Baking headlight questions
 

So I put led strips in my auto leveling headlights.

I searched the forum and it said to bake the headlights. I thought that would take too long, so I put them in the microwave instead. I saw a little bit of smoke, now they won't work.

Was this a bad idea?

Ovens and microwaves work in completely different ways. One uses an element (oven) to heat whatever is inside, while the other one causes water molecules to generate heat through atomic motion.

This was a very bad idea as you have less control over the way the headlights were heated. The smoke was either from the plastic itself, or whatever water molecules were in the silicone, that bonded the two pieces. Not to mention any aluminum clips that were left on.

Secondly, 10 minutes in the oven @ 200F isn't much too long at all especially when dealing with $500+ items

Troll

lol microwave.
you do know metal causes sparks which overheat surrounding material.
you probably have messed up the bulbs and wiring if too long. also the reflective lens might have spots on them too due to arcing.

you're doing it wrong. you're supposed to use a blowtorch.

Subscribed. :rollingla

I would really love to see a video of the microwave and smoke action. Can you do it again?

as if you could fit the headlight housing into a microwave to begin with

I'm in college, so I don't have an oven to use anyway.

I didn't think it would destroy the HIDs though.

:mchase:

you in college and you didnt know how microwave oven works?

Trollllllllllllllllll

https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-diy-161/diy-open-headlights-taillights-213651/

Read the microwave section.

Didn't do a good job of searching, sir.

Mu ha ha..............

I feel sorry for your BONE head move

Time to go to the junk yard.

I cant believe he even included a section on that, common sense should tell people not to try that.

There wasn't much info on the microwave. I never thought it would destroy the whole headlamp. Now what?

See Razz1's comment directly above!
"The good Lord tells me that I'll get out of this, but he's pretty sure...........you're f&*^ed"!

replace anything that has circuits in.
anything covered in metal needs inspection.

the first time i read this i thought it was a joke. it had to be. what on earth are you going to college for? i knew how a microwave worked in like middle school. and when youre 4 you learn not to put forks and shit in there. why would a head lamp be any different?

Okay, so I think that the reason it blew was because I used the high power setting. Maybe if I use the lower power settings next time?

microwave oven uses microwave to rotate the molecules in water and fat to produce heat. you headlight contains non of those. however the smoke you see is the metal parts absorbing the microwave causing current which heats up themselves.
a heating oven uses heating elements which dissipate heat. the heat then absorbed by food, in which case you headlight.

Simply put, your headlamp is ruined. Easiest fix is to get a completely different one, either used or new. Possibly cheaper fix would be to take it apart and start replacing electronic parts. Wires, LED's, etc., all have metal in them. They preferentially absorb microwaves, and heat up, so all the electronic components in your headlamp are now fried.

Next time, no microwave. Microwaves will not work. Don't use a microwave. Use an oven or a heat gun. If there is any sort of lab in your college, there's a chance they have a heat gun and may let you borrow it. If not, the best option is probably a small butane torch from Radio shack, etc.

For everyone else, college doesn't necessarily mean a technical degree.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. This is a serious thread?

Put headlights in circular file and buy replacements. Kiss money goodbye.

good thing I am an engineer.:mdrmed: