ProPickup How-To
LIGHT ‘EM UP
Oracle HID upgrade significantly improves 2011 Ford Super Duty headlight coverage; low-beams now brighter than highs 
by Bruce W. Smith
Night vision is a key safety factor for anyone who drives after sundown.
The brighter the light source illuminating the road, the greater the time the driver has to react to whatever lies ahead
Better night vision also reduces fatigue and stress, which leads to increased driver comfort and productivity.
Factory halogen headlights found on most later-model pickups have come a long way in the past decade.
But they still lack the clarity and punch offered by the Xenon HID headlights found on many high-end luxury vehicles.
So, if you do a lot of night driving – or are an older driver whose night vision isn’t what it used to be – upgrading to aftermarket HID headlight bulbs is a great way to light up the road ahead.
We did just that on our Project Super Crew F-250 Crew Cab 4×4 using a 35W plug-and-play Xenon HID upgrade kit ($279) from Oracle Lighting Technologies. These are some of the most rugged HID kits available.
The Oracle HID conversion kit contains the following:
- (2) Oracle 35W Xenon HID bulbs
- (2) Digital Xenon HID ballasts
- “Plug and Play” wiring harness
- Installation instructions
- Brackets, extra fuses and connectors
Oracle Xenon HID upgrade kit dramtically improves factory pickup headlight performance and efficiency.
Advanced Automotive Concepts (AAC), the company that markets Oracle, stands by the products with a Lifetime Warranty. In fact they claim the slim ballasts and wiring can be completely submerged in water and continue to operate without failing.
AAC’s complete wiring makes the Oracle HID upgrade as easy as changing the headlight bulbs and plugging in the Xenon computer/ballast that power each bulb.
And, another benefit of the Oracle HID upgrade is the new digital ballasts’ processors were updated to provide 6-amp start up compared to the industry standard 10-amp, with 60-amp wiring harnesses compared to the typical 40-amp variety.
We choose the 6,000K color because it provides the most effective lighting as it replicates daylight to the eye and gives the best contrast for driving in all weather conditions.
After intsallation it’s always prudent to check the headlights for proper adjustment.
These images in our gallery show how we handled the Oracle HID headlight upgrade on our 2011 F-250 Super Duty Creq Cab 4×4.
POOR NIGHT VISION
Age plays a significant role in night driving; the older you get, the poorer your night vision. It’s just a fact of life.
Ophthalmologists say the lenses in our eyes aren’t as transparent at age 50 as they were at 20, our pupils don’t dilate as well, and older eye’s light receptors aren’t as sensitive.
All of these factors add up to decreased low-light vision.
In effect, a 50-year-old’s eyesight is like a young person’s wearing sunglasses. Factor in poor driving conditions with aging eyes and it’s easy to see why it’s so important to have really good headlights and auxiliary lights on your pickup. – BWS
