learn me some high amperage wiring

[Baron Von Crowder]

The more I think about it, what's keeping me from just buying some of those cheap DDM HID kits and retrofit my KC lights?

That's what I was saying to do, I should have been more clear.

[CJ]

That's what I was saying to do, I should have been more clear.

Yeah I'm on board with that... seems pretty damn cheap to do honestly - some 55w kits. Only thing I see is how far can you place a ballast from the light exactly? all of their kits seem to be within 24-36". This light bar is on my roof. I would need at least 5-6 feet minimum. I could probably put the ballasts in my cowl behind the hood.

Oh, btw, I was going to ask you - do you work at the LKQ off carrier?

[Baron Von Crowder]

Yeah I'm on board with that... seems pretty damn cheap to do honestly - some 55w kits. Only thing I see is how far can you place a ballast from the light exactly? all of their kits seem to be within 24-36". This light bar is on my roof. I would need at least 5-6 feet minimum. I could probably put the ballasts in my cowl behind the hood.

Oh, btw, I was going to ask you - do you work at the LKQ off carrier?

Look at the kits for motorcycles, they have some with lsoome very small ballasts, maybe not small enough to fit inside the housing, but maybe you could find an ammo box...

And no, I office at the LKQ-Keystone at Macarthur and 30.

[CJ]

Look at the kits for motorcycles, they have some with lsoome very small ballasts, maybe not small enough to fit inside the housing, but maybe you could find an ammo box...

And no, I office at the LKQ-Keystone at Macarthur and 30.

well unfortunately I have no where to put an ammo can on top of my jeep, hehe

I'll have to ask them if I can relocate ballasts to further down the cable.

[EW]

Run dual alternators and multiple batteries. No problem.

[CJ]

Run dual alternators and multiple batteries. No problem.

I'm saving the second alternator for a weldenator if everything goes as planned. I should look into doing dual batteries though.

As for the HID, I may just have to make my own air tight enclosure and mount the ballasts to each light... my only concern is how hot do ballasts get?

[J&T's 82]

I would suggest coming out of the relay into a fuseable terminal block. This will add some additional safety as well as reduce your wire size.

[CJ]

I would suggest coming out of the relay into a fuseable terminal block. This will add some additional safety as well as reduce your wire size.

I use breakers, I just didn't have them in that diagram. But, it appears I'll be redoing it all together since I'll be doing 5 HID lights up top in the light bar and two on the bumper... should give me a whole shitload of light for killing things. So, until then this thread will probably drift into obscurity, gotta wait for my 4 HID kits to come in. I appreciate everyone's help - especially D.J.

[futant]

I'm saving the second alternator for a weldenator if everything goes as planned. I should look into doing dual batteries though.

As for the HID, I may just have to make my own air tight enclosure and mount the ballasts to each light... my only concern is how hot do ballasts get?

son of a bitch that was my plan, run a second unreged generator for welding
not sure if ill really do it but might come in handy on the trail.

any way you can see the HID any time you want, just really busy trying to port heads and rebuild two 6.2l diesels
ill take a picture one night too

[svauto-erotic855]

HIDs are the way to go for off roading. They are ultra durable because the bulb has no filament to break from an impact.

The KC daylighters are a mediocre lamp assembly at best. Buy quality the first time and you will not have to buy again. 30 + years ago when they came out they were the only game in town, now a days they are old news.

If HIDs are not in your budget consider ditching about half of your lights and buying some premium light housings that have a FF reflector design with 100 watt bulbs. 4 of them will put out way more usable light then your planned setup.

Your current set up will work just fine with 8ga wiring. You will need to run 4 or more regular bosch relays because they are typically only good for a 20amp constant load. A constant duty starter solenoid will also work in place of the relays.

The links that kbscobravert posted are all great places to buy from and will take care of your every need.

[CJ]

HIDs are the way to go for off roading. They are ultra durable because the bulb has no filament to break from an impact.

The KC daylighters are a mediocre lamp assembly at best. Buy quality the first time and you will not have to buy again. 30 + years ago when they came out they were the only game in town, now a days they are old news.

If HIDs are not in your budget consider ditching about half of your lights and buying some premium light housings that have a FF reflector design with 100 watt bulbs. 4 of them will put out way more usable light then your planned setup.

Your current set up will work just fine with 8ga wiring. You will need to run 4 or more regular bosch relays because they are typically only good for a 20amp constant load. A constant duty starter solenoid will also work in place of the relays.

The links that kbscobravert posted are all great places to buy from and will take care of your every need.

People really like bagging on KC, but with a 30 year warranty, and I've never had one go out in my life, I don't know what more you need. Do you know of any housings for sale by themselves for a reasonable price? I'd love to get 5 8" lights if that was possible.

[svauto-erotic855]

People really like bagging on KC, but with a 30 year warranty, and I've never had one go out in my life, I don't know what more you need. Do you know of any housings for sale by themselves for a reasonable price? I'd love to get 5 8" lights if that was possible.

Think of a cheap hand gun with a lifetime warranty. The design of the KCs is just outdated and for the money that 9 will cost you there are much better options.

Ultra high wattage bulbs are not where it is at to put light down range. The best performance comes from a modern reflector design. The difference has to be seen first hand to be believed. Swapping in a HID retrofit kit into an older housing is also not the way to go. A HID bulb is just a tiny arc and no filament. The reflector has to be designed specifically for the bulb being used. 1 pair of big OD HID lights will put more light down range then all nine of the KCs that you are planing to run.

Like I mentioned before, buy right the first time and you will never have to buy again.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Might check these out CJ

http://yellowandbluelighting.com/clearance/hella-500-driving-lamp-kit-refurb-76110r.html

[svauto-erotic855]

Piaa, Hella, Cibie, and Bosch all make lamps with a integrated ballast that greatly simplifies the install.

I forgot to mention that KC also makes some bad ass HID lamp assemblies. If I were in your shoes I would give KC a call and talk to one of their techs.

[CJ]

Think of a cheap hand gun with a lifetime warranty. The design of the KCs is just outdated and for the money that 9 will cost you there are much better options.

Ultra high wattage bulbs are not where it is at to put light down range. The best performance comes from a modern reflector design. The difference has to be seen first hand to be believed. Swapping in a HID retrofit kit into an older housing is also not the way to go. A HID bulb is just a tiny arc and no filament. The reflector has to be designed specifically for the bulb being used. 1 pair of big OD HID lights will put more light down range then all nine of the KCs that you are planing to run.

Like I mentioned before, buy right the first time and you will never have to buy again.

I should mention I already have 9. I also have to use a minimum of 5 lights on my bar. I can't afford $2,000 in HID lights unfortunately.