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Frequently Asked Questions
How is Retro-Solutions different from other vendors?
What is HID?
35w and 55w HID, which to choose?
Do I need a wiring harness?
What is covered with a Lifetime Warranty product?
Is it easy to install?
How long until I get my order, how does it ship?
What is CCFL?
My HID is flickering, turning off, or not turning on what could cause this?
One side of my HID does not work correctly, how do I test it?
How do I install the wiring on my HID kit?
I think something is broken, how do I use the warranty?
How is Retro-Solutions different from other vendors?
We here at Retro-Solutions strive for something a little more than the competition, the old mom and pop store type of feel. No gimmicks, no bull, and feel free to ask us anything! Many of the components we offer are proprietary, not available elsewhere.
The biggest difference between Retro-Solutions and other vendors is our no gimmicks, no bull advertising. We believe a product and the service behind it should be the determining factor in making sales. You will never find gags and gimmicks here at Retro-Solutions.
Just a list of things you will find with Retro-Solutions and our authorized vendors you will not find anywhere else:
- POWER MANAGEMENT PROTECTION Retro-Solutions proprietary ballasts (DIGITAL and NightVision) all feature power protection management and is not available anywhere else. This built in safety system protects the host vehicle at all costs by halting operation in the presence of lacking voltage or amperage. In severe cases the system will lock out operation to prevent damage to the vehicle.
- INSTANT HOT RE-STRIKE PROTECTION Retro-solutions proprietary ballasts (DIGITAL and NightVision) all feature instant hot re-strike protection. This system purposely limits the ignition strike to bulbs that are already warm from previously being on. Warm bulbs do not require the same ignition energy as cold bulbs, and as such a warm bulb with full ignition strike power exhibits reduced lifespan.
- TRUE 55W OUTPUT KITS Retro-Solutions DIGITAL brand kits are TRUE 55w output kits, featuring 55w output ballasts coupled to 55w bulbs. All other "50w" and "55w" kits in North America are comprised of 50w output ballasts and 35w bulbs. The result of the proper pairing is higher luminance, color correct output, retained bulb lifespan, and less heat than the typical 55w halogen bulb they most often replace.
- HID BULB CAPPING SERVICE Retro-Solutions is the only HID producer/vendor world-wide that provides a bulb capping service that is a requirement for more and more vehicle applications. Some head lamps and most accessory lamps (fogs, floods, etc.) do not have bulb covers built into the assemblies. The result of replacing a stock bulb that is masked on the top and replacing with an HID without capping is the same as pointing a flashlight in your face at night. The bulb capping service is exactly for such fixtures and on some vehicle application is an absolute must.
- AC OUTPUT BALLASTS ONLY All ballasts offered per piece or in kits at Retro-Solutions are AC output only. Many vendors these days are offering DC output ballasts because despite the more expensive initial engineering cost, they are cheaper to manufacturer in volume. The problem is bulb life on a DC ballast is cut in half, hence we only use AC.
- PUBLISHED EQUIPMENT FAILURE RATES All our HID kits and equipment are routinely rated for average failure rates, as well as average hourly lifespans. We do so to offer our clients the best possible real world data in making an informed choice for reliability and longevity. Other vendors don't publish their numbers for good reason, it would not make their product look very attractive, or worse they simply make up a more attractive number. Our numbers are the real numbers and not just out of the box numbers, our failure rates track over all product sold from the date of inception.
- NO STOLEN OR INFRINGED CONTENT Retro-Solutions does not steal content from other websites like many of our competitors do, some of them have stolen from us directly. Fact is, stolen content means the vendor is lying about their product in some manner, otherwise it would be obtained by permission. Our websites have fallen victim as well to these thieves, and we know if they are willing to steal from us, they won't even think twice about ripping off a customer.
A
ll our product specifications, operation parameters, failure ratings etc. are the real deal. So you can trust what you order is what you get. If the cheapest of the cheap is what you are looking for you came to the wrong place. But if long term and consistent quality with an excellent history of stellar customer service all at the best price possible you finally found it! Retro-Solutions has clients, our competition has customers.
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What is HID? H.I.D. is an acronym that stands for High-Intensity Discharge lighting. Unlike the more common Halogen type incandescent bulbs with a wire filament, HID bulbs operate off an initial electrical arc and then a sustaining electrical field to maintain a physiochemical reaction in the bulb gap. This reaction of adding electrical energy to metal halides and xenon gas in the bulb creates a bright light, much brighter than a filament bulb, with much less energy converted to heat and more to visible light. Less power, less heat, more light!
The ballast is responsible for maintaining a very specific power output to the bulbs. A ballast will provide the ~23kV striking voltage to the lamps to start the reaction and regulates the 9-16vdc typical input from the vehicle source to 85vac output in a specific frequency wave for the bulbs. How well the ballast controls this process will determine how well the kit system performs and its longevity. Back to Top 35w or 55w, which is right for me? Almost all applications are fine with either output wattage, in short the 55w option is brighter, 35w is the standard HID output. Our 55w kits use real 55w bulbs as well, so they still run cooler than the standard 55w halogen bulbs they replace. Most competitors offering 50w or 55w kits still include 35w bulbs, and this pairing will cause the bulbs to run hotter, be color incorrect, and have a shorter lifespan.
Short of personal preferences, Retro-Solutions makes the following suggestions for specific applications:
Applications requiring 9145 or 9140 bulbs we suggest 35w output.
Applications with "bulb-out" indicators we suggest 55w output. .
Applications for H3 bulbs with smaller optics we suggest 35w output. Back to Top Do I need a wiring harness? With our HID kits, unless otherwise specified or included with the kits, a harness is generally not going to be required. Our ballasts are efficient enough to the point where even upon ignition and ramp-up phases they should not exceed the current your stock wiring was designed for, but for 55w applications we do recommend adding a relayed wiring harness to ensure ballasts receive proper power supply at all times. Most systems are designed with a minimum of 10A per side, with a majority being 15A. Our ballasts, even the 55w version will not require more than 7.5A @ 12v upon ignition and ramp-up, roughly half the designed capability for most systems. There are however a few exceptions to the rule even for 35w applications, and these will generally be vehicle specific. Some vehicles with daytime running lamps, "auto" lamps, "bulb-out" indicators, and/or pulsed voltage systems (PWM) will need a harness or other add-ons to avoid problems with proper operation. In addition, a small number of any make, model, and year of vehicles can have restrictions in the stock wiring that will create operational issues that will require the use of a wiring harness. If you are not sure, please ask, we are more than happy to help as best we can for any given application. We at Retro-Solutions have actual experience in vehicle electronics and when new problematic vehicle systems come to market we can tackle the work arounds with you, we do more than just sell a product. Back to Top What is covered with a Lifetime Warranty product? This is not a subject to be taken lightly, a lifetime warranty is thrown around by many vendors today with no such intention of them backing it or any warranty at all. Most of our lifetime warranty products come with warranty literature included, so you see first hand the dedication we have to providing exactly what we say. Second it also helps to see exactly how easy we make the rare and unfortunate warranty process for our customers. With a lifetime warranty product purchase the original purchasing customer in entitled to a limited lifetime warranty for the term of the purchaser's life, not a described lifespan of the product itself. Warranty is non-transferable without the purchase of a warranty transfer to another customer. Specifics of coverage as follow are in addition to individual product warranty terms and descriptions, or in the absence of product specific terms and descriptions. Warranty coverages may be the same, however length or limitations in coverage are specified in each product's store link. At no time does Retro-Solutions, LLC cover or imply coverage of any parts or products not supplied directly by Retro-Solutions, LLC. Please see store policies for more details.
HID Ballasts:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended. Vehicle related issues arising from connectivity or supply power issues resulting in engagement of product shutdown or other safety features, commonly referred to as "lock-up," are not covered as manufacturing defects.
HID Bulbs:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended. Bulb scorching caused by improper power supply,or pulsed voltage systems are not covered under warranty. Color divergence between bulbs paired together in kits greater than 400K CCT at anytime are covered under warranty. Bulbs naturally diminish and change color very slowly with use as occurs by natural process, therefore uniform changes in intensity and color over time are not covered under warranty.
