FAQ
Q. What are the advantages of having a Xenon or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting system?
A. There are three main advantages to installing an HID system in your vehicle.
1) An HID bulb produces roughly 3 times more lumens than a halogen bulb.
2) HID bulbs consume 30% less power than halogen bulbs.
3) With no filament to vibrate and fatigue, HID bulbs last roughly 10 times longer than halogen bulbs.
Q. How do I find out which HID kit to order?
A. The vehicle owner’s manual may recommend the best types of bulbs for your headlights. There may also be a recommendation on the bulb itself. The bulb type and wattage should be printed or molded into the base of the bulb. You can also use our Search by vehicle feature.
Q. Which bulb color is the brightest?
A. 5000k to 6000k are the brightest and also the purest white (some already sense a slight blue tint in the 6000k). The colors above 6000k become progressively more blue but less bright. If you dip below 5000k, the tint becomes warmer and some of the brightness is sacrificed.
Q. Why do I need ballasts?
A. Standard car headlights run on a 12v electrical system. HID Xenon lighting systems require over 23,000 volts to ignite the bulbs. Once lit, they only require 85 volts to keep them running. Ballasts are necessary for the lamps to turn on and to regulate the voltage. It is, therefore, an integral part of the system. Even the wires that connect the bulbs to the ballasts are special high voltage lines made specifically for this purpose.
Q. What is the difference between genuine Xenon HID lights and Xenon gas-filled bulbs?
A. High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights have a glass gas chamber that replaces the filament of traditional halogen light bulbs. The gas is ignited with an approximately 23,000 volt charge and stays illuminated by a constant 12v source that is provided by a ballast connected directly to the battery.
Cheap xenon-filled halogen bulbs do not use the same technology and are tinted blue to give off a white light. They still have a filament and produce less light output than standard halogen bulbs of the same wattage.
Q. Can’t I just purchase a stronger watt halogen bulb to get a brighter light?
A. Almost all factory halogen bulbs operate at 55 watts. Using a higher wattage bulb will produce more light but the output will still be dim compared to a true HID system. If you choose to use higher wattage bulbs, you increase the current draw on your entire electrical system and run the risk of melting your factory wiring or harming the rest of your electrical system.
A. HID system can operate at 35 watts while most traditional halogen bulbs require 55 watts. Even though XENON HID lamps draw a lower current, they produce 3 times the light output as do the higher wattage halogen bulbs.
Q. What does the HID conversion kit include?
A. Each Kensun conversion kit is made from HID components that are designed to meet stringent quality standards. It includes:
2 HID bulbs
2 Ballasts
1 Plug and play wiring harness with fuse and relay wired inline (If the kit is Bi-Xenon)
1 Easy to follow installation and wiring diagram
For most vehicles, these units are plug-and-play and will not require any wire cutting during installation.
Q. Can I install the kit myself?
A. For anyone who is somewhat mechanically-inclined, this installation is considered 'do-it-yourself'. Our kits are ready to install right-out-of-the-box. We also provide you with a full set of easy-to-read, step-by-step instructions that will guide you along the way.
Q. What should I do if I touch the bulb?
A. Never touch the bulb glass with bare hands, as oil from your skin can shorten the lifespan of the bulb. If you happen to touch the bulb, remove any oils that may settle on it with a very soft cotton cloth soaked in alcohol. HID bulbs that are exposed to oils and grease will shatter and are not covered under the 2-year warranty.
Q. Will I be able to switch back to my original halogen bulbs after the HID conversion kit has been installed?
A. If need be, the entire kit can be removed and the original halogen bulbs reinstalled.
Q. I have dual beam headlight bulbs (one bulb for both low and high beams). If I install the HID system, will I lose the ability to use the high beams?
A. There is four choices for H4, 9004, 9007, and H13 bulb sizes: (1) Single beam. (2) Low Xenon / High Halogen. (3) Bi-Xenon. The single beam kit performs only for one beam (high or low). The Low Xenon / High Halogen lights have one bulb base where 2 bulbs are mounted: an HID bulb for the low beam and a halogen bulb for the high beam. The Bi-Xenon kits have an HID bulb that moves inward for the high beam, so both the high and low beams are HID.
Q. Will DRL (daytime running lights) or Auto Switch On affect the HID kit?
A. For vehicles with Daytime Running Lights which share the same bulb with the HID light, you will need to disable the DRL mode. DRL operate on reduced wattage or fluctuating current levels. This will cause the HID system to flicker and burn out prematurely. Please ensure that your OEM headlight harness is providing a constant 12 volts not to damage the HID system. The Auto Switch On may affect the lifespan of the HID ballasts and the bulbs. Automatic Lights usually come on just right before you start the ignition. So the battery will be focused on ignition. Therefore HIDs will try to ignite on a lower voltage again. Note that Using Auto Switch “ON”, aftermarket bulbs may not work correctly with any particular vehicle’s setup, that is why the manual operation of the lights is recommended.
Q. Are XENON HID light systems street legal?
A. All XENON HID aftermarket kits are intended for exhibition and off-road use only. Check state laws regarding the use of HID lights on public roads.