HID Conversion Kit Refraction Issues SOLVED? Options

[upscaleauto]

We all know that the typical HID kits on the market will refract light incorrectly in OEM halogen headlight housings without some sort of labor-intensive retrofitting or conversion to HID/projector housings. However, all of that is changing with a brand new design. What do you think about an HID kit that allows you to focus the bulb (outward/inward movement) within your OEM halogen headlight housings, resulting in a properly focused beam? Preventing the light refraction issues of traditional HID conversion kits and allowing for proper beam patterns? Two versions are in the works now - one automatic/remote adjustment version and one manual adjustment version. These kits will included ballasts and plug-n-play wiring to make the installation simple as well.

A few diagrams are below to explain the drawbacks of traditional HID kits and the advantage of a 'focusing' bulb like in this new HID kit.




This post has been edited by upscaleauto: Mar 25, 2010 - 11:44 PM

[Espo]

How you can restrict the beam pattern from the bulb itself, rather than retrofitting or modifying the headlight housing is beyond me. Go for it?

[upscaleauto]

How you can restrict the beam pattern from the bulb itself, rather than retrofitting or modifying the headlight housing is beyond me. Go for it?

This is exactly why this new system is so great! It provisions for actual adjustment of the bulb position either manually or remotely depending on the system. The bulb is able to move outward or inward with a simple adjustment, allowing you to actually focus the beam to factory specs. Keep an eye out for more info later. These would include ballasts and everything... plug-n-play too!

[richee3]

Do it. My IS 300 has auto-leveling headlights and that sounds useless but I actually see them working all the time.

[chacha]

don?t mean to hi-jack ur thread, the auto adjust hid kit is a great idea. How about aftermarket projector lows and highs for the celica. Im sure upscaleauto will get alot of people buying. Me as well.

[Espo]

How you can restrict the beam pattern from the bulb itself, rather than retrofitting or modifying the headlight housing is beyond me. Go for it?

This is exactly why this new system is so great! It provisions for actual adjustment of the bulb position either manually or remotely depending on the system. The bulb is able to move outward or inward with a simple adjustment, allowing you to actually focus the beam to factory specs. Keep an eye out for more info later. These would include ballasts and everything... plug-n-play too!

I've got HIDs in reflectors right now, so like I said, go for it - would definitely solve a lot of legality issues.

[upscaleauto]

We are working on getting some of these finished up and tested in the next few weeks hopefully. These will focus correctly like a true HID/halogen bulb even in OEM halogen reflector housings. No need for projectors or any other retrofitting. That is the intention of this whole design. We will be doing a kit that adjusts manually first and then depending on demand, a kit that is remotely adjusted. Glad to see there is some interest so far!

[upscaleauto]

A few pictures/diagrams added to the first post.

This post has been edited by upscaleauto: Mar 25, 2010 - 11:44 PM

[Spider77]

Cant wait to see a finished product....a little confused by the diagrams

[Espo]

Cant wait to see a finished product....a little confused by the diagrams

It's showing why HIDs scatter light as opposed to Halogens which are more focused.

[upscaleauto]

Diagrams also show how a typical HID kit bulb has a different light-emitting point than a halogen, which is the main cause for the improper light refraction. The the last diagram shows how this new kit is adjusted so that the light emitting point is at the same location as the halogen, resulting in a more focused beam. Hope this helps a little. Thanks to Espo for stepping in an helping explain as well!

[Bitter]

but its not just where the point that emits light is, its also the fact that you have an arc vs a filament. the filament is oriented a specific way to the housing where as the arc is going to be in a different orientation, this is more critical for a reflector than a projector. i could see this working well for a projector though like my 7th gen.

[upscaleauto]

but its not just where the point that emits light is, its also the fact that you have an arc vs a filament. the filament is oriented a specific way to the housing where as the arc is going to be in a different orientation, this is more critical for a reflector than a projector. i could see this working well for a projector though like my 7th gen.

Thanks for the insight on this. There are definitely multiple factors at work, but we'll be testing soon and see how this setup does in 6G Celica halogen housings. I am sure the results will be far better than traditional HID kits, but as far as comparing to projector retrofits we'll have to wait and see!

[Bitter]

so any good news?

[upscaleauto]

so any good news?

Right now we are in the painful waiting stage on these

[Projek_01]

to be honest, i dont think fixing the focal point will solve the problem with the scattered light. Even with a stock 9006 bulb, the beam isnt very sharp in the first place. The design of the headlight simply cant handle the extra light. btw, the picture on the right looks like a headlight with a projector. Only way to get a proper hid install on our cars is to do a projector retro or JDM projectors with a modified sheild.

plus, i have tried filing down a aftermarket 9006 bulb to play with the focal points. it hardly makes a difference. from my experimenting, this seems useless. sorry

This post has been edited by Projek_01: Apr 13, 2010 - 8:57 PM

[upscaleauto]

to be honest, i dont think fixing the focal point will solve the problem with the scattered light. Even with a stock 9006 bulb, the beam isnt very sharp in the first place. The design of the headlight simply cant handle the extra light. btw, the picture on the right looks like a headlight with a projector. Only way to get a proper hid install on our cars is to do a projector retro or JDM projectors with a modified sheild.

plus, i have tried filing down a aftermarket 9006 bulb to play with the focal points. it hardly makes a difference. from my experimenting, this seems useless. sorry

Thanks for the insight on this! This is currently in the works but on the back-burner. Hopefully it will be tested and reported on in the not so distant future and we'll have some confirmations! Regardless, can't argue that a projector retrofit is the best way to go!