ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
A friend of mine was telling me that last year his Polaris blew both balasts on the HIDs he put in because apparently the HID kit he got was only for D.C volts & his sled was putting A.C volts to the headlights. The LED kit I just put in my sled states D.C volts, the light worked fine in the garage but I only ran them for a minute or so. My buddy also said that his lights worked for a bit before they blew. Does the Apex headlights run A.C or D.C?
HABS 1
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2015
- Messages
- 591
- Reaction score
- 117
- Points
- 728
- Location
- corunna,ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2006 apex gt,136 Hartman ext,dalton clutched,full excel exhaust,yamiheaters,cna pro ex white skis,hid lights,mtx riser,1.5 intense track,etc,etc!---2021 sidewinder xtx se
i would guess dc to headlights, only ac comming outof stator until rectified, so everything powered on sled would be dc 99 percent sure , i would think all headlight kits r made the same for 12 volt sled, car etc
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Ya it is A.C from the stator for sure, still not certain what is going to the lights. Wonder why the Polaris was A.C.i would guess dc to headlights, only ac comming outof stator until rectified, so everything powered on sled would be dc 99 percent sure , i would think all headlight kits r made the same for 12 volt sled, car etc
HABS 1
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2015
- Messages
- 591
- Reaction score
- 117
- Points
- 728
- Location
- corunna,ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2006 apex gt,136 Hartman ext,dalton clutched,full excel exhaust,yamiheaters,cna pro ex white skis,hid lights,mtx riser,1.5 intense track,etc,etc!---2021 sidewinder xtx se
thinking it wasnt!!
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Just going by what his dealer told him, hmph, strange, lolthinking it wasnt!!
HABS 1
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2015
- Messages
- 591
- Reaction score
- 117
- Points
- 728
- Location
- corunna,ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2006 apex gt,136 Hartman ext,dalton clutched,full excel exhaust,yamiheaters,cna pro ex white skis,hid lights,mtx riser,1.5 intense track,etc,etc!---2021 sidewinder xtx se
i hear ya , you will be fine with your led kit
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Ok thanks HABS 1, I will give e'r a go when the white stuff comesi hear ya , you will be fine with your led kit

4StrokeAddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2015
- Messages
- 514
- Reaction score
- 197
- Points
- 468
- Location
- Michigan
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 SR Viper LTX SE
The HID designs use an AC arch to make light which is why they are so bright. The Polaris may have a system that converts the DC of the bus to AC at the light socket. If this is true and he plugged into the AC socket, this would cause it. Look at the HID kits from the aftermarket manufactures. You will find they have several components that run inline from the bus to the bulb. This is where the DC to AC is being done. If I were designing this into a factory sled, I'd bury the ballast in the guts of the sled...
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
OK, is it safe for me to just do the plug & play thing with these D.C LEDS then? Stock h4 plug to balast & balast to LED light? I know when I tried them in the garage the balast's got pretty warm, maybe they supposed to get warm/hot?The HID designs use an AC arch to make light which is why they are so bright. The Polaris may have a system that converts the DC of the bus to AC at the light socket. If this is true and he plugged into the AC socket, this would cause it. Look at the HID kits from the aftermarket manufactures. You will find they have several components that run inline from the bus to the bulb. This is where the DC to AC is being done. If I were designing this into a factory sled, I'd bury the ballast in the guts of the sled...
4StrokeAddict
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2015
- Messages
- 514
- Reaction score
- 197
- Points
- 468
- Location
- Michigan
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 SR Viper LTX SE
Yes, Apex is DC!
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
OK then, thanks 4StrokeAddict, this thread is now a done deal, thanks everyome for all the helpYes, Apex is DC!
Phatboyc
TY 4 Stroke Master
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,050
- Reaction score
- 271
- Points
- 1,188
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2022 Sidewinder
Just to complicate things they are HID ballast AC and some DC. But both take DC current to run. 
Most aftermarket old ones and still available for cheap today the ballast outputs DC to bulbs. New and better ones output AC. Light bulbs last longer since the filament gets used evenly.

Most aftermarket old ones and still available for cheap today the ballast outputs DC to bulbs. New and better ones output AC. Light bulbs last longer since the filament gets used evenly.
Similar threads
- Replies
- 1
- Views
- 696
-
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.