Avoiding a zap and or a pop.

[Justo]

Yeah I could do hours of searching on the internet or ask you lot for the answer.

hmmm.

You win.

I can do practically anything. Lay bricks. Carpentry. Plumb. Drink beer. Paint. Drink Wine. Tile. Take a decent photo, render and Design -  i've been told I can make love pretty ok too - well just the once.
But I have no idea about electrics. Flashback: When I was 5 I put my tongue into a powersocket. As boys do... While it was too fat and dry to get a hit, the old man caught me and gave me a beating to remember. Ive stayed clear since.

I did however believe I could change a light bulb until today. I want to put some HID into the 696. But I don't want to spend $40 odd bucks and watch it go pop. Nor do I wanna zap myself (though that wouldn't be life threatening on a bike - or would it?)

Questions:

1. Do I need separate globes for high and low, or does the bike pump more power into the hi?
2. Do I need some sort of converter kit to do this first?
3. Is "H7" the standard size, as in are all H7s the same - lenght, depth width etc?
4. I assume I need to match the current Wattage & Ampage of my Stock globes (whatever that means - see told you).
5. Should I piss off and spend hrs with google being confused with random formulas that make no sense to me :'(

The reason the pea in the skull has fired up again: http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/200134/Electrical/200134.html

Thanks crew

Sparky I aint

[braando]

Where do you live Justo..?   I have installed a couple of HID kits.......happy to give you some advice or help..PM me if you like mate..
brian

[Dannog]

HID kits are easy to install. The issue is to make sure the lamp will fit. You can get ones the have both hi and low beam in a single lamp. They do this by having a magnet that pulls back the lamp so the focal distance is changed and it will look like you've flicked on hi beam. It's not a real hi beam as the problem is HID lamps take time to warm up hence won't be any good it it was igniting another lamp. Some kits have a HID lamp and a convensional lamp for hi beam.

There is a great thread in the accessories and modes invasions kits and what fits. I know matty was / purchase one not that long ago.

Issue make sure lamp will fit. For this its handy to be able to return it if it doesnt
Get one with a slim / small ballast. Some of them are large and ok for cars but hard to hide on the bike
Install it with power and fuse from the battery. U dont have to worry about lamp size as HID doesn't draw the same power as conventional.
Use the oem wiring to drive a relay to turn on the lamp.

Might sound hard but it's really not that bad. H7 is the type of base on the lamp that will fit into OEM harness.

[Dannog]

here's the link to the thread

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13068.0

Brian, what kit did you get?

[Justo]

Thanks. I read that thread.

Jeff from MonsterParts got right back to me. This is what he had to say:

We spent an afternoon testing bulbs…and found these PIAA to be the best option of all the ones we tried (including 2 different HID kits)
Good brightness, and a -much- easier install than the HID with all the extra wiring. Straight swap for the stock bulb.
Also does no draw more than the stock bulb (or get hotter), and is DOT approved (in the US, should be fine where you are as well)
note that the 696 takes two different bulbs for hi/lo (just updated the site - http://www.monsterparts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=200134 ) thanks and let me know if you have any other questions"

So if this right (sound right to you lot?). Not even I can F@#k it up....

Aussie Dollar is pretty good at the moment too, so 2 globes for $90. worth it you recon? Anyone know where I can get the same ones in Oz?

Or I might not even bother with the high beam. Hardley ever use it anyway.

Argh the decisions!!

thoughts?

[ungeheuer]

Justo, if you're importing HIDs from the USA just make sure that the Flux Capacitor is metric thead 240v rather than the stock American 5/8ths" 110v  .

You cant go wrong otherwise.

[Justo]

Great Scott!!! How am I going to generate 1.21 gigawatts!!!

[Dannog]

A heap of us have that lamp. I'm currently using it. Spider put us onto them. When you order them you get 2 and we were sharing the spare around. I cant remember the website but it was in the UK. they turned up in a couple of days and were very cheap. Then again Jeff is a top guy and has given you good advice so grab them from him

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18969.0

[braando]

Thanks. I read that thread.

Jeff from MonsterParts got right back to me. This is what he had to say:

We spent an afternoon testing bulbs…and found these PIAA to be the best option of all the ones we tried (including 2 different HID kits)
Good brightness, and a -much- easier install than the HID with all the extra wiring. Straight swap for the stock bulb.
Also does no draw more than the stock bulb (or get hotter), and is DOT approved (in the US, should be fine where you are as well)
note that the 696 takes two different bulbs for hi/lo (just updated the site - http://www.monsterparts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=200134 ) thanks and let me know if you have any other questions"

So if this right (sound right to you lot?). Not even I can F@#k it up....

Aussie Dollar is pretty good at the moment too, so 2 globes for $90. worth it you recon? Anyone know where I can get the same ones in Oz?

Or I might not even bother with the high beam. Hardley ever use it anyway.

Argh the decisions!!

thoughts?
[Justo, i teied bulbs too........they are whiter than stock, but nowhere close to an HID kit....just my two cents worth.../quote]

[braando]

Woops......!

My HID kit was from Arco iMPORTS  http://www.hidlighting.com.au/HID%20Motorcycle.html
i tried stronger, whiter globes but they don't compare to HID, mine is the 55watt kit, very bright but haven't had anyone flashing me in the 6 months that it has been in. Matty has my old kit, a 35watt one which is not  disimmilar to my new one, plus his ballast is smaller also. Yes, you do need to attack the bucket with a metal holesaw and find a place for the ballast as it will not fit into the bucket, mine is wedged behind the instruments but would love to find a better home for it one day.

[Justo]

Brian what are you riding?

From what Jeff at monsterparts has told me, and the general gist im getting, these two bulbs are straight swap outs with the 696. So no reqiring or anything. me likes that. The older model monsters maybe a tad different though, hence your scenario.

[braando]

Mine is an S4R justo.......single globe, H4 i "think"........it has the motor at the back of the globe that raises and lowers it for high and low beam.....and yours is a 696..? different set up is it..?

[braando]

I know the Guy (Lex) from Arco reasonably well Justo, if you like i am more than happy to give him a call and pick his brains, he loves talking bikes. Website is impressive, but he is a one man band operating out of his garage up Castle Hill way....thats if you want to go HID of cause.

[Justo]

Your a good man Brian.

Im getting a couple of other things from Monsterparts. Cant help myself with the $1 so good.

So Ill grab the low beam globe and see if its a straight swapout like they say.

Stay tuned. And thanks for all your help, suggestions and offerings.

[cakeman]

I was looking through the Service Guide on a way to get the glas lens off... mine is a bit cloudy and needs a clean... i couldnt find anything and not to much on the net (seemed very complicated from what i found... remove cluster etc etc...)

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers