = 38.6W // slightly above
H11 V22 LED BULB - 1.7Amp@13.3V = 22.6W // too low
H11 V10 LED BULB - 1.2Amp@13.3V = 16W // too low
H11 X10i LED BULB - 2.7Amp@13.3V = 35.9W // almost perfect
Either X10i or i8 were a good match for the truck, but the i8 were used because they were visually brighter.
IS THERE A WAY TO TEST FOR TRUE AMPERAGE OF AN LED KIT I BOUGHT ON AMAZON?
Yes, you can use a voltmeter and a 12V power supply to check out the real amperage (power draw) of an LED bulb you bought from Amazon. Often sellers report higher wattage than is the real wattage, resulting in LED bulbs hyperflashing or causing dashlight "bulb out" error. Always, try to match LED bulb wattage to the corresponding incandescent bulb's wattage to minimize these issues. You can use this technique to measure the true wattage of an incandescent bulb before ordering LED bulbs.
Follow the diagram below to test any LED bulb. The resulting number is the Amperage. If mutlitplied by the power supply's voltage, you will get the Wattage. Ex. 0.98Amp x 12V = 11.67W Compare this number to the required amperage of the incandescent bulb you're replacing. The numbers should be a s close as possible.
HOW DO I TEST DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT VOLTAGE ON MY VEHICLE?
- Open the hood, and unplug one headlight power connector. Usually the one that is easy to get to.
- Start the vehicle and make sure the DRL bulb on the opposite side is on. If it is not on, then read the IMPORTANT section below.
- Next, use a voltmeter and measure the voltage on the unplugged connector. Black voltmeter test wire inserts into the negative connector, red test wire inserts into the positive connector, which is normally the high beam for most daytime runing lights. Ocassionally, low beams are used as daytime running lights, so make sure you're testing the right connector.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to test the car outside during daytime. Testing in the garage or in the dark will turn the headlights to regular lights. On some vehicles you have to disengage the handbrake for daytime running lights to come on, on others you have to go as far shifting into D (drive). For daytime running lights to be on, turn the headlight switch to AUTO or OFF if you don't have AUTO to enable the daytime running lights.
WHAT IS BETTER HID OR LED?
The current trend for headlight bulb upgrades is LED. 98% of new customers are upgrading to LEDs rather than HIDs. So, what are the differences?
LED PROS
- LEDs offer instant maximum light
- LEDs are way easier to install and in most cases installations are as easy as replacing a halogen bulb
- LEDs offer a variety of bulb types including fanned and fanless cooling systems, allowing you to customize your installations based on the location of the LED bulb in the vehicle
- Fog lamp LED kits offer a range of Kelvin colors including white, blue, lime green, yellow
- LEDs now surpass HIDs in brightness offering up to 3x the light output over HIDs
- Specially designed LED bulb series are available for upgrading projector headlights - N2-P, F10, R1, R1T
- To combat flickering, LED anti-flicker canbus decoders are available and have proven themselves to be effective at resolving canbus and flickering issues
LED CONS
- LEDs do not produce much radiant heat, so if you live in an area where wet snow sticks to the headlights during winter time, then you could be looking at stopping often to scrape the snow off. The usual temperature on the LED bulb is about 90C while a halogen bulb reaches temperatures in excess of 300C. However, in a close headlight system, where the LED bulb is hiding under a dust cap, the heat produced by the LED diodes is forced back by the bulb's fan, and the heat created remains inside the headlight, keeping the lens warm from the inside.
- Headlight LED kits do not offer Kelvin color choice. Most LED kit's Kelvin range is 6000-6500K.
HID PROS
- Radiant heat that warms the lens up, although it is still not as much as what the halogen bulbs produce, even though the HID bulb's reach similar operating temperature (300 Celsius).
- HID bulbs are available in different Kelvin temperatures - 3000K (yellow), 4300K (halogen color), 6000K (white), 8000K (blueish), 10000 (blue), 12000K (purple). However, it's recommended to stick with 4300-6000K range for headlight, and 3000K-6000K for fog lights. As you go higher in Kelvin, the light output decreases.
HID CONS
- HID ballasts usually do not fit inside the headlight housings, so a 1" hole must be drilled in the dust cap to run the wires from the headlight connector to the HID ballast and then back from the ballast to the HID bulb.
