LMC housings are not proper for HID???
11-04-2010, 04:15 PM
#2
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I don't see why you couldn't use HID's in them. I mean theres projectors out there for Camaro's that say on the assembly itself that there not for HID's but people still put 35watt HID's in em and they have no problems with em. I could see if you put 55watt bulbs in there that there could be issues with that cause of the temp. the bulbs get to but I personally don't think youll have any problem if you use a 35watt bulb though.
11-04-2010, 05:48 PM
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Yes.
Of course "they will work".
They will work in stock camaro assemblies too (and many do that).
However, the deal is, the FREQUENCY of light coming out of a HID bulb is far difference than that coming from a halogen bulb. Any set of "reflectors" is not going to transmit the light from the assembly down to the road as intended with a HID bulb.
What I am saying is, reflectors are for HALOGEN BULBS and projectors are for HID bulbs.
Even having said that, it is my belief that the current projectors being sold on the market (ebay etc) are in most cases "not real". Some setups "look like" projectors" but are in fact also made for HALOGEN bulbs.
The truth is, the only 100% proper way to run HID's on a car is to retro-fit real HID projectors into them. Which is why I created my thread in regards to the subject.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...en-camaro.html
I am a big fan of "do it right the first time" and I think anyone who run's HID's in a halogen designed assembly is "cutting corners". You will not get a proper cut-off, you will not get even light distribution, and in some states its even illegal. With the high cost of doing it right (I priced a hand-made set in my thread at $950) I totally understand why hardly any would pay the price to get the correct hardware. Still, I think experts would agree (and I am not one), that HID frequency light discharge is most safely, and properly emitted out of a focused projector lens with a cut-off.
Of course "they will work".
They will work in stock camaro assemblies too (and many do that).
However, the deal is, the FREQUENCY of light coming out of a HID bulb is far difference than that coming from a halogen bulb. Any set of "reflectors" is not going to transmit the light from the assembly down to the road as intended with a HID bulb.
What I am saying is, reflectors are for HALOGEN BULBS and projectors are for HID bulbs.
Even having said that, it is my belief that the current projectors being sold on the market (ebay etc) are in most cases "not real". Some setups "look like" projectors" but are in fact also made for HALOGEN bulbs.
The truth is, the only 100% proper way to run HID's on a car is to retro-fit real HID projectors into them. Which is why I created my thread in regards to the subject.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...en-camaro.html
I am a big fan of "do it right the first time" and I think anyone who run's HID's in a halogen designed assembly is "cutting corners". You will not get a proper cut-off, you will not get even light distribution, and in some states its even illegal. With the high cost of doing it right (I priced a hand-made set in my thread at $950) I totally understand why hardly any would pay the price to get the correct hardware. Still, I think experts would agree (and I am not one), that HID frequency light discharge is most safely, and properly emitted out of a focused projector lens with a cut-off.
Thanks again for your input.
11-04-2010, 06:17 PM
#6
Reflector housings not made for HIDs typically do not perform well. A cutoff does not mean too much if the output is not focused for even light distribution. This is why a projector will be the best way to handle light output from a halogen or HID.
Feel free to take a look at the the output from our projector headlight offering.
www.blackbirdlighting.com
Feel free to take a look at the the output from our projector headlight offering.
www.blackbirdlighting.com
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11-04-2010, 07:05 PM
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GOD DAMNIT! I thought that for one single solitary time I had gotten around that. Oh well. I think my debit card likes being used- again, and again, and again...
On a side note to BLSolutions. You just picked up a customer. If I were in your shoes, I would be beating the reality of the LMC housings into people with a stick! Just a simple and welcomed explanation like that, and I just jacked up my budget for lighting. Subtle is good, but you offer a product that it would seem is so superior that yelling from the highest mountain could make people understand. With the LMC solution coming in to the game, I wondered how you were going to make it and figured you would fall. I'm a guy who likes to do his homework and never came across anything like this. Get in there and tell people WHY you offer what you do. Either way, thanks for the explanation; it got you a customer and a fan!
On a side note to BLSolutions. You just picked up a customer. If I were in your shoes, I would be beating the reality of the LMC housings into people with a stick! Just a simple and welcomed explanation like that, and I just jacked up my budget for lighting. Subtle is good, but you offer a product that it would seem is so superior that yelling from the highest mountain could make people understand. With the LMC solution coming in to the game, I wondered how you were going to make it and figured you would fall. I'm a guy who likes to do his homework and never came across anything like this. Get in there and tell people WHY you offer what you do. Either way, thanks for the explanation; it got you a customer and a fan!
