How do you test an HID ballast?

How to Test an HID Ballast

Open the hood of your car.
Put on latex gloves. Oil from your fingers can damage the HID bulb and reduce its lifespan.
Connect the HID bulb to the ballast by plugging the ballast plug into the bulb socket.
Use two wires to connect the ballast to the car battery.

In respect to this, how do I know if my HID ballast is bad?

HID ballast diagnostic tip If one doesn't light when you turn on the headlights, proceed with this test: Have a helper watch the HID bulb closely as you turn on the headlight switch. They're looking for any sign of flicker. If there's no sign of lighting, it's usually a bad ballast or igniter.

Subsequently, question is, how do you test an HPS ballast?

Step 1 - Remove the Lamp. Remove the lamp.
Step 2 - Visually Inspect the Lamp. Visually inspect the lamp for proper connections and contacts.
Step 3 - Check Accessories. Review the accessories on your lamp.
Step 4 - Test the Voltage.
Step 5 - Check the Ballast.
Step 6 - Check the Short-circuit Current.
Step 7 - Reassemble.

Also to know, how do I check my hid?

How to Test an HID Bulb

Examine the bulb for signs it has burned out. A mercury HID bulb exhibits a blackening at the end of the arc tube.
Check the specifications on the ballast.
For high-pressure sodium lamps, use a known good bulb to first ensure the ballast and starter are operable.

How do you fix a HID ballast?

Step 1 - Check Voltage and Amps. Check to make sure you have the proper voltage and amps for the HID ballast you are running.
Step 2 - Check the Wiring. Check the wiring on the ballast as well.
Step 3 - Change the Solenoids.
Step 4 - Solder the Connections.
Step 5 - Purchase a New System.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Why does HID ballast go bad?

Premature ballast failure is often caused by the surrounding environment. Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion.

How long do HID ballasts last?

Most aftermarket HID kits have a bulb life of 2000-3000 hours. OEM quality HID bulbs have a life span of ~3500+ hours. Ballasts lifespan is indefinate. Note: most HID bulbs will "color shift" over their lifespan towards the blue end of the spectrum.

How do you know if it's the bulb or ballast?

When you hear a buzzing sound coming from your fixture or the bulbs flicker or do not come on, check the ballast to see if it needs to be replaced. Turn off the fluorescent fixture's circuit breaker inside the breaker panel. Remove the lens cover from the fixture.

Do HID bulbs burn out?

Since HID lights do not have a filament in them that could burn out like halogen lights, HID light bulbs can last 2000-3000 hours vs 450-1000 hours for halogen light bulbs. The light emitted by the bulb will shift slightly from a yellowish color to a more crisp blue color.

How much does a ballast cost?

A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.

Do I need to remove the ballast to use an LED bulb?

LED technology does not require a ballast to regulate the amount of energy flowing to the lights. Additionally, removing the ballast will reduce energy usage and result in even great cost-savings as ballasts continue to draw more power than necessary.

How do you bypass a ballast?

Cut the socket lead wires.

The socket lead wires (most likely red and blue-colored wires) are located on the other side of the ballast and connect to wires going out of the ballast to the sockets (which should be non-shunted sockets for T8 LEDs). These output wires provide the power to the lamps.

Can a bad ballast cause a breaker to trip?

If the primary winding in the ballast goes bad they almost always trip the breaker, unless there is a fuse installed just ahead of the ballast. After checking all of the wiring, as you have been directed to do, the last chip is a bad ballast.

Do you have to be a licensed electrician to change a ballast?

Depending on the size of the replacement project, a licensed electrician isn't always necessary; however, if you don't have the proper tools or experience, it is a good idea to consult with a licensed electrician before attempting the replacement.

How long do ballasts last?

about 20 years

Do HID lights have high and low beam?

On most applications, the HID headlamps are only used for low beams (conventional halogen high beams are used). But on some of the newest HID systems, the position of the shielding around the bulb changes position to provide both high and low beams.

Do HID ballasts wear out?

ALL HID bulbs loose output once they get to around 3,000 hours on them. ALL HID bulbs loose output once they get to around 3,000 hours on them. So the ballasts do not cause dimming (they either work or do not work) and the bulbs themselves dim over time?

Why are my HID lights not working?

If one side sometimes doesn't turn on it could be caused by a bad bulb, HID ballast, LED driver or wiring. To help identify which component is defective follow these steps. Swap the ignitors to opposing sides (not applicable for LED kits). If the problem is reversed, you might have a bad ignitor.

When should HID bulbs be replaced?

As the deterioration in light output is gradual, the average owner tends not to notice that the headlights are becoming weaker, especially as a car is still likely to pass its MOT Test. RING advises, therefore, that the HID bulbs of both headlights are replaced every five years.

Why do my HID lights turn on and off?

HID works when the engine is off, but if turning on the engine the HID will turn off itself. One or both light can't ignite initially. Bulb turns off after the vehicle just starts. Only one light works, even though both lights are installed exactly the same.

What does ballast do for HID lights?

A HID Ballast is a device required by a xenon headlight (bus also for fluorescent lamps) to regulate voltage and current supplied to the lamp during start. Also does it provides enough voltage and current throughout operation.

What is a HID kit?

HID light is a high intensity discharge light which do not have a filament. The HID conversion and xenon conversion kits is a revolutionary concept in which xenon gas is used with other noble gases for producing lights which are three times better than any standard halogen bulb.