FDrive A GUIDE TO RING AUTOMOTIVE HID BULBS

XENON HID TECHNOLOGY Unlike conventional auto bulbs HID bulbs have no filament which are susceptible to vibration. Instead, there is a glass capsule in the centre of the bulb containing Xenon gas. Two metal electrodes sealed into the glass capsule enables a high voltage to arc across, igniting the Xenon gas which produces the light. The start-up voltage required to arc across the capsule to ignite the gas is typically up to 26,000 volts. Electrode Gas filled capsule Xenon Capsule Point of ignition arc A BALLAST IS REQUIRED FOR EACH HEADLAMP. The ballast provides the correct voltage to start and operate the bulbs. The ballast for D2/D4 bulbs includes a starter to provide the 26,000v needed to ignite the bulb. In D1/D3 the starter is in the base of the bulb. Once a HID bulb has been ignited the ballast maintains a lower operating AC voltage. The operating voltage is 85v for D1 and D2 Xenon HID bulbs and 42v for D3 and D4 Xenon HID bulbs. Typical Ballasts + - Vehicle operating DC voltage Ballast/ Starter 26000 v AC start up 85v AC continuous D2 42v AC continuous D4 Vehicle operating DC voltage + - Vehicle operating DC voltage Ballast Vehicle operating DC voltage Starter Starter 26000 v AC start up 85v AC continuous D2 42v AC continuous D4 2 Ring HID Bulb A4 12pp Guide.indd 2 04/10/2013 13:20

FDrive A GUIDE TO RING AUTOMOTIVE HID BULBS | Page 3