LED Bulbs:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by electrostatic discharge, abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended.
HPX Bulbs:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended. Bulbs naturally diminish and change color very slowly with use as occurs by natural process, therefore such changes are not covered under warranty.
CCFL rings and Inverters:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended. Inverters shorted from reverse voltage or pulsed voltage operation. Rings naturally diminish and change color very slowly with use as occurs by natural process, therefore such changes are not covered under warranty.
Bulb Adapters:
Coverage of the product against any manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition rendering product incapable of performing its functions as intended. Coverage is limited to defects not caused by abuse, miss-use, acts of nature, accidents, use outside of unit specifications, use of product on non-conforming vehicle/system or use of the product other than intended.
Packaging Materials, Materials in Print, and Materials of Installation:
Any materials used for packaging and/or shipping are not covered under any warranty, including cases, foam padding, covers, etc. Items in print, publications, fliers, coupons, endorsements, etc. are not covered under warranty. Items of installation such as screws, plastic fasteners, bolts, and nylon ties are not covered under warranty. Bulb adapters are not covered under warranty except for breakage occurring during installation directly related to manufacturing defect only. Wiring is covered under warranty within 30 days of receipt with exception to any modifications made before or after sale and limited to manufactured defects that alter or change the operating condition of the wiring.
Any items not provided by Retro-Solutions directly are not covered under any warranty.
Back to Top Is it easy to install? On most vehicles and equipment installation is quite easy and takes less than 20 minutes. However, vehicles and equipment vary greatly in their designs and specific applications may take more or less time to install. Generally very simple common tools are required. If the installation ever seems as it may be beyond your abilities please seek the advice or expertise on professionals to avoid accidental damage. In installation seems confusing at all, please contact us for any clarification or application specificities. Back to Top How long until I get my order, how does it ship? US orders:
All orders ship domestically in the US (Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and all APO/FPO and held territories) via US postal service. USPS mail service rates are available at checkout for selection of service rate. First Class mail delivery times will vary. Priority mail is described by the postal service as an average 2-3 days service, although this is not guaranteed. Express mail is overnight to most areas, however some more rural areas are in 2 day delivery serive. Any order over 13 ounces in weight is automatically shipped Priority mail even is First class service is selected. Please allow 1 day processing in our facility. Retro-Solutions is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or miss-routed goods. These are only covered under insurance and are at the discretion solely of the US Postal Service or third party insurance carrier. Insurance coverage of shipments is provided courtesy of Retro-Solutions, LLC.
Outside of the US:
All orders ship via US postal service. Any item over 4 pounds in weight (1.8 kg) is required to be shipped International Priority Mail or International Express (EMS). Any orders under 4 pounds (1.8 kg) shipped International First Class mail are not covered by insurance nor have the ability to be traced at anytime. If you want insurance coverage and/or tracking a Priority Mail or Express Mail rate must be chosen. Order delivery times are subject to a 1 day processing time in our facility in addition to the standard delivery times as follows:
First Class - varies depending on location
Priority Mail - 6 to 10days
Express (EMS) - 5 to 10 days
Times are subject to customs clearance in country of receipt and security clearance prior to leaving the US.
Retro-Solutions is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or mis-routed goods. These are only covered under insurance and are at the discretion solely of the US Postal Service or third party insurance carrier.
Retro-Solutions, LLC reserves the right to hold shipments based on the following criteria with explanation available at any time:
-Orders containing items that may be on back order or require special order as indicated.
-Orders requiring clarification of delivery address, color request, or application
-Orders with shipping information that is incorrect, incomplete, not properly formatted, or otherwise unacceptable by the US postal service
-Orders of non-payment or orders under suspicion of forgery, or criminal intent. Back to Top What is CCFL? CCFL is Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lighting, a technology in lighting that produces tubes with high output for little electrical input. It also very robust in longevity and in temperature extremes. Cold cathodes can last tens to hundreds thousands of hours. You've seen them before, they are so robust they are everywhere, fax machines, photo copiers, scanners, LCD TV's and monitors. There is some talk about competition from LED technoologies, however one thing to keep mind before sticking LED halo/angel eyes into your head lamps... LEDs are heat sensitive devices, it literally shortens their lifespan considerably with them on or off! CCFL angel eyes only have a heat margin in regards to their outer plastic casings, and even if removed from those, they can be safe for any lamp. Back to Top My HID is flickering, turning off, or sometimes not turning on what would cause this?