11-04-2010, 08:44 PM
#9
I appreciate the compliment and would be happy to earn your business. The projector line-up for the Firebirds (93-02) has been very well received with many happy customers.
Regarding the LMC housings, there is no need to get into an argument about them. They are a better housing than stock and perform decently for their price. I've pretty much done it all when it comes to lighting for these cars and HIDs in a reflector halogen housing just never made me happy. It all comes down to what you value.
Regarding the LMC housings, there is no need to get into an argument about them. They are a better housing than stock and perform decently for their price. I've pretty much done it all when it comes to lighting for these cars and HIDs in a reflector halogen housing just never made me happy. It all comes down to what you value.
11-04-2010, 09:45 PM
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I appreciate the compliment and would be happy to earn your business. The projector line-up for the Firebirds (93-02) has been very well received with many happy customers.
Regarding the LMC housings, there is no need to get into an argument about them. They are a better housing than stock and perform decently for their price. I've pretty much done it all when it comes to lighting for these cars and HIDs in a reflector halogen housing just never made me happy. It all comes down to what you value.
Regarding the LMC housings, there is no need to get into an argument about them. They are a better housing than stock and perform decently for their price. I've pretty much done it all when it comes to lighting for these cars and HIDs in a reflector halogen housing just never made me happy. It all comes down to what you value.
11-04-2010, 09:50 PM
#11
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The problem isn't just the light frequency but also
* The placement and shape of the arc in the HID capsule versus the filament in a Halogen Bulb
* The overall shape/design of the reflector/optics
HID kits often don't place the arc in the same place as the halogen filament.
The HID arc is not the same shape as the halogen filament.
Halogen reflectors/optics are designed to work with a certain amount of light and spread it in a certain pattern. If you give it a large amount of extra light aimed at the wrong place, you'll get a bad beam pattern sending light out in places where it shouldn't be glaring to other drivers and worse for your night vision as well.
Those are generally the reasons to avoid putting HID into Halogen Reflector housings. Dual-Filament housings (ex: housings designed for H4 bulbs) are the worst offenders. The HID arc is rarely in the right place and the resulting beam pattern is like a permanent high beam.
However, some Halogen Projectors do handle HID fairly well, others don't. Later Miata H7 Projectors, and Acura MDX H11 projectors are two examples of Halogen projectors that handle HID well.
Most ebay projectors don't handle HID particularly well while some do. Its a crap shoot. Avoid ebay headlights that use H3 bulbs because those are fog light projectors and the cheap ebay knock-offs don't handle HID well, often wasting the light.
Also avoid ebay sealed beam projectors because they aren't projectors at all. Its a dirty lie. They are just a sealed beam housing with a bad reflector design and a hunk of glass stuck in them to make them look sorta like a projector and produce a horrible beam pattern.
* The placement and shape of the arc in the HID capsule versus the filament in a Halogen Bulb
* The overall shape/design of the reflector/optics
HID kits often don't place the arc in the same place as the halogen filament.
The HID arc is not the same shape as the halogen filament.
Halogen reflectors/optics are designed to work with a certain amount of light and spread it in a certain pattern. If you give it a large amount of extra light aimed at the wrong place, you'll get a bad beam pattern sending light out in places where it shouldn't be glaring to other drivers and worse for your night vision as well.
Those are generally the reasons to avoid putting HID into Halogen Reflector housings. Dual-Filament housings (ex: housings designed for H4 bulbs) are the worst offenders. The HID arc is rarely in the right place and the resulting beam pattern is like a permanent high beam.
However, some Halogen Projectors do handle HID fairly well, others don't. Later Miata H7 Projectors, and Acura MDX H11 projectors are two examples of Halogen projectors that handle HID well.
Most ebay projectors don't handle HID particularly well while some do. Its a crap shoot. Avoid ebay headlights that use H3 bulbs because those are fog light projectors and the cheap ebay knock-offs don't handle HID well, often wasting the light.
Also avoid ebay sealed beam projectors because they aren't projectors at all. Its a dirty lie. They are just a sealed beam housing with a bad reflector design and a hunk of glass stuck in them to make them look sorta like a projector and produce a horrible beam pattern.
11-05-2010, 12:10 PM
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11-05-2010, 12:41 PM
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Everything in this thread is true regarding the HID setup.
