A HID Ballast, what is that shiny little box where wires comes in and out and why do you need a HID ballast for your xenon headlight? It is not to get your xenon light in balance or to make it a bit heavier. It also has nothing to do with the trackbed upon which railway sleepers (UK) or railroad ties (US) are laid. The answer is simple and we will help you understand the need of a HID ballast so that you can buy the real deal.

HID ballast , smart piece of technology

A HID Ballast is a device required by a xenon headlight (also for fluorescent lamps) to regulate voltage and current supplied to the lamp during the start. It also provides enough voltage and current throughout the drive. An electronic ballast for a xenon (HID) lamp comprises three key functional blocks:
  1. A boost PFC stage (to maintain sinusoidal input current and generate a stable DC bus voltage)
  2. A buck converter (responsible for optimising lamp current and power)
  3. And an output stage to drive the lamp.
The output stage also includes an ignition circuit capable of striking the lamp whether hot or cold.

HID Ballast, open it up!

Below you see a picture of a very old and cheap ballast. These ballasts are made of the most cheapest material in Asia and do not meet the latest requirements for our high-end xenon projectors, nevertheless, you can still see how everything works. HID Ballast (old) Now the difference with the one above and the real deal like the HID Ballast Aharon 35W canbus Slim is that the output really stays at 35W instead of the 30/31 watt output. What will happen when you use the 30/31 watt output HID ballast?
  • Slow startup time
  • Reduce the output of the light radiance
  • Reduce the lifetime of your xenon bulbs
  • Underpower the xenon bulbs
So you definitly don't want to do that to your vehicle. Keep your power up and choose the best HID ballasts out there. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give us a call or email us.