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HID in Silverado HD questions/issues?

clark grizwald

By clark grizwald
in Modifications & Accessories

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clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
Posted

So I had a shop install HID's for me. They are a good quality kit, the lower of the two wattage ballasts available. I have a 2015 Silverado 2500HD that came with the halogen projectors. I know the difference between reflector housing and projector. What I don't know is the difference between a halogen projector and a HID projector. Reading online and on this forum, I have read it mentioned there is a difference but have never read what exactly it is.

 

Anyways, I don't have the balls to take apart a headlight and install new projectors that you can buy. It's also not realistic to send my headlights away to have someone else do it. That's why I did the best I could for me and had a shop install them with what I have to work with...the stock projector lights.

 

Now, these are 5000k and I noticed the other morning when leaving for work something that stuck out to me. I am VERY picky and maybe its just me and nobody else would see this. Maybe I should just forget about it and stop being so OCD. However, I wanted to post to see if this is just the way it is or if there i a problem that can be fixed. The thing I noticed when I was leaving the other morning was what appeared to be 2 long skinny shadow like images in the light pattern. Not terribly dark but I noticed it probably because I was looking for anything out of the ordinary in the light pattern.

 

I'm attaching some pics below. This was yesterday at dusk so it wasn't completely dark.

 

The first is the lights from sitting inside the truck. Can you see the 2 faint long skinny shadow like images in the light pattern? They look like tire tracks in a way. I added some arrows to point them out. Am I being ridiculous and overly particular?

 

The second pic is me holding a piece of cardboard about a foot or so in front of the headlight. Here you can see that skinny shadow that is projected out into the light pattern in pic #1.

 

The third pic is a side view of the headlight lens. You can what's being projected onto the lens itself. This in turn is kind of what's showing up on the driveway in pic #1.

 

Can someone help me and explain is this normal? Do I have a problem? Is this indicative of a halogen projector with an HID bulb? What makes a HID projector different than a halogen projector? What are these shadows on the headlight lens and in the pattern?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Silvern Sentry Enthusiast

Silvern Sentry

Posted
Posted

You are correct about the projector being different but that is only for the focus pattern not sure this is the root of the issue you describe.

 

5000k only describes the color temperature as 'white light' and does not tell how bright it is that is measured in lumins. You are probably running a 35w ballast with 2000-2500 lumins ... best guess.

 

The difference of the bulbs is roughly this:

H11-halogen-hid-bulb.jpg

 

As you can see there is a little cathod(?) that runs the length on outside of bulb. I do not know if this accounts for your 'tire treads' but I would suggest asking whomever installed them. I would also recommend LED over HID at this point especially if you want 5000k color temp, the only need to use HID these days is if you want a higher color temp (blueish or purplish).

 

GM and all car manufacturers should have just swapped over to 100% LED already as it is that much better it makes previous solutions obsolete. The only excuse is build cost, a running cost that is pushed off onto the customer. I would expect this to be one of the next 'mandated' parts after rear view cameras become mandatory here in ...2018 or 19.

clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You are correct about the projector being different but that is only for the focus pattern not sure this is the root of the issue you describe.

 

5000k only describes the color temperature as 'white light' and does not tell how bright it is that is measured in lumins. You are probably running a 35w ballast with 2000-2500 lumins ... best guess.

 

The difference of the bulbs is roughly this:

H11-halogen-hid-bulb.jpg

 

As you can see there is a little cathod(?) that runs the length on outside of bulb. I do not know if this accounts for your 'tire treads' but I would suggest asking whomever installed them. I would also recommend LED over HID at this point especially if you want 5000k color temp, the only need to use HID these days is if you want a higher color temp (blueish or purplish).

 

GM and all car manufacturers should have just swapped over to 100% LED already as it is that much better it makes previous solutions obsolete. The only excuse is build cost, a running cost that is pushed off onto the customer. I would expect this to be one of the next 'mandated' parts after rear view cameras become mandatory here in ...2018 or 19.

 

 

 

GREAT info! Thanks for posting in my thread. Yes I know the 5000 is just the color, I posted that just to give all the details of what I had.

Since you posted those 2 bulbs side by side....I think that is a VERY good possibility the long skinny shadow that I'm seeing. Maybe a true HID projector is made to overcome that piece on the HID bulb from casting a shadow?

What do you think of the "design" that is being cast on the actual lens of the headlight? Looking at the pics of the bulbs you posted I'm guessing it's the tip of that HID bulb.

Silvern Sentry Enthusiast

Silvern Sentry

Posted
Posted

 

GREAT info! Thanks for posting in my thread. Yes I know the 5000 is just the color, I posted that just to give all the details of what I had.

 

Since you posted those 2 bulbs side by side....I think that is a VERY good possibility the long skinny shadow that I'm seeing. Maybe a true HID projector is made to overcome that piece on the HID bulb from casting a shadow?

 

What do you think of the "design" that is being cast on the actual lens of the headlight? Looking at the pics of the bulbs you posted I'm guessing it's the tip of that HID bulb.

