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 Matsushita 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* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	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!

03-25-2008, 01:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
*-Bionic-* CustomLightz Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 597 iTrader: 4 / 100%	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 Matsushita 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 __________________ Custom Lightz LLC - HID Retrofit Specialist. www.customlightz.com 516-241-9112 Custom Lightz on 8thcivic.com http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=150

03-28-2008, 10:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
*-Bionic-* CustomLightz Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 597 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Well, I"ll have something for you when I get there. One more week my friend. __________________ Custom Lightz LLC - HID Retrofit Specialist. www.customlightz.com 516-241-9112 Custom Lightz on 8thcivic.com http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=150

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03-25-2008, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
*calircr* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	anyone? i just want to know if having two different ballasts would affect anything.

03-25-2008, 10:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
NIGHTHAWKSI Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island Age: 22 Posts: 13,578 Ian iTrader: 12 / 100%	sure. ballast dont have to match.

03-25-2008, 12:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5,170 iTrader: 10 / 100%	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: New York Age: 23 Posts: 9,499 I HATE Stephanie iTrader: 18 / 100%	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 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5,170 iTrader: 10 / 100%	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* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	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 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5,170 iTrader: 10 / 100%	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* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	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, 03:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
*calircr* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	thanks bjorn!!!!!!

03-28-2008, 10:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
*calircr* Giants, GO! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,642 iTrader: 5 / 100%	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.