Originally Posted by browning4x4

okay so ive done more reading.... my thinking is still the same and still begs me to ask WHERE does it say its illegal?i know blue and purple tints are illegal (DUH) and dangerous but for the 4300k-5000k or 6000k where does it say?

that video was using a 8000k or higher temp? and was from 2002-2005? not to mention it answered one question you asked me. what model car was that; being it had stock hid's and no projector.....

for our jeeps the kit i ordered from ddmtuning (35w hi/lo kit) came with some casper shields maybe that and the ecodes are what makes difference. but for the some of the claims that people are posting im simply asking for your reference and proof. once that is clearly stated and proven youll get more support. mr sterns website and saying to get a higher wattage bulb isnt gonna cut it the higher wattage bulb is trying to compete with the HID's so wouldnt it be glaring as well being the housings arent designed for that?

Originally Posted by SEMA eNews
Vol. 10, No. 18 - May 2, 2007

_______________________________________
GOVERNMENT CLAMPS DOWN ON HID CONVERSION KITS
NHTSA Does Not Recognize “For Off-Road Use Only” Disclaimer

As SEMA has reported in the past, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is targeting high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits for enforcement actions.

NHTSA has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with the federal lighting standard, Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The noncompliant kits frequently include an HID bulb, ballast, igniter, relay and wiring harness adapters. NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public since the kits can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists. In one investigation, NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum allowable candlepower by over 800 percent.

Halogen equipment uses an electrical current to heat a metal wire coil filament to incandescence, while the HID conversion kit’s light source incorporates a discharge arc to produce light. HIDs require a ballast for operation. Under FMVSS No. 108’s Section S7.7 (Replaceable light sources), each replaceable light source for headlamps must be designed to conform to the dimensions and electrical specifications for the headlamp source it is intended to replace. For example, if an HID kit is marketed as replacing an H1 light source, then it must match the H1’s wire coil filament size and location, the electrical connector size and location, and the ballast design for use with an H1 light source (which is impossible since there is no ballast). Consequently, companies that are manufacturing HID light sources (e.g., D1S, D1R, D2S, D2R, 9500, etc…) with incandescent light source bases (e.g., H1, H3, H7, H8, H9, H11, H13, HB1, HB2, HB3, HB4, HB5, etc…) should be aware that this light source design would not be a design that conforms to FMVSS No. 108, and could not be imported and sold in the United States without violating Federal law. (The importer is treated as the manufacturer and subject to the same fines and penalties that apply to a domestic manufacturer.)

NHTSA has also determined that a commonly-used disclaimer “for off-road use only” has no legal meaning and is not recognized by the agency as the manufacturer, importer and retailer are not in a position to control use once a product has been sold. Any equipment offered for sale which is covered by FMVSS No. 108 (headlamps, taillamps, side markers, etc.) must comply with the standard.

On a related topic, NHTSA has also stepped up enforcement against restyled combination lamps that are missing required functions existing on the original-equipment lamps. This would include replacement front or rear combination lighting equipment that do not have a required reflector, amber or red light, no “DOT” marking, or mismarked wattage. The issue is the same -- any equipment offered for sale which is covered by FMVSS No. 108 must comply with the standard.

Originally Posted by browning4x4

so where is this law of HIDs having to be in a projector and what states does this apply too? and why hasnt there been a recall on vehicles that came stock with HIDs and no projector?

i suggest some you instead of doing all that so called reading check out some HIDs in the Ecode housings or just a quality housing. proper light cutoff easily falls into PROPER AIMING.

Originally Posted by GreenClassic

You guys can say what you want, but the fact is that HIDs without projectors are blinding other drivers. It doesn't matter how you aim them. Halogen housings use a bunch of little mirrors to distribute the light all around. This is okay for halogen bulbs because they aren't especially bright. Put in an HID bulb which is way brighter, and the reflected light is just that much worse. Think of it like this. An HID bulb is brighter than a Halogen bulb on high-beam. So you are basically driving around with your high-beams on all the time. HIDs require projectors the focus the beam precisely because the light output is so much more intense. They are called High Intensity Discharge for a reason.

I have experience with this. Like I said, I've had HIDs before. And it didn't matter if I aimed my e-code housings low, it was still blindingly bright for others on the road. Did they have a nice cut-off? Yes. Did it make any difference to how bright my headlights were to other people's eyes? No.

This is what other drivers encounter when you drive around with your HIDs without projectors:

Here's another example that shows how halogen housings scatter light, and the Eclipse isn't even coming straight on:

Originally Posted by GreenClassic

You guys can say what you want, but the fact is that HIDs without projectors are blinding other drivers. It doesn't matter how you aim them. Halogen housings use a bunch of little mirrors to distribute the light all around. This is okay for halogen bulbs because they aren't especially bright. Put in an HID bulb which is way brighter, and the reflected light is just that much worse. Think of it like this. An HID bulb is brighter than a Halogen bulb on high-beam. So you are basically driving around with your high-beams on all the time. HIDs require projectors the focus the beam precisely because the light output is so much more intense. They are called High Intensity Discharge for a reason.

I have experience with this. Like I said, I've had HIDs before. And it didn't matter if I aimed my e-code housings low, it was still blindingly bright for others on the road. Did they have a nice cut-off? Yes. Did it make any difference to how bright my headlights were to other people's eyes? No.

This is what other drivers encounter when you drive around with your HIDs without projectors:


Here's another example that shows how halogen housings scatter light, and the Eclipse isn't even coming straight on:

Originally Posted by GreenClassic

You guys can say what you want, but the fact is that HIDs without projectors are blinding other drivers. It doesn't matter how you aim them. Halogen housings use a bunch of little mirrors to distribute the light all around. This is okay for halogen bulbs because they aren't especially bright. Put in an HID bulb which is way brighter, and the reflected light is just that much worse. Think of it like this. An HID bulb is brighter than a Halogen bulb on high-beam. So you are basically driving around with your high-beams on all the time. HIDs require projectors the focus the beam precisely because the light output is so much more intense. They are called High Intensity Discharge for a reason.

I have experience with this. Like I said, I've had HIDs before. And it didn't matter if I aimed my e-code housings low, it was still blindingly bright for others on the road. Did they have a nice cut-off? Yes. Did it make any difference to how bright my headlights were to other people's eyes? No.

This is what other drivers encounter when you drive around with your HIDs without projectors:


Here's another example that shows how halogen housings scatter light, and the Eclipse isn't even coming straight on:

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

the second one would net you more usable light because the bulb isnt covered in a blue tint.

Originally Posted by 92XJGuy

Oh OK. Good to know.

Also, what does the Putco harness actually do? I've heard that it greatly increases the light output. Is that true?

Cheers