This is caused by one of two things, either a restriction in the wiring contact and/or lack of power to the ballast(s) from interfering system on the vehicle.
Generally if it occurs on both sides it is a vehicle related cause or weak battery. Vehicles with daytime running lamps on the same bulbs the kit replaced will cause this, the daytime lamps will require disabling or a work around. For a work around solution please contact us with vehicle details. Flickering can also result from vehicles using 12v pulsed systems for extended halogen bulb life, these vehicles would otherwise have no outward signs of function until HID is installed, it is vehicle make/model/year specific feature. In addition some vehicles use "lamp-out" indicator systems that can erroneously cause flickering or shut-off. Solutions for the last two cause can be vehicle specific, it is best to contact us with vehicle details so we can set you up with the additional equipment to work around those systems.
With an issue isolated to one side it would likely indicate connectivity or power supply that does need to be addressed.
All Retro-Solutions ballasts are built with sophisticated protection circuits to halt operation and under sever conditions to lock out operation when power requirements are unsafe for the vehicle. When one side is found not to turn, but can turn on after a re-attempt, this is operation being halted by the power management protection system. While it may provide temporary fix to simply turn the system off and back on again it is not to be accepted as "normal" function and does indicate an underlying power supply issue. It is important to address the issue immediately to prevent ballast lock out that will result under such conditions if not fixed. Halted operation can even occur on systems installed for years without issue as environmental factors can effect wiring connections. In most cases, using a relayed wiring harness will provide direct power from the vehicle electrical system getting around any restrictions in the stock wiring. On systems with existing relay harness wiring an inspection and upkeep of the ground contacts, battery positive connections, and the contact points should be performed.
Back to Top One side of my HID does not work correctly, how do I test it? A proper diagnosis can save time, money, and a headache when it comes to a non-working lamp.
For any bixenon system or any system using a relayed wiring harness, it is advisable to first remove the ground contacts and battery positive points. With these removed, use sandpaper to clean the frame where the ring sits down to bare metal. Establishing a clean paths is critical to operation and to maintain them always use electrical grease or chassis lube on bare metal between contacts.
For all systems not using a wiring harness, plug and play style, first check the lighting circuit fuses. When a problem still persists, first read the answer to the question above and be sure your symptoms do not match those explained above.
Start diagnosis by first swapping ballasts to the opposite sides, testing, and noting whether the issue moves with the ballast or stays put. Then swap bulbs to the opposite sides, test, and once again note whether the issue follows the bulb or stays put. Carefully inspect the wiring attached to the bulbs while transferring to the opposite sides. If a single piece of equipment is to blame the issue will resolve on the side it is move from and follow it to the other side. If the issue still remains on the same side or the issue is trouble igniting that persists you facing an issue with power supply from the stock wiring. It is time to inspect all the wiring connections and consider a wiring harness if one is not currently in use. Contact us with your testing results or if you require assistance in locating a an issue correctly. Back to Top How do I install the wiring on my HID kit? Please use the diagrams below to assist in installation.
Plug and Play:
Single beam kit with optional harness:
Bixenon kit:
Plug and play with capacitor links (pulsed systems)
Single beam kit with optional harness with capacitor link (daytime lamps, pulsed):
Back to Top I think something is broken, how do I use the warranty?
We strongly recommend following the procedures listed here and also checking all connections before sending anything to us. Greater than 75% of warranty claims end up installation or vehicle related issues. If you are unable to find any other reasonable cause please contact us for assistance directly or submit a suspect part for testing and replacement with the following form. The following form MUST be filled out online, printed, and submitted online. A printed and accurate copy must be included with any return or delays, loss, or charges could result.
http://www.retro-solutions.com/autoreturnform.htm Back to Top
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