Lighting guys? HID'S

clark grizwald · December 9, 2016

I was posting in a thread that was from earlier in the fall and wasn't getting any responses so I'm starting a new thread.

I'm having what I think is an issue although it might not be. I'm trying to give as much info as I can here in hopes of getting a definitive answer. Here it is below. I'll post some pics in a few.

**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!

clark grizwald · December 9, 2016

Here I am behind a car at a light. Can you see how his headrests and inside are being flooded? Seem normal? I feel bad anytime I'm behind someone.

clark grizwald · December 9, 2016

Here is another example. I was in a parking lot parked. There is an aisle you can drive in between me and that truck across from me. Can you see how my lights are flooding the inside of the truck? Again, look normal?

clark grizwald · December 9, 2016

Not sure if this is something to use for comparison or not, but there was a semi trailer in a parking lot. I noticed my lights were hitting the bottom edge of it. I was around 12-15 feet from it. Seem normal?

clark grizwald · December 9, 2016

Here is one so you can see the return wire shadow in the light pattern. It's more defined in person but wanted to post so you can see. Also light on a piece of cardboard I'm holding right in front of the light. Hopefully this H11B will get rid of the shadow issue.

BoldTransport1 · April 3, 2017

I think you need to consider fog (I call them driving lights because they can't cut through fog) lights. Since they are mounted in the bumper, they are closer to the road and illuminate it better. I wouldn't aim your lights lower because you will sacrifice the distance that you can see out which is important in the dark.