55 Watt Ballast v. 35 Watt Ballast HID

[blackchaos]

This might be a dumb question that i'll probably get ripped up for, but is anyone running a 55 watt ballast in their tahoe. I heard that the 55 watt ballast makes the bulb 40% brighter, but also disperses a lot of heat. And i'm scared that I might melt the plastic around the bulb and be out a lot of money.

 

[Modded]

Yeah people have them and they are 30% brighter but that is way to bright. You may hurt the eyes of others, so I say get 35, Plus 35 is bright enough as it is.

 

[killer20072001]

I have 55 watt 12k's. Love em. Just aim your headlights down generously. Ive never been flashed once. Wife gets flashed all the time with her 35 watt 10k's.

 

[blackchaos]

What do you mean flashed? Pulled over?

 

[DenaliAK]

When you're headed at on-coming traffic and your lights are too bright, the other drivers flash their brights at you.

Don't get 55w unless you have a good optic that can control the light. Even then, it's not really necessary. It seems especially bad in Dodge trucks...everyone around here runs 55w HID's in the stock housings, and they are bright and glaring as hell to on-coming traffic.

As far as heat and melting is concerned, even the 55w HID's tend to run cooler than the standard Halogen bulbs, which are really hot bulbs to begin with.

 

[killer20072001]

Yeah what DenaliAK said about going into oncoming traffic. I wouldnt run 55 watt in stock housing's that is for sure. If you want 55 watt aim your headlights generously dont blind people.

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

I have 55 watt with 5000K lamps in my Yukon XL and absolutely NO problem with heat. Careful aiming needs to be done to ensure you are not blinging others but on open roads or in the country they pay off in spades. FYI put 35 watt 5000K in the wifes Volvo S70 and while the color is the same the distance is less with the 35 watt lamps. Bottom line to me is where you do most of your driving.....make the lamps fit your needs.

Merry Christmas to All