 

I do not know for certain a different projector would solve the 'treadmark issue'. Brightness of the bulb may also overcome it.

clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

 

I do not know for certain a different projector would solve the 'treadmark issue'. Brightness of the bulb may also overcome it.

 

I'm just being super OCD as usual. I think I just need to realize unless a vehicle comes stock with OEM HID's....they're not going to be perfect.

Silvern Sentry Enthusiast

Silvern Sentry

Posted
Posted

 

I'm just being super OCD as usual. I think I just need to realize unless a vehicle comes stock with OEM HID's....they're not going to be perfect.

 

Would bug me too =P. My Aftermarket LED are the bomb, but replacing the whole headlight housing and bulb and projector ran me near $1000 all said and done. Still they are a joy at night so over all worth it to me.

  • 2 months later...
clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

**Update** So it's been determined that the shadow is called a "Ground Wire Shadow". I googled ground wire shadow hid, and found my exact issue is well known and many others have it in all types of vehicles. It's due to the H11 bulb or any bulb for that matter having the "electrode" or "return wire" installed running along the top of the bulb. Everything is then sent out through the lense backwards due to it being reflected. If the wire is on the top then you end up with the shadow projecting down and into the light pattern on the street as you see in my pics.

 

I called The Retrofit Source and there is a H11B bulb he said is the same fitment except when installed, the return wire/electrode will be on the bottom of the bulb. This will reflect up and out of the lens which will be up in the air and not on the road causing a shadow. I called the shop that installed mine and he said they will swap them out for me with a bulb that their supplier sells that's an H11B, not Morimoto that TRS sells but it will be the same design with the wire on the bottom when installed.

 

So just some more info if anyone is following this or can maybe give me their advice too. I have been flashed at least a half dozen times over the past 2 months when driving with just the lows on which are the 35w 5000k HID's. I also notice that whenever I am behind a car while driving or pull up behind one at a light, I just totally flood their interior out with my lights. It's like I have a huge lift or something but I don't. It just got to bothering me. So, yesterday I went into a shop that does state inspections and has one of those aiming machines that they use to aim lights and make sure they are within spec. Long story short.............He said my lights are "dead on" and so are the high beams. No adjustment needed and didn't charge me for looking because no adjustments were needed!

 

So, I left there feeling good that I am not out of aim but it still begs the question......why a I getting flashed periodically and totally flooding out the interior of cars when I'm behind them? Is it because the truck sits so high because it's a 2500HD 4x4? That's the only thing I can think of. I mentioned it to the guy at the auto shop and he said that's probably why too. Even though they are aimed properly, should I have had them taken down some? Or, would that be bad for me since I wouldn't be getting the correct distance in front of me according to the light aiming machine they use for state inspections?

 

Can anyone with more knowledge/experience give me their opinion?

 

The second part of this issue relates to something else. That the fact I still would like more light output on the street. Not for looks or to be obnoxious, but for my own visibility. I was driving the other night in the pouring rain on a 4 lane road divided by a double yellow. Granted, the white dotted and solid yellow painted lines probably haven't been repainted in like 15-20 years it seems like and you can hardly see them on a dry night. But with the rain I had to brake to a crawl because I thought I was going to run off the shoulder and was probably straddling the dotted line and riding in both lanes because I couldn't see. Is this just a combo of the bad paint marking and the wet roads with 5000k HID's sitting up high in a truck? Or, again, should I have the lights aimed down a little because even though they are aimed where they should be according to the machine, this event I just described along with getting periodically flashed and flooding the interior of cars out while behind them actually shows that not all the light that should be on the road is getting there? I just don't know what to do and it's really bothering me because I drive in the dark a lot.

 

One other thought I had was switching to a 55watt HID kit. Would that be a big difference? But then the close to $400 I spent for the 35w kit and installation is just totally wasted. Hopefully someone can help me out. Thanks!

smcgillis10 Enthusiast

smcgillis10

Posted
Posted

Anybody....?

I've been through this same thing. Factory halogen projectors don't have the same tolerances or the same "bowl" design(how the beam from the build is aimed). The only way to get the perfect results you want would be to do a retrofit.

 

Also you have to remember that a trucks headlights are HIGHER then the trunk of most cars. So you're always going to flood their car especially when stopped right behind them.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've been through this same thing. Factory halogen projectors don't have the same tolerances or the same "bowl" design(how the beam from the build is aimed). The only way to get the perfect results you want would be to do a retrofit.

 

Also you have to remember that a trucks headlights are HIGHER then the trunk of most cars. So you're always going to flood their car especially when stopped right behind them.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Well if that's the case then I guess I'm really worried about nothing?

clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've been through this same thing. Factory halogen projectors don't have the same tolerances or the same "bowl" design(how the beam from the build is aimed). The only way to get the perfect results you want would be to do a retrofit.

 

Also you have to remember that a trucks headlights are HIGHER then the trunk of most cars. So you're always going to flood their car especially when stopped right behind them.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Well if that's the case then I guess I'm really worried about nothing?

clark grizwald Enthusiast

clark grizwald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Pretty much.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I just got the H11B bulbs installed earlier today. Getting ready to go out so I'm hoping they look better with no annoying shadows in the light pattern.

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