Question on how HID headlights work

[cs51762]

I recently purchased a 2018 Taurus SE and I'm very disappointed in the halogen headlights. So, I purchased all of the factory parts to do an HID swap and I constructed wiring adapters to make it work. My question is, with the halogens, you can flash your lights in the daytime as a warning to oncoming traffic about a road hazard, etc. Is that function available with HIDs? I know that to get full brightness, it takes a little time for them to warm up. Thanks.

 

[kryptto]

I recently purchased a 2018 Taurus SE and I'm very disappointed in the halogen headlights. So, I purchased all of the factory parts to do an HID swap and I constructed wiring adapters to make it work. My question is, with the halogens, you can flash your lights in the daytime as a warning to oncoming traffic about a road hazard, etc. Is that function available with HIDs? I know that to get full brightness, it takes a little time for them to warm up. Thanks.

On my HID SHO, I can flash high beams pulling the paddle.

 

[CraxyMitch]

The "time to warm up" is less than 1 seconds, and exponentially reduced when repeated. You can flash your brights or your headlights without noticable problems insomuch as you have good lights and good power.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

nothing like the old days, i had an HID kit in a crown vic 12 years ago and it took a solid 15 seconds to get to full brightness, flashing/high beams was achieved by a little motor or magnet that physically moved the bulb. not sure how these systems work if it also moves the bulb or has a separate filament but you shouldnt have an issue if youre using OE equipment, I dont notice any change in brightness at all with mine.

 

[SHOrod]

not sure how these systems work if it also moves the bulb or has a separate filament

The modern HIDs that I've experienced have a motorized "door" that moves to cut off the upper portion of the beam for low beam use, or unobstructed for high beam. These make for a rather flat beam pattern in low beam which helps when converting the HID bulbs to LED bulbs in the event the focal distance or bulb pattern is not quite perfect. Fortunately the motorized doors seem to be pretty reliable.

-Rod