HID. Power from factory plug or battery? which is better option?

[al51603]

Hello. I actually bid in ebay for a HID kit, the seller is asking me which harness would I prefer. If the one that hook up the power from factory plug or the one that hook up the power from the battery?

I have never install a HID so I have no idea, which one you recommend me? which one would you pick?

I have a 525i BMW 2002

I would thank any help, I have only a little knowledge of HID.

[Tiger]

Factory. BMW made sure the car is capable of HID. You probably have to change the fuses to 15A.

[shogun]

I have now seen already some light switches damaged because of HID and installation of bigger A fuses. It is not mentioned here why it was damaged, but it could be the cause
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/169009

[Tiger]

I don't see how light switches are affected... that is why we have relays in the LKM... Light switches are simply nearly no load circuit... merely signal the relay to rurn on or off.

You also must consider how old our cars are... E32 and E34 where we turn on and off headlights daily for at least 11 years or so. Don't you think 10+ years is a good reliability of a simple switch?

[bahnstormer]

i have HID fogs and low beams both on the oem connector
original fuses

no probs

just my ballast doesnt have a circuit built in so throws bulb failure
codes....resistor semi fixed it but resistor gets too hot =\
need relay

[laguner]

I don't see how light switches are affected... that is why we have relays in the LKM... Light switches are simply nearly no load circuit... merely signal the relay to rurn on or off.

You also must consider how old our cars are... E32 and E34 where we turn on and off headlights daily for at least 11 years or so. Don't you think 10+ years is a good reliability of a simple switch?

Switches like any electrical component are rated for a certain amperage or current rating. I am not familiar with the amperage that is required for HID lights or the rating of the switch but it is very possible to run too much current through a switch not rated for that current. I agree that switches wear out but it would need to be determined how the switch failed to know for sure. In other words, you could be right but who knows? Maybe someone can chime in on the switch rating and the current drawn by HID lights etc.