Are HID lamps wig-wag-able?

[JumboBeef]

Can HID headlights on emergency vehicles be made to wig-wag? I've been told not. If this is correct, has anyone any idea why not?

Thanks.

[JumboBeef]

Cool.

It seems I have asked a question that no one on PH knows the answer too

[GadgeS3C]

Wig-wag?

[David87]

It'll be something to do with the ballast packs that are required to create the arc inside the bulb. You can flash them (some cars with bi-xenons have no halogen bulbs at all), but the response isn't as quick as a halogen lamp and I don't think they'd last doing it over and over! LED headlamps are the way to go...

[JumboBeef]

GadgeS3C said:

Wig-wag?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wig-wag_%28automobile...

[JimbobVFR]

flashing is very bad for HIDS. thats why either a normal bulb is used for main beam or if they are bi zenon (where the same bulb is used for dip and main) there's a seperate halogen for flashing duties.

[David87]

JimbobVFR said:

there's a seperate halogen for flashing duties.

Not always the case - some modern Audis and BMWs (plus others - the Range Rover Evoque comes to mind) don't have any halogen bulbs at all. Flashing is done with a burst of the xenons.

[JumboBeef]

swerni said:

JumboBeef said:

Cool.

It seems I have asked a question that no one on PH knows the answer too

Or maybe no one has he slightest interest.

Ever thought that?

cool

......considering some/most of the threads on PH, I doubt that.....

[Flawless Victory]

JumboBeef said:

Cool.

It seems I have asked a question that no one on PH knows the answer too

[redtwin]

It could be done with mechanical shutters. Some "bi-xenon" equipped cars use a single xenon bulb for both dipped and main beam with a shutter restricting the light beam depending on dipped or main. Wouldn't be hard to wire a controller to alternately activate the shutters.