JDM HID help

[Coldsong]

So im wondering if the lowbeam on the HIDs is supposed to go off when the highbeams are turned on for the JDM HIDs in a factory wired application?

I wired mine so that they function like most head lights and the HIDs turn off when the highbeams are tuned on. Dont wanna burn out a bulb or ballast.

[Yamazaki]

I wasn't sure about this so I went to the garage and checked. The HIDs do stay on when the hi-beams are turned on.

[2000gtb]

you will have more of a risk when the low shuts off when the hi is triggered... say you flash your hi a couple of times... which means the HID will be flickering on and off, I believe thats bad for the ballast or the bulb... correct me if Im wrong

[rougeben83]

that's why I always tell people to ground the low beams to the chassis instead of the negative lead in the headlight harness (often mistaken for the postive lead as people think subaru uses a positive switch circuit, instead of a negative one). Not only will your HID's be better by having a thicker gauge wire grounding it, the low beams will stay on while the highbeams are on too.

[Coldsong]

Cool thanks guys, I'll switch that asap.

P.S. Ben what would you recommend for ground wire size?

[rougeben83]

12-14g should be fine. The stock is like 18-20g, good enough for halogen bulbs, barely passable for the high current HID ballasts need to fire up the first 30 seconds.

[Coldsong]

Thanks ben. Problem corrected.

[rougeben83]

Glad to here, you're like the 4th or 5th person I've helped with the same problem :lol: