Different branded ballasts

calircr · 03-25-2008, 09:30 AM

So, I apparently have a bad slim ballast for my retros. I still have my ballast that I had purchased before I ended up buying retros. Here's my quesetion, is it bad to mix and match ballasts? On the driver side, I've got a slim ballast. Since the passenger side's slim ballast is not working and I'm waiting on getting a replacement. Could I just use the ballast in the mean while until I get my new slim ballast which is under warranty? I've already gotten pulled over for having a headlight out but the cop was cool and gave me a warning and said to get it fixed asap.

Thanks in advance!

calircr · 03-25-2008, 10:32 AM

anyone?

i just want to know if having two different ballasts would affect anything.

NIGHTHAWKSI · 03-25-2008, 10:42 AM

sure. ballast dont have to match.

***Tim*** · 03-25-2008, 12:27 PM

Most ballasts are pretty universal. Use any ballast you can get your hands on.

striker_1818 · 03-25-2008, 12:33 PM

Different ballasts have different warm-up periods. It won't hurt using two different brands though

***Tim*** · 03-25-2008, 12:39 PM

If you want to borrow a Denso ballast in the meantime while you wait for the other, let me know.

calircr · 03-25-2008, 12:49 PM

hey tim, thanks for the offer. I'll see how this temporary fix works for the time being. hope to install the other ballast after work today. If things don't go the way I want, I may hit you up on the offer.

+++++++++++++ rep for you but no more reps.

***Tim*** · 03-25-2008, 12:55 PM

Hopefully you don't have your ballast tucked under the headlight like I do. I'd have to pull the bumper and headlight off just to get to mine.

calircr · 03-25-2008, 01:03 PM

I have them up in the fender area...zip tied to a hole up there. I don't like the whole double back tape stuff because in cases like this, it would suck big time to try to rip the bad ballast off.

-Bionic- · 03-25-2008, 01:57 PM

I"m bringing a slim denso for this guy. Rolling around with one headlight. Poor guy.

The answer to your question is no. Any mix match works. But realize that each ballast have different warmup times as well as brightness. Commonly overlooked, all ballasts that consumer 35W give out different lightoutputs, just like a E46 produces less light than a S2000 although they use the same bulbs and ballasts. Slim denso and Matsu****a G3 is in the top, while TSX, many aftermarket and arguably Hella G3 is at the bottom.

Also, useage plays a huge role. Just because you end up with another slim denso doesn't mean that both of them will produce the same amount of light. There is a difference between a new ballast compared to one with 1500 hours. Also, the condition of the bulb plays a huge role in warm up and lightoutput.

For those who want the color, and warm up to occur almost exactly the same should rely on new bulbs and ballasts.

Hope this helps
bjorn

calircr · 03-25-2008, 03:19 PM

thanks bjorn!!!!!!

calircr · 03-28-2008, 10:15 AM

my attempt at finding a temporary fix for this problem didn't work. guess i'll just have to wait til bjorn comes down or my "friend" gets me a replacement ballast.

-Bionic- · 03-28-2008, 10:27 AM

Well, I"ll have something for you when I get there. One more week my friend.

03-25-2008, 09:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	Different branded ballasts So, I apparently have a bad slim ballast for my retros. I still have my ballast that I had purchased before I ended up buying retros. Here's my quesetion, is it bad to mix and match ballasts? On the driver side, I've got a slim ballast. Since the passenger side's slim ballast is not working and I'm waiting on getting a replacement. Could I just use the ballast in the mean while until I get my new slim ballast which is under warranty? I've already gotten pulled over for having a headlight out but the cop was cool and gave me a warning and said to get it fixed asap. Thanks in advance!
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03-25-2008, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	anyone? i just want to know if having two different ballasts would affect anything.

03-25-2008, 10:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
NIGHTHAWKSI Banned Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island Age: 27 Posts: 14,725 Ian	sure. ballast dont have to match.

03-25-2008, 12:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Tim* VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 5,368	Most ballasts are pretty universal. Use any ballast you can get your hands on.

03-25-2008, 12:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
striker_1818 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Farmingdale, New York Posts: 12,394 Christian	Different ballasts have different warm-up periods. It won't hurt using two different brands though

03-25-2008, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Tim* VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 5,368	If you want to borrow a Denso ballast in the meantime while you wait for the other, let me know.

03-25-2008, 12:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	hey tim, thanks for the offer. I'll see how this temporary fix works for the time being. hope to install the other ballast after work today. If things don't go the way I want, I may hit you up on the offer. +++++++++++++ rep for you but no more reps.

03-25-2008, 12:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
*Tim* VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 5,368	Hopefully you don't have your ballast tucked under the headlight like I do. I'd have to pull the bumper and headlight off just to get to mine.

03-25-2008, 01:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	I have them up in the fender area...zip tied to a hole up there. I don't like the whole double back tape stuff because in cases like this, it would suck big time to try to rip the bad ballast off.

03-25-2008, 01:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
-Bionic- Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 744	I"m bringing a slim denso for this guy. Rolling around with one headlight. Poor guy. The answer to your question is no. Any mix match works. But realize that each ballast have different warmup times as well as brightness. Commonly overlooked, all ballasts that consumer 35W give out different lightoutputs, just like a E46 produces less light than a S2000 although they use the same bulbs and ballasts. Slim denso and Matsu****a G3 is in the top, while TSX, many aftermarket and arguably Hella G3 is at the bottom. Also, useage plays a huge role. Just because you end up with another slim denso doesn't mean that both of them will produce the same amount of light. There is a difference between a new ballast compared to one with 1500 hours. Also, the condition of the bulb plays a huge role in warm up and lightoutput. For those who want the color, and warm up to occur almost exactly the same should rely on new bulbs and ballasts. Hope this helps bjorn

03-25-2008, 03:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	thanks bjorn!!!!!!

03-28-2008, 10:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
calircr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 5,279 One Eyed Willie Is Back!	my attempt at finding a temporary fix for this problem didn't work. guess i'll just have to wait til bjorn comes down or my "friend" gets me a replacement ballast.

03-28-2008, 10:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
-Bionic- Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 744	Well, I"ll have something for you when I get there. One more week my friend.

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