HID bicycle lights

SCD · 19th October 2005, 03:37 PM

Hello out there:
I have recently been riding with a couple of guys that have these incredible lights. The lights are Xeon High Intensity Discharge. They are sold by a couple of companies and are ridiculously expensive. So I was wondering if any one had DIY'd a set yet and was looking for some help in getting parts. I have made a few other sets of halogen lights but this looks like a bit of a different animal.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

AndrewT · 19th October 2005, 07:02 PM

Hi,
go on , give me a lesson in modern lighting.

Is that Xeon or Xenon? Because Xenon lamps are high pressure discharge lamps, a completely different animal as you put it.

What are the new lamps being fitted to automobiles? Are these them?

Variac · 19th October 2005, 07:11 PM

I believe the bike lights he is describing are the samee tech as those new HID auto lights that are white/blue. (not the white/blue fake versions)

SCD,
I would first find out from your friends how much the replacement bulb would cost. That might be the first limiting factor. Lots of bike riders here, so there will be some interest. The people that will know the most will be the in the video-moving image forum.

SCD · 19th October 2005, 07:20 PM

Thanks Variac.
I have begun that path as well the two companies I am aware of generally only sell replacement bulbs to purchasers of their product (kind of makes sense, keeps guys like me out of their hair).
I suspect the bulb will be available from a supplier it is just a matter of finding out whom that supplier is.
As far as I can figure out so far it is a 13 watt bulb that operates at ~ 13.4 volts. The lumen output is pretty high somewhere near the equivalent of a 45 watt halogen MR11 bulb@ 6volts. The retail price is crazy, I suspect the availablity of the bulb will control the DIY crowd for now.
I will keep trying. There are many creative people out there
Thanks for the help

Variac · 19th October 2005, 09:55 PM

Well, your friends who are purchasers of the product might be able to get one for you. There must be some kind of high voltage ballast somewhere I would think- I don't know though. The video projector folks are always talking about ballasts for their bulbs...

wes-ninja250 · 19th October 2005, 10:06 PM

HID bulbs do indeed required a high-voltage ballast. Just a hint for auto types, if it doesn't cost at least $300 US for your first light, it's not an HID system.

There are many vendors out there selling out-of-spec halogen bulbs with a blue tint. As a bonus, the inert gas they choose is often Xenon. People think these are HID. Unscrupulous vendors have been known to call them HID conversion bulbs or similar. But, the fact of the matter is, they aren't HID!

In fact, the biggest difference between HID and incandescent bulbs is that HID bulbs have an electrical arc in place of a filament.

Wes

AndrewT · 20th October 2005, 07:14 AM

Hi Wes,
are you confirming that HID is a development of the Xenon high pressure discharge lamp, presumably done on a small scale to suit automobiles and push bikes?

wes-ninja250 · 20th October 2005, 12:27 PM

Andrew:

I can definately confirm this for automobiles, but not push bikes. Given the electrical requirements, I find it difficult to believe that they exist for the latter.

They come as OEM equipment on certain high-end autos. They cast a blue-white light, and will not have high/low-beam (dip) functionality integrated into one housing. Where this is desirable, motors have been used to raise/lower the enclosure.

Notes for anyone wanting to "convert" their car -- optical requirements for an incandescent filament and an HID arc are VERY different!! An effective kit would have to include:

- Reflector
- Lense
- Bulbs
- Ballast
- High/Lo beam solution
- Wiring harness

Daniel Stern, a very smart (professional) automotive lighting guy, discusses this at length: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

Wes

wes-ninja250 · 20th October 2005, 12:34 PM

After some Googling, I take back what I said about bicycle HID lights. It seems they do in fact exist: http://www.bikelights.com/Products/arc_li_ion.htm

At $580 US (300 pounds?), the price is at least in the right ball park.

Me, I'd have a hard time spending that kind of dough on a BIKE, let a lone a light for one!

Wes

SCD · 20th October 2005, 10:31 PM

Yes the lights are Xenon. 13 watt consumption @ 13.4 v DC
Yes folks the lights are for "push bikes"
Yes they are ridiculously expensive
That is why I wanted to find out if any one had taken on the DIY challenge yet. It seems that no one here has yet.
Thanks for the interest.
I will keep looking

19th October 2005, 03:37 PM	#1
SCD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 1/2 way up Vancouver Island	HID bicycle lights Hello out there: I have recently been riding with a couple of guys that have these incredible lights. The lights are Xeon High Intensity Discharge. They are sold by a couple of companies and are ridiculously expensive. So I was wondering if any one had DIY'd a set yet and was looking for some help in getting parts. I have made a few other sets of halogen lights but this looks like a bit of a different animal. Any help is greatly appreciated. __________________ SCD

19th October 2005, 07:02 PM	#2
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Hi, go on , give me a lesson in modern lighting. Is that Xeon or Xenon? Because Xenon lamps are high pressure discharge lamps, a completely different animal as you put it. What are the new lamps being fitted to automobiles? Are these them? __________________ regards Andrew T.

