what is a good kit to get for the headlights and fogs.

 

retro-solutions makes a great quality kit!!
http://www.retro-solutions.com/

 

DDMtuning.com
Get the 35w raptor slim ballast kit. Amazing and can't beat the price

 

Haha

 

I just installed some HIDs as well. Mine have been fine so far, but I was told by someone that our trucks need relays for HIDs to run right most of the time.

 

You don't need a relay for the 35 watt kit.

 

You don't need any relay for 55w either. I have 55w and they are running without any relay. You only need relays for the older 1 - 4th generation HID kits. Today's digital kits have built-in relays.

 

I'm no expert but I doubt all the kits of today have built-in relay's. Some more expensive kits might.

 

some people do some people dont but i could see why a kit that uses less power wouldn't need one.
obviously you don't know what a relay does. a relay connects the ballasts directly to the battery in the truck and just uses the wires that plug into the stock wire harness as a switch to turn the relay on. it is impossible to have a built in relay. to have a relay you have to have wires running to the battery. some kits work fine without a relay for awhile but most of them begin to flicker while starting up due to the shortage of power and this also heats up the stock harness and increases the chance of fire.

 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving.. I will teach rather than insult. Let me just say, I know what I am talking about..

First, you are correct in your definition of what a relay does.. it's an electrically operated switch. But a relay does not connect a ballast to the battery as stated. It lies in-line with a wiring harness that connects both ballasts to the battery and an OEM power connector. It basically provides an outlet for the ballasts to gain their very brief ENORMOUS power consumption directly from the battery instead of the electrical system of the vehicle.

Second, you are thinking of the old style automotive relays which are about 1" - 1.5" square with typically three spade or prong posts underneath.. Correct? Well, then you are also correct. Older HID kits needed this.. HOWEVER, today's HID kit have built-in relays in the form of Solid State relays. Solid state relays are basically a form automotive relays that are really compact and do not have the bigger, moving, clicking parts that the automotive relay has.. Thus, removing the need of having the extra wiring nightmare that most end-users considered not "plug and play".. Also, let me add that early kits had a power input of 10 - 24v. This caused issues left and right when vehicles became more "power efficient", to counter this, manufacturers started making kits that are capable of igniting HIDS at 6 - 8v !! This is done by beefing up the internals in the ballasts to use less volts for the maximum power to the bulb. As you know, a ballast is just an "amplifier" for power..

If you have the chance to go to SEMA in Vegas.. (You need to find an automotive business to "sponsor" you to go.. Hell, where do you live? I might even put you on the employee list so you can attend..) I suggest you go! You will see the wondrous technological advancements being accomplished in the HID market. HIDS will eventually be obsolete to the new lighting move.. SMD LED.