HID from DDM install question
HID from DDM install question
Just got my kit from DDM and TRIED to install it today! Anyone else install one on a newer Wide Glide? I'm only getting one beam, and can't tell you whether it's the Hi or Lo. I went back to the DDM website and it says this harness is designed to be used with 2 ballasts. UMMM, then why would it not come with 2 ballasts? Before I order another ballast I want to get some experience from you guys. I only have ONE bulb so it makes no sense to have another ballast. Shouldn't this thing work? What am I missing? Thanks ahead of time!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 1
From: Stafford VA
Its only going to be one light one beam. Cars with hids either have another regular bulb that comes on for high beams of a bixenon projector that uses a magnet/motor to move the shield out of the way. So basically it just removes the cutoff that you have with proper hids. So with the ddm kit you can just figure you are using high beams all the time.
Its only going to be one light one beam. Cars with hids either have another regular bulb that comes on for high beams of a bixenon projector that uses a magnet/motor to move the shield out of the way. So basically it just removes the cutoff that you have with proper hids. So with the ddm kit you can just figure you are using high beams all the time.
OK, so apparently the bulb slides in and out to change the "trajectory" of the beam causing a difference in high and low beam. My bulb "clicks" but does not slide therefore flashing a noticeable high beam and going directly back to low. Sent a support question on their website for some insight. I'll update here if/when I get it fixed for anyone else looking for the answer.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 17
From: SW Mississippi
I've got a ddm hid. It came from China (of course!) and the solenoid that pulls the bulb in and the spring that returns it to low beam is not very strong. And, the whole thing is pretty lightweight, so if it's in any kind of a bind, it's not strong enough to pull it in. That may be the problem, if you can wiggle around on it and see if you can tell where it feels like it's in the most "relaxed" position. And, I think you already figured this part out, but I seem to recall (I didn't use the harness) that the harness is dual ballast capable, but you don't need two ballasts. Give it a wiggle!
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 17
From: SW Mississippi
Oh, and do a search, if you haven't already, on the E-code lamps from Europe. I got one for a Jeep CJ, it was cheap, fit perfectly and it transformed my bike into a light monster, without blinding folks. It's the best thing I've done to my bike! Except maybe for those Rienharts, or my CR-575 cams! Let us know how it comes out, hope you don't have to have it replaced...
My kit has two connections on the harness, a short one and a long one. I've only tried the long one, but thinking of heading to the garage to try the short one. Think that mught have something to do with it?
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OK so here's what I have now. I just took the bulb apart and I don't know what it's supposed to look like, but I'm thinking they sent me a low bulb. There is no way this one can slide in and out. It moves freely and will "lean" to one side to flash bright, but ain't going to slide the way it's made. Waiting to hear back from DDM Tuning again after letting them know this.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 17
From: SW Mississippi
Hope you got the harness figured out, I can't help much there. I think you may have an entirely different setup than I got anyway. Mine is a bulb, with a metal shroud partially surrounding it. It has the power going to it from the ballast, two wires as I recall, and a single, separate wire, to energize for bright. When you energize the "bright" wire it causes the bulb to retract a little, I guess the changing of it's position in relation to the metal shroud makes it "bright". It does make a difference, very easy to tell if it's working. Maybe you did get a low only bulb by mistake, I'm sure they'll make it good. Also, you do not really need the harness with the relay and all that stuff. The amperage of the hid is lower than the stock bulb, so you don't hafta worry about over-amping anything on your bike, which is what the relay is for. You could just power the ballast up with 12v with the ignition on (low beam), and find the high beam wire, and connect it to the single wire on the bulb. That saves a good bit of room... Holler back when you hear back from ddm...
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 17
From: SW Mississippi
I guess I shoulda said, use the the wires from your original headlight connector, one is ground, one low and one high. Connect the low beam and ground to the ballast, and the high beam to the high beam wire on the bulb. I think you may be able to stick the ballast in between the headlight housing and the lamp, I've read around here that you can, but I don't know the specific models that'll work that way...