19th October 2005, 07:11 PM	#3
Variac diyAudio Editor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA	I believe the bike lights he is describing are the samee tech as those new HID auto lights that are white/blue. (not the white/blue fake versions) SCD, I would first find out from your friends how much the replacement bulb would cost. That might be the first limiting factor. Lots of bike riders here, so there will be some interest. The people that will know the most will be the in the video-moving image forum. __________________ Burning Amp Festival Sunday, October 28th, 2012 in S.F. We need Volunteers & sign-up's for what you're bringing!

19th October 2005, 07:20 PM	#4
SCD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 1/2 way up Vancouver Island	clarification Thanks Variac. I have begun that path as well the two companies I am aware of generally only sell replacement bulbs to purchasers of their product (kind of makes sense, keeps guys like me out of their hair). I suspect the bulb will be available from a supplier it is just a matter of finding out whom that supplier is. As far as I can figure out so far it is a 13 watt bulb that operates at ~ 13.4 volts. The lumen output is pretty high somewhere near the equivalent of a 45 watt halogen MR11 bulb@ 6volts. The retail price is crazy, I suspect the availablity of the bulb will control the DIY crowd for now. I will keep trying. There are many creative people out there Thanks for the help __________________ SCD

19th October 2005, 09:55 PM	#5
Variac diyAudio Editor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA	Well, your friends who are purchasers of the product might be able to get one for you. There must be some kind of high voltage ballast somewhere I would think- I don't know though. The video projector folks are always talking about ballasts for their bulbs... __________________ Burning Amp Festival Sunday, October 28th, 2012 in S.F. We need Volunteers & sign-up's for what you're bringing!


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

19th October 2005, 10:06 PM	#6
wes-ninja250 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kingston, ON	HID bulbs do indeed required a high-voltage ballast. Just a hint for auto types, if it doesn't cost at least $300 US for your first light, it's not an HID system. There are many vendors out there selling out-of-spec halogen bulbs with a blue tint. As a bonus, the inert gas they choose is often Xenon. People think these are HID. Unscrupulous vendors have been known to call them HID conversion bulbs or similar. But, the fact of the matter is, they aren't HID! In fact, the biggest difference between HID and incandescent bulbs is that HID bulbs have an electrical arc in place of a filament. Wes __________________ Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?

20th October 2005, 07:14 AM	#7
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Hi Wes, are you confirming that HID is a development of the Xenon high pressure discharge lamp, presumably done on a small scale to suit automobiles and push bikes? __________________ regards Andrew T.

20th October 2005, 12:27 PM	#8
wes-ninja250 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kingston, ON	Andrew: I can definately confirm this for automobiles, but not push bikes. Given the electrical requirements, I find it difficult to believe that they exist for the latter. They come as OEM equipment on certain high-end autos. They cast a blue-white light, and will not have high/low-beam (dip) functionality integrated into one housing. Where this is desirable, motors have been used to raise/lower the enclosure. Notes for anyone wanting to "convert" their car -- optical requirements for an incandescent filament and an HID arc are VERY different!! An effective kit would have to include: - Reflector - Lense - Bulbs - Ballast - High/Lo beam solution - Wiring harness Daniel Stern, a very smart (professional) automotive lighting guy, discusses this at length: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html Wes __________________ Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?

20th October 2005, 12:34 PM	#9
wes-ninja250 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kingston, ON	After some Googling, I take back what I said about bicycle HID lights. It seems they do in fact exist: http://www.bikelights.com/Products/arc_li_ion.htm At $580 US (300 pounds?), the price is at least in the right ball park. Me, I'd have a hard time spending that kind of dough on a BIKE, let a lone a light for one! Wes __________________ Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?

20th October 2005, 10:31 PM	#10
SCD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 1/2 way up Vancouver Island	HID Yes the lights are Xenon. 13 watt consumption @ 13.4 v DC Yes folks the lights are for "push bikes" Yes they are ridiculously expensive That is why I wanted to find out if any one had taken on the DIY challenge yet. It seems that no one here has yet. Thanks for the interest. I will keep looking __________________ SCD

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