HELP: Using car HID with 220V

**oj88** · August 21st, 2009 10:46 PM

I would think that it requires a very high starting/igniting current. The video below shows that the author's particular HID would start off at around 7A and stabilize to between 3-4A after the warm-up.

The 12V, 6A power supply that you have may be overrated. If the HID works when you connect it to your car's battery, it just shows that the HID needs more starting current than what your PSUs can give.

http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk217/Mr_Mik/Vectux/HID lamp project/?action=view&current=VectuxHIDlamppreliminarytest. flv

**rion** · August 22nd, 2009 05:37 AM

Hmmm...I tried connecting it to the PSU but I think it's not getting enough juice. Only thing it does is flicker and die down.

I bought a 12V 6A power supply and it did the same thing. How many amps do you think I'd need to get this party going? Or is the voltage just unstable?

Sorry, I'm really not an electrical person.

it's the under voltage/over voltage protection at work. ever notice some cars on HID has only one lights on? that's what happens...

on a car scenario, all you need it to turn off and turn it on again, but I'm not sure if it will do the same with your psu.

on a HID manual. I read that the max input current for 35w HID is 10amps and typical current is 3.2amps. more like as oj88 said.

if you can borrow a branded psu. give it a shot =)

**Horsepower** · August 22nd, 2009 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by OTEP

Hmmm...I tried connecting it to the PSU but I think it's not getting enough juice. Only thing it does is flicker and die down.

I bought a 12V 6A power supply and it did the same thing. How many amps do you think I'd need to get this party going? Or is the voltage just unstable?

Sorry, I'm really not an electrical person.

The 12v 6A PSU probably can't supply true 6A. You can try a car batt charger instead although it's quite heavy. It outputs 12v 12A.

As for the PC PSU you tested, can u please read us doc what the posted ratings are? It's usually on the psu body. Usually a sticker enumerating input & output of each voltage (what brand is it btw?).

For example,

HEC 550AB (dual 12v rails)
12v1 = 17A
12v2 = 18A
input: AC 100-240v

As for the HID, maybe it has specified power requirements too? We can start there.

**OTEP** · August 26th, 2009 12:45 PM

I'm uploading the pics now.

**OTEP** · August 26th, 2009 12:53 PM

PSUs:

AVR's 6A (no pic yet of the bigger unit I got)

**OTEP** · August 26th, 2009 12:54 PM

HID Ballast, bulb, and harness:

**Horsepower** · September 4th, 2009 08:01 AM

Sorry for the late reply doc.

I just came from Camiguin Island and it's a grave sin to surf the net there (it's a paradise!). hehe.

Anyway, I'm not familiar with the brands you've posted. I assume you've tested the HID kit already with a car batt, am I correct?

Have u tried using a car batt charger?

It's weird to me why it's not firing up esp with those specs of the PSUs you've posted. I was supposed to lend you my HEC 550AB (550W Active PFC PSU) but for some reason, it blew up a few moments ago when I connected a bunch of harddisks. It's a simple problem, I just need to replace the blown part (an IC) and it'll be running again. It served me well for the past four years so I'm really quite surprised that it got broken out of the blue.

Anyway, if you can't find a car batt charger, please tell me. :-)