Since the light can be emitted at several levels of intensity, manufactures are able to produce bulbs at different levels of brightness. Halogen lights can either switch from low to high beam with the flip of a switch, or a car might contain four headlights — two for low beam and two for high beam intensities. The halogen light has been the most widespread and popular type of headlight, both domestically and abroad, for nearly 40 years.
Halogen lights also come in a number of different sizes, which further aids in their universal applicability.
Despite the competition from HID and LED lights, halogen lights will, in all likelihood, continue to be the most widespread headlight type on newer vehicles for at least another generation. Despite all these advantages, halogen lights also have some drawbacks. The biggest problem with halogen bulbs is the heat they generate. Consequently, halogen lights cannot be counted among the eco-friendliest of headlight options. Another disadvantage is the sensitivity of halogen bulbs, which are reactive to other substances, including fingerprints.
You need to be careful when replacing a halogen light because fingerprints can cause a bulb to expire sooner. The problem is down to the oil on your fingertips, which can stick to a bulb and cause it to heat unevenly. If you opt to replace your halogen lights yourself, make sure you only touch them with a cotton cloth, and use rubbing alcohol if you need to clean them.
For nearly two decades, the halogen bulb went unchallenged as the global standard in automotive headlights. The first new light type to threaten that dominance was the HID headlight, which has somewhat remained a mystery to a lot of motorists, despite its growing popularity. HID stands for high-intensity discharge. Since its launch in the early s, the light has slowly gained favor as the superior choice when compared to halogen lights.
HIDs — which are also referred to as xenon, in reference to the gas used in the startup process — are valued for their color temperature and high intensity of light. Since that time, other automakers have adopted HIDs. Few, however, have implemented HIDs across the board. HID headlights function similar to neon lights, where current high voltage passes through a gas-filled tube with electrodes at both ends. With HIDs, passing currents between opposite electrodes stimulate xenon gas and halide salts within a quartz enclosure.
It all starts with a spark of high voltage, between Kv typically, which ionizes xenon and sends a current between the twin electrodes. All in all, the pros and cons of xenon HID headlights can be summarized as follows:. Xenon HID headlights use more energy at startup, but much less once they hit performance temperature.
As such, HIDs use less energy overall than halogen lights. These characteristics and resulting effect on vehicle performance mean xenon lights could be considered eco-friendly, even if the savings on fuel is minimal. On some cars, HIDs are installed to function as low-beam lights, while halogens are used for high-beam purposes since they provide a faster warm up time often necessary for use as a high beam.
More advanced HIDs have a dual-beam function known as bi-xenon where the light can change from high to low and back with the flick of a mechanical shutter from within the projector.
This provides a great deal of control when it comes to the amount of light a driver might want to project at a given time or place. Since xenon lights travel farther and cover broader areas than halogen bulbs, a low-beam could easily suffice in most situations. Overall, xenon HID headlights provide some of the best illumination of all light types.
That last quality makes the HID driving experience more comforting to drivers, because, after all, you generally feel more comfortable driving in the daytime. HID headlights use less power than halogen bulbs, and put less of a strain on the energy supply of a car, truck or van.
As such, the energy within a given vehicle can be more healthily allocated to other functions. That said, HIDs do take a couple of seconds to reach full brightness.
Another great advantage to xenon headlights is their longevity. For starters, HIDs have a much longer lifespan than halogen bulbs. By most accounts, HID headlights last at least 2, hours, and in some cases, they can last as long as 8, hours. Compared to the 1,hour peak life of halogens, HIDs keep lighting and lighting — to paraphrase a famous battery tagline. In fact, when two vehicles of the same make and model are placed side by side, the car with halogen lights could end by needing two or more replacements in the time it would take for the HID-equipped vehicle to need one new set of lights Mileage.
Despite the long list of pluses, there are a few disadvantages to choosing xenon headlights. For one, HIDs are expensive…or at least, they used to be.
Due to their high price, HID headlights are most useful for people who normally drive at high frequencies after dark on most nights of the week. If you only make fleeting, twice or thrice-weekly usage of your vehicle, HID headlights are probably not worth the extra cost. Also, keep in mind that if not installed properly, xenon lights can inflict intense amounts of glare toward oncoming motorists, as well as through the rearview mirrors of cars ahead.
For this reason, aftermarket HID kits are illegal in certain states. Before you purchase HIDs, check the laws in your area. Furthermore, xenon headlights should only be purchased from a reputed source, and all installation work should be handled by a licensed specialist. Out of all the headlights on the market, the LED undergoes the most unusual process to generate light. Email required. Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment.
There is no need to resubmit your comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Written by : Ben Joan. User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. HID High Intensity Discharge, or HID lamps, are a type of light fixture that offer several advantages compared to the traditional incandescent, or fluorescent lamps.
Summary: 1. Xenon lamps do not need to warm-up like other HID lights. Author Recent Posts. Ben Joan. Latest posts by Ben Joan see all. Help us improve. HID lamps of this variety are often used in movie projectors, stadiums, and parks. Xenon HID bulbs are used in vehicle headlights which are known to last for the life of the car. They have replaced taxi and landing lights on airplanes.
High voltages are needed to activate a Xenon HID bulb. There is also a large amount of pressure involved in operating a bulb like this, thus it can pose a safety hazard if its enclosure is compromised. A xenon HID lamp wears out faster when it gets turned on and off frequently, and not because of how long it is used.
Thus, the life of a xenon HID lamp can be extended by not a turning it on if it has just been turned off. A xenon gas-filled bulb is simply a halogen bulb that contains xenon instead of halogen. It is designed to emulate a xenon HID bulb in terms of light production and performance. While a xenon lamp does contain a certain amount of the noble gas, it does not operate on the same technology HID bulbs do. These halogen bulbs still use a tungsten filament as their lighting element.
While xenon gas does enhance brightness, it is still not at par with HID lamps. Keep an eye out for the product code on the box or around the fitting of the bulb.
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