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redpoint5 · 03-17-2018, 02:05 PM

I've only ever bought cheapo HID ballast/igniter combos. My last pair were only $30 shipped. I expected them to be fairly poor quality at that price. I'll usually lose a ballast after about 6 years of use. The HIDs were rated at 35 watts, 4500k color, and purchased from DDM Tuning.

I measured the current consumption last night and was shocked to find that 1 light pulled 47 watts! It didn't matter much what voltage I ran it. I measured current and voltage 3 different ways, and on 2 different power sources, and they all showed about 47 watts consumption after 5 minutes runtime. This is the same wattage as a halogen while barely outputting more light.

I'm willing to pay a bit more for lights that last longer and are more efficient. If they last a long time, I think it justifies the extra expense since I could even put them in a different vehicle if I sold the car.

My Prius came with H11 projector halogens, so I'm looking to replace the lights with something compatible with H11 and projectors. Is now the time to go LED rather than HID? Any recommendations for either LED or HIDs that are reasonably priced, long lasting, efficient, and put out more light than standard halogens?

03-17-2018, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
redpoint5 Human Environmentalist Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 12,457 Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX 90 day: 24.19 mpg (US) Lafawnda - CBR600 - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i 90 day: 47.32 mpg (US) Big Yeller - Dodge/Cummins - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base 90 day: 21.82 mpg (US) Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring 90 day: 26.68 mpg (US) Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2 90 day: 17.14 mpg (US) Model Y - '24 Tesla Y LR AWD Thanks: 4,212 Thanked 4,390 Times in 3,364 Posts	Cheapo HID Headlight Efficiency I've only ever bought cheapo HID ballast/igniter combos. My last pair were only $30 shipped. I expected them to be fairly poor quality at that price. I'll usually lose a ballast after about 6 years of use. The HIDs were rated at 35 watts, 4500k color, and purchased from DDM Tuning. I measured the current consumption last night and was shocked to find that 1 light pulled 47 watts! It didn't matter much what voltage I ran it. I measured current and voltage 3 different ways, and on 2 different power sources, and they all showed about 47 watts consumption after 5 minutes runtime. This is the same wattage as a halogen while barely outputting more light. I'm willing to pay a bit more for lights that last longer and are more efficient. If they last a long time, I think it justifies the extra expense since I could even put them in a different vehicle if I sold the car. My Prius came with H11 projector halogens, so I'm looking to replace the lights with something compatible with H11 and projectors. Is now the time to go LED rather than HID? Any recommendations for either LED or HIDs that are reasonably priced, long lasting, efficient, and put out more light than standard halogens? __________________ Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator Give me absolute safety, or give me death!