Thread: Charging system failure w/HID's

I currently have HID kits for high, low, and driving lights. All are on relays wich draw their power from a 6 position fuse block that gets its power straight from the battery. I have a 10guage wire feeding the distribution block and the relays connect directly to it. All grounds for the HID's have been removed, sanded, and replaced. I get a "charging system failure" when switching from lowbeam to high beam and back. I had the same issue even before i used the relays and distribution block. The failure goes away after a few seconds of remaining in high or low and then reappears if switched a few times. What could the problem be??? Do i need a capacitor for these.

Advanced Auto did and they told me it was fine. Not sure if they know what they are doing though. That was when it first started a couple months ago. I did install a brand new interstate battery cause the old one was a 6 year old stock battery. Still doing it.

Sound system is stock Monsoon stereo. Been that way since i purchased in 07. Not sure before that. only thing electricaly that is not stock are my HID's and led tail lights. And tail lights were only installed about 2 weeks ago. Problem was happening long before that.

Each bulb is suppost to be 55 watts. So 55 x 6 = 330 watts. And that is with them all on which is actually not possible. 330 wats divided by 12 volts( should be 14.4 but will do 12 since gives more room for error). That equals 27.5 amps total. Each set is on a 10 amp fuse and none have blown. The 10 guage wire will handle the 27 amps no problem. There is no way of testing inrush voltage or amperage on the ballasts for when they first turn on. Even my high end flukemeters miss that inrush. i thought about borrowing a fluke osiloscope logging meter to see exactly what is going on. May be over kill though.