HID and LED Color Matching Guide, Good Info Options

[trdproven]

So I have tested this by buying various kits and putting them in various cars.

This is proven after spending hundreds and hundreds and several rma's.

You have to treat projector lenses and frosted lens as similar. They tend to step down 1 color. For example, a 6k hid on a projector lens will look like 5k. But when you put the 6k in a clear housing such as clear fogs or clear reflector housing you get the true color. Let's start with the different setups.

Clear housing + clear fog housing you can match by getting the same color temp
Projector + frosted fog lens like our fogs is the same get the same temp
Projector + projector fogs like 7gc follows the same rule same temp works because similar type

Projector hl + clear fogs get 1 color up on the headlights for example 8k hid hl and 6k fogs or 6k hid hl and 5k hid fog. If you get the same temp your fogs will be more whitish or your hl will be more off white.

If you would like to match with led fog kits, this is what I found. A 6k hid is more white than a 6k led.

For example clear reflector hl running 6k hid need a 7k led bulb on a clear fog. I also tested this. Even a 6500k led won't match up to the 6k hid Led temps don't align with hid temps. Like 6k hid matches more with 7k led and 6-6500k led matches more with 5k hid. So in LED, i tested one particular kit using films for the temp change and there's another type that uses color tubes. But for the film the closest match to the 6k hid was either 8 or 10k film. I also have the color tube type which I'm about to test and update here later.
So in a nutshell matching LED to HID, might be a guess based on these factors, chip type, brand, techology, lumens, or color changing method.

Just extra info in terms of color output, in our cars if you want something close to 6k you get 8k for the step down. I also tested a 6k and its a bit off white.

I spent lot testing different kits both led and hid, different temps, brands, technologies on different cars to learn these results. I mean fortunately our cars will always have the right hl and fog combo because frosted lens and projector combos create similar results. And same as 7gc. So this helps you with your other cars. Good luck. And pls provide constructive feedback as always. camera pics are not as accurate results as in person, I've tested this also different setups and cars. Thanks.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Mar 3, 2016 - 8:38 PM

[The_enD]

I don't see any wattage mentioned. As far as I know a 35 and 55 HID kit won't have the same color even, if they are the same Kelvin value.

[trdproven]

This is tested for 35 watts I don't recommend 55. 35 is more than sufficient that you generally don't even need high beams. 55watts just brings up concerns electrical wise and i wonder anyway if it even gives true benefit without side effects. remember the hid will pull lots of power first to warm up the bulb before it stabalizes to its advertised wattage. Besides 55 kit won't determine color change it only changes light output.



This post has been edited by trdproven: Mar 6, 2016 - 7:17 AM