- In some cases where the headlight voltage is less than 12V (ex. 6V DRL mode), HID system require the installation of a relay that will supply the HID system with full power. HID systems will not work at voltages lower than 12V.
- HID bulbs may not create a nice even pattern in a reflective headlight, but they do work well in projector style headlights.
- HIDs require time to warm up, usually 20-60 seconds, before producing maximum light output. Installing HIDs in high beam is not advisable because of the light delay effect. If the low beams go off when you click your high beams on, you may not see much for 20-30 seconds.
- HID system require lots of amperage at start-up, so the state of your battery will determine if they ignite or not. Often in winter time, you may encounter issues with HID headlights, because the battery capacity decreases due to cold. Keeping the battery at 12.6V and higher is what is needed for any HID system to work well. If you live in an area with cold winter and are having HID issues, you can 1. keep the battery fully charged by installing a battery trickle charger; 2. turn the HID headlights ON after starting the vehicle.
In conclusion, LEDs are the way to go for upgrading both, projector or reflector headlights, while HIDs may be advantageous in areas where wet snow is sticking to the headlights. The path forward is clearly set for LEDs.
WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ANTI-FLICKER DECODERS
It depends on the wattage of the bulbs. The test data confirms that the higher the wattage the hotter the decoders get, which makes sense because there is more electricity running through them.
TEST RESULTS:
30W LED bulb attached to the decoder ->
Time: 0 / Temp: 10C
Time: 13 minutes / Temp: 27C
Time: 20 minutes / Temp: 29.9C
Time: 30 minutes / Temp: 30C – no further increase after that
60W LED bulb attached to the decoder ->
Time: 0 / Temp: 10C
Time: 13 minutes / Temp: 34.4C
Time: 20 minutes / Temp: 39.6C
Time: 30 minutes / Temp: 41.0C – no further increase after that
SHOPPING CART PROBLEMS
- "UNFORTUNATELY ONE OR MORE ITEMS CAN'T BE SHIPPED TO YOUR LOCATION"
If you get a message that we cannot ship to your location, then please re-enter your postal code without spaces, and try again. Example: V2R 0P3 will not be accepted by Canada Post. The correct way is to enter it is V2R0P3.
HERE IS THE ACTUAL ERROR MESSAGE:
"There was a problem retrieving your shipping quote. Unfortunately one or more items in your cart can't be shipped to your location. Please contact HVC customer service at +1-604-791-9027. We can process your transaction manually over the phone or by email."
- "NOT ENOUGH STOCK IS AVAILABLE"
If you get a message that there is not enough stock, then please check the stock numbers on the page of the product you're buying. If there is only 1 left then you cannot add more. If you add the last 1 available to the shopping cart and something goes wrong, that 1 product is still stored on your computer, so if you try to add it again, you will get a message there is not enough stock available. Solution: open the shopping cart, remove all items in it by clicking the small X on the far right next to the price, and start again.
Daytime Running Light Questions & LEDs:
- Ford DRL voltage is 80% or normal voltage or 9.6V
- 2002-2005 Ford F350 HD DRL voltage is 10V, so upgrading to LED is as easy as plugging the new LED kit in. Low beams run daytime running lights.
- Toyota Yaris and Echo DRL voltage is full 12V. Decoders are needed to eliminate flicker issues in DRL.
General Questions:
WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO HID XENON LIGHTS?
WHAT DOES "HID" STAND FOR?
HOW LONG DO HID BULBS LAST?
WHAT BRAND ARE YOUR HID BULBS?
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AN HID CONVERSION KIT?
WHAT IS A CANBUS BALLAST?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC & DC BALLASTS?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BRIGHTNESS BETWEEN 35W, 55W AND 75W HID KITS?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREE AND EPISTAR LED?
MY LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING AFTER INSTALL. WHAT DO I DO?
I WANT TO INSTALL HID'S IN MY HIGH BEAMS. IS IT POSSIBLE?
WHAT DO I NEED TO INSTALL HIDS ON A DODGE RAM WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS?
CAN I INSTALL A REGULAR HID KIT IN A SNOWMOBILE WITHOUT A BATTERY?
WILL I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POLICE IF I INSTALL HIDS IN MY CAR?
MY HID BI-XENON LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.
HOW DO I ADJUST LED BULB BEAM?
AFTER UPGRADING TO 7" LED HEADLIGHTS ON MY JEEP THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON IN DRL
I SEE LED KITS ON AMAZON THAT SAY THEY ARE DOT APPROVED. ARE THEY?
WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO HID XENON LIGHTS?
Safer night driving
Xenon lights are 3x brighter than halogens. At night this is very crucial because the lack of visibility is the biggest cause of automobile accidents during night time driving.
Larger viewing radius
Xenon light bulbs will have 70% wider road coverage due to the fact they are brighter.
Clearer visibility
The whiter xenon light penetrates darkness better than the yellow halogen light and as a result you are able to see better in tougher weather conditions like rain, snow, and fog.
Longer bulb life span
Xenon bulbs last 3x longer than halogen bulbs, and withstand a greater amount of vibration and shock from the road. The average life of a Xenon bulb is about 2,500 hrs
Lower energy consumption
Xenon lights consume 25% less power than halogen headlights.
WHAT DOES "HID" STAND FOR?
HID stands for High Intensity Discharge.
HOW LONG DO HID BULBS LAST?
HID bulbs last approximately 2500-3000hrs. Under normal use you should get about 4 years of service from an HID bulb.
WHAT BRAND ARE YOUR HID BULBS?
They are made by Super Vision HID.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AN HID CONVERSION KIT?
HID Conversion Kit includes:
2x Slim 35W AC Ballasts or 2 Canbus 35W Ballasts
2x Xenon HID Bulbs
2x HID Plug'n'Play Wires
Screws & mounting brackets
Installation Instruction
WHAT IS A CANBUS BALLAST?
CanBus Ballast eliminates flickering issues or "headlamp out" error light issue. Can be used on all make and models but are recommended for all BMW, Audi, VW, and Dodge conversion kit installations.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC & DC BALLASTS?
AC ballasts have a longer bulb and ballast life, are brighter and more expensive.
DC ballasts have a shorter bulb and ballast life, and are inexpensive. DC HID conversion kits may cost as little as $35.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BRIGHTNESS BETWEEN 35W, 55W and 75W HID KITS?
35W - 3x brighter than halogen bulbs
55W - provide 40%-60% increase in brightness over 35W systems
75W - 2x brighter than 35W HIDs. Bulbs have a shorter life span because they run hotter.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREE AND EPISTAR LED?
CREE LED's are made in USA.
Cree Inc. is a multinational manufacturer of semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) materials and devices, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, USA
EPISTAR LED's are made in Taiwan.
Epistar Corp. is the largest manufacturer of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in Taiwan.
MY LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING AFTER INSTALL. WHAT DO I DO?
If your lights keep flickering after install then the ballasts are not getting full voltage required to ignite the bulbs. To solve the problem, install a relay wiring harness. The harness connects directly to the battery, and the low voltage is capable of switching the relay, which then draws full 12-14V from the battery, and your HID bulbs will ignite. This setup is normally required for high beams which operate DRL's.
Installers Note: If you installed a relay harness and your lights still keep on flickering, then (a) you may need to install resistors (b) your battery may be old (6+ years).
I WANT TO INSTALL HID'S IN MY HIGH BEAMS. IS IT POSSIBLE?
Yes, it is possible, but keep these points in mind:
1. If vehicle's high beams are also the vehicle's DRL's then you will need a relay harness. DRL's will run full-on HID's, even in daytime.
2. HIDs take time to warm up (10-15 seconds) to full brightness, so if you use your high beams only for short times, then HID's may not be of great benefit to you.
WHAT DO I NEED TO INSTALL HIDS ON A DODGE RAM WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS?
DODGE RAM HID INSTALLATIONS ARE TRICKY BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
1. Install CANBUS PRO ballasts with your HID bulbs
2. If HIDs flicker with CANBUS PRO ballasts then you need a RELAY
3. If HIDs flicker even after installing a RELAY you will need RESISTORS
4. If you get a "Lamp Out" warning, you will need to install a Warning Canceller.
CAN I INSTALL A REGULAR HID KIT IN A SNOWMOBILE WITHOUT A BATTERY?
No, you cannot. A battery-less snowmobile would supply AC power to an HID ballast which needs DC power input. So, if you do not have a battery then our HID kits will not work. But, if you have a battery in your snowmobile, then you have a DC system, and you can use any HID kit.
WILL I HAVE PROBLEM WITH POLICE IF I INSTALL HID LIGHTS IN MY CAR?