The reality is if you got the cheddar then spend it on the good stuff. If I had the cash I would get the BLS kit in an instant.
But I don't so we got the LMC/DDM setup for a fraction of the cost. I personally love the setup for the cost and there are plenty of threads with people who have them and love them too.
Just my imput.
The reality is if you got the cheddar then spend it on the good stuff. If I had the cash I would get the BLS kit in an instant.
But I don't so we got the LMC/DDM setup for a fraction of the cost. I personally love the setup for the cost and there are plenty of threads with people who have them and love them too.
Just my imput.
11-05-2010, 12:52 PM
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Everything in this thread is true regarding the HID setup.
The reality is if you got the cheddar then spend it on the good stuff. If I had the cash I would get the BLS kit in an instant.
But I don't so we got the LMC/DDM setup for a fraction of the cost. I personally love the setup for the cost and there are plenty of threads with people who have them and love them too.
Just my imput.
The reality is if you got the cheddar then spend it on the good stuff. If I had the cash I would get the BLS kit in an instant.
But I don't so we got the LMC/DDM setup for a fraction of the cost. I personally love the setup for the cost and there are plenty of threads with people who have them and love them too.
Just my imput.
. Very good point and post Charlay.
11-05-2010, 07:48 PM
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baangarraaaang!!!
If i didnt have a BLS kit with real projectors/cutoff, etc those would look like diamonds of glare bouncing off of the file cabinets without the 'solid' line. My favorite part is how they show off the suspension, the light being so sharp makes the car look like its on rails
EDIT: I cant really speak to the visibility change on the LMC style setup, im sure its still leaps and bounds better than stock. I cant imagine anyone would argue that, however i HATE getting blinded by camaros/civics here who have similar setups, and 99% of the time, im pretty against getting pulled over.
If i didnt have a BLS kit with real projectors/cutoff, etc those would look like diamonds of glare bouncing off of the file cabinets without the 'solid' line. My favorite part is how they show off the suspension, the light being so sharp makes the car look like its on rails
EDIT: I cant really speak to the visibility change on the LMC style setup, im sure its still leaps and bounds better than stock. I cant imagine anyone would argue that, however i HATE getting blinded by camaros/civics here who have similar setups, and 99% of the time, im pretty against getting pulled over.
Last edited by Irish350; 11-05-2010 at 07:54 PM.
11-05-2010, 07:49 PM
#17
Well $875 is a lot of dough no matter what. Do HID lights LAST soooo much longer than halogen that that kind of green would be an investment??
I do believe that using the DDM HID kit in the LMC housings will give the options of the light color and also put out more light than the halogens. From pics I've seen, those LMC housings do quite well with HIDs in the form of cut-off and beam focus. Any input on that? Have I overlooked something maybe?
It'll be a while before I dive for lights and the BLS kit is #1 on my list...just the price keeps me from making the dive sooner. If I get this Border Patrol job, I won't spare that expense tho!
I do believe that using the DDM HID kit in the LMC housings will give the options of the light color and also put out more light than the halogens. From pics I've seen, those LMC housings do quite well with HIDs in the form of cut-off and beam focus. Any input on that? Have I overlooked something maybe?
It'll be a while before I dive for lights and the BLS kit is #1 on my list...just the price keeps me from making the dive sooner. If I get this Border Patrol job, I won't spare that expense tho!
11-05-2010, 08:12 PM
#18
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There are plenty of options for projector setups. You can get a pair of HID projectors for $90 - $150 and fab a mount & housing for them yourself if you want to keep costs down. The final cost will depend on which ballasts & bulbs you buy, and what you do for housings.
The BLS kit is a drop-in replacement with already made sealed housings. That's why it costs more. This isn't a bulk made product produced cheaply in an overseas factory.
The BLS kit is a drop-in replacement with already made sealed housings. That's why it costs more. This isn't a bulk made product produced cheaply in an overseas factory.
02-22-2011, 01:50 PM
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There is also another thread in which people are debating the merit of projectors, and arguing that the LMC kits are just fine.
Personally I'm tired of ratty cars and bubba trucks running them, and making it harder to see on dark roads (terrible glare). The BLS kit focuses the light and has a beam cutoff to prevent blinding oncoming traffic, it also greatly enhances the reach of the beam pattern. It feels like you an see for miles!
It's not cheap, but it is well worth it.
You certainly don't want to go with LMCs, ruin your light coverage, inconvenience other drivers, attract cops attention, and wind up looking like a ricer
