[nbg273]

you don't splice your oem connectors.

you use a relay and only use the oem h1 connector(s) as trigger for the relay

it is a plus to have the plug with the ballast but it isn't a must.

the ignitors are going for $35US for a pair. I don't see your little plug going for more than $20.

I know this is 16 years old, but what do you mean a relay? I have the JDM lights w/ the ballast and I plugged the pigtail into the ballast. Now what? Where do the red/black wires go? I'm an idiot.

 

[mfarmakas17]

I know this is 16 years old, but what do you mean a relay? I have the JDM lights w/ the ballast and I plugged the pigtail into the ballast. Now what? Where do the red/black wires go? I'm an idiot.

Hey idiot, try this link
K Series Parts: Acura RSX JDM HID Kit Installation

 

[nbg273]

Hey idiot, try this link
K Series Parts: Acura RSX JDM HID Kit Installation

I've actually seen this guide before, but I read you don't have to cut the low beam hardness at all when using the pigtails. Is that not true?

 

[mfarmakas17]

I've actually seen this guide before, but I read you don't have to cut the low beam hardness at all when using the pigtails. Is that not true?

Not necessary unless you're doing it exactly how it's shown. It looks like they're using spade connectors in the link.

That post that you quoted is how aftermarket HID kits are ran. The signal wire from the relay has a spaded connector that is plugged into the H1 positive pin.

 

[BrutalB83]

I've actually seen this guide before, but I read you don't have to cut the low beam hardness at all when using the pigtails. Is that not true?

Can you post a pic of these pig tails that you have? Or at least describe them? Is one side a connector that plugs in to the ballast and the other side just red and black wires? If so, then you need to either cut off your factory low beam connectors and splice the pigtails on to them, or you need to buy a pigtail with an H1 male end and splice the HID pigtail to that to create a plug n' play converter. Doing the latter would be best if you'd rather not cut in to your factory harness.

If I were doing this, I would use a relay system though. HID setups need strong, consistent power to function correctly. Running them through the factory wiring designed for halogen bulbs isn't an ideal solution. With a relay setup, the HIDs will be powered by a direct connection to the battery and the factory low beam wiring becomes simply a trigger to turn the headlights on instead of also being the power source. This is how aftermarket HID setups work.

EDIT: One other consideration here...the beam on the JDM headlights points slightly to the left (because right-hand-drive) instead of to the right like on USDM cars, so be prepared to get flashed by annoyed drivers on a semi-regular basis. I've never done the JDM headlights personally, so I don't know if there's some way to manipulate the shield or to pull it out and replace with the shield from the factory headlights. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

 

[nbg273]

Can you post a pic of these pig tails that you have? Or at least describe them? Is one side a connector that plugs in to the ballast and the other side just red and black wires? If so, then you need to either cut off your factory low beam connectors and splice the pigtails on to them, or you need to buy a pigtail with an H1 male end and splice the HID pigtail to that to create a plug n' play converter. Doing the latter would be best if you'd rather not cut in to your factory harness.

If I were doing this, I would use a relay system though. HID setups need strong, consistent power to function correctly. Running them through the factory wiring designed for halogen bulbs isn't an ideal solution. With a relay setup, the HIDs will be powered by a direct connection to the battery and the factory low beam wiring becomes simply a trigger to turn the headlights on instead of also being the power source. This is how aftermarket HID setups work.

EDIT: One other consideration here...the beam on the JDM headlights points slightly to the left (because right-hand-drive) instead of to the right like on USDM cars, so be prepared to get flashed by annoyed drivers on a semi-regular basis. I've never done the JDM headlights personally, so I don't know if there's some way to manipulate the shield or to pull it out and replace with the shield from the factory headlights. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

Thanks for your reply.

I got these from ICB Motorsport: JDM DC5 ITR HID Pigtails for HID Headlamps Sorry, the pic is large. It's just a plug with power and ground wires.

About the relay system, is there a common harness you would recommend? I honestly know nothing about circuits.

 

[BrutalB83]

Thanks for your reply.

I got these from ICB Motorsport: JDM DC5 ITR HID Pigtails for HID Headlamps Sorry, the pic is large. It's just a plug with power and ground wires.

About the relay system, is there a common harness you would recommend? I honestly know nothing about circuits.

View attachment 568229

Ah, okay. Yes, you would need to cut off your factory low beam sockets and splice these on (or splice them to an H1 pigtail like I said) if you want to run your HID off the factory harness.

I have a Morimoto relay, which is a high-quality harness. I beleive it cost about $50. You certainly don't need a Morimoto harness, though. Any HD relay harness will work.

 

[nbg273]

Ah, okay. Yes, you would need to cut off your factory low beam sockets and splice these on (or splice them to an H1 pigtail like I said) if you want to run your HID off the factory harness.

I have a Morimoto relay, which is a high-quality harness. I beleive it cost about $50. You certainly don't need a Morimoto harness, though. Any HD relay harness will work.

Okay, thanks for your help.

I have one last question. Would I need a specific relay harness that would work with the JDM headlights? Like.. would I still need to rewiring it in some way or would it just be a plug and play type thing? I couldn't find this info anywhere. Thanks again.

 

[BrutalB83]

Okay, thanks for your help.

I have one last question. Would I need a specific relay harness that would work with the JDM headlights? Like.. would I still need to rewiring it in some way or would it just be a plug and play type thing? I couldn't find this info anywhere. Thanks again.

Any HID relay will work, but the easiest thing would be to see if you can find a relay with an H1 end for the trigger. Like I said, an HID relay will use the factory low beam wiring as an input trigger to turn on the HID system (well, it will use ONE of the factory low beam wires, the other you can just wrap in electrical tape). Since the factory low beams are H1, using a harness that has an H1 end already attached for the trigger will result in the least amount of splicing. For the relay wires that go to the ballasts though, you'll still need to chop off whatever ends the relay comes with (a lot of them use 9005 ends) and splice on your pigtails.

 

[BrutalB83]

Here, hopefully this helps: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/core/media/media.nl?id=1718797&c=5129608&h=e9b21355baadea1a4006 Go to page 5 (externally wired headlights). This is how a Morimoto relay works, but any HID relay should be similar. This is just a generic illustration not specific to any one vehicle. For the trigger, they're using a little converter piece to allow them to plug the trigger in to whatever low beam socket the car uses, and then the other low beam socket is not used. There's a positive and a ground that go to the battery for power, and then there are the wires that go to the ballasts. Those are the ones you would want to chop off whatever end is on them and splice your pigtails on to (or get the appropriate pigtails and make a converter piece).

I assume you already have the ballasts, the bulbs, and the wiring that goes in between them?