There is no simple answer for this and it will largely depend on the police officer and the reason why you got pulled over. Logical assumption would be that trucks with 3 sets of HID lights turned on during the day speeding down a school zone are more likely to get pulled over than someone with a set of HID lights turned on at night time driving the speed limit. Since we've started the business we have had only 1 person pulled over for HIDs. We have consulted 2 RCMP officers about the likelyhood of being pulled over with aftermarket HIDs installed, and they both have mentioned that the color of HID lights has a lot to do with it as well as the type of headlight in which they are used. HIDs come in different colors with 4300K being OEM HID color, 6000K white, 8000K bluer, 10000K blue, 12000K purple-blue, etc. Basically if you use any color lower than or equal to 6000K you should be fine. Headlight type - headlights with diffusers built into the lens (lines in the lens itself) scatter the HID light all over and are the least desirable for upgrading to HID bulbs. Clear headlights with diffusers built in and projector style headlights are probably the best suited for upgrades to HID because they diffuse the light before it hits the road, and lower the chance of blinding oncoming traffic. So, be sensible about how you use your HIDs. If everyone is flashing you then you should lower your lights. Be considerate. You will still be able to see without being "annoying" to other drivers. In summary, upgrading to aftermarket HID lights in your vehicle (one that did not come with HID lights) is entirely your decision. Aftermarket HIDs are not DOT approved, and are intended for "off-road" use only, so there is a chance you could be asked to remove them. That said, many people upgrade their car lights to HIDs for safety and better night visibility. You can read about the benefits of HID lights here.
MY HID BI-XENON LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.
This problem is know to be caused by a faulty H13 relay. Basically what happens is this - when you start your vehicle and the lights come on, the relay gets a signal from the OEM light connector and then switches inside to draw full power directly from the battery. Over time the mechanical switch inside get worn out and instead of switching back to the OFF position when the vehicle is turned off, it stays in the ON position drawing power from the battery, which eventually will drain the battery if not turned off.
SOLUTION: get a new relay harness here.
HOW DO I ADJUST LED BULB BEAM?
Not all LED bulbs are adjustable, but the ones that are adjustable can take advantage of LED alignment to have the best light reflection. Basically what you're aiming to accomplish is to have bulbs' LEDs face to the sides of the headlight at 3 and 9 o'clock positions. It's relatively easy to do in reflective lens headlights because you can see inside the headlight, but it is hard to see inside a projector lens to know where the LEDs are located. Here are a few steps that will help you adjust LEDs in both projector and reflector headlights.
- Install LED bulb in the headlight.
- Mark the 12 o’clock position on the bulb's retaining ring. Use tape or marker or whatever so you know where the 12 o'clock position is when the bulb is fully locked in the headlight. You will use this point to align the body of the led bulb.
- Remove the bulb from the headlight.
- Loosen screw(s) on the side of the retaining ring and rotate the body of the led bulb so that the top edge of the bulb's body is matched with the marked position from Step 2 above. LED chips should be at 9 and 3 o’clock.
- Re-tighten the screw(s). Insert bulb back into the headlight. Now the position is correct.
AFTER UPGRADING TO 7" LED HEADLIGHTS ON MY JEEP THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON IN DRL
The high beams are ON in DRL (daytime running mode) because that is what the Jeep is telling the LED headlights to do. In many cases car manufacturers use high beams as DRLs because they are ON more frequently than the low beam lights. What this does is prolong the life of the low beams which you will 100% need at night time. If the high beam burns out it won’t be putting you in danger of not having one headlight at night time. I would not rush into returning anything because a different 7” LED headlight will do exactly the same thing.
Solution:
If you want to override the DRL high beam, just turn the light switch to ON during the day.
I SEE LED KITS ON AMAZON THAT SAY THEY ARE DOT APPROVED. ARE THEY?
Sadly what you see is only a marketing feature. There is no such thing as DOT APPROVED LED. First of all DOT does not approve anything. DOT only sets out the guidelines to which light manufacturers must adhere. It is an extremely hard and lengthy process to get the lights tested and certified for compliance. Sylvania sells DOT compliant LED fog light bulbs but not headlight bulbs. The other thing is, even if you could find DOT compliant LED bulbs, installing them in a reflector headlight will still not make them compliant because only the original light source that the headlights are designed for can be used. That said you can get away with installing LED bulbs in projector headlights because of the way they cut off the light, minimizing and possibility of glare to oncoming traffic.