Halogen capsule vs hid headlamps upgrade#

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. These characteristics and resulting effect on vehicle performance mean xenon lights could be considered eco-friendly, even if the savings on fuel is minimal. This saved energy means a higher degree of efficiency on vehicles equipped with HIDs because there’s less pressure being placed on the alternator - and less engine torque is needed to keep HIDs running. As such, HIDs use less energy overall than halogen lights. Xenon HID headlights use more energy at startup, but much less once they hit performance temperature. All in all, the pros and cons of xenon HID headlights can be summarized as follows:Īdvantages: brighter light, longer lifespan, greater efficiency, farther reach, broader coverage, less power consumption than halogen.ĭisadvantages: high costs relative to halogen, strong glare that can blind oncoming traffic. Today’s HID headlight generates over 3,000 lumens and 90 mcd/m2 powered by a typical 35w ballast – more than twice the amount of a halogen bulb, which produces 1,400 lumens and 30 mcd/m2. When it comes to the “xenon vs halogen headlights” debate, the lumens of each type reveals which of the two has the advantage. As the temperature rises, metallic salts within the bulb are vaporized, and this brings resistance down between the electrical arc, which is sustained from there by the engine’s power supply. It all starts with a spark of high voltage, between 24-27Kv typically, which ionizes xenon and sends a current between the twin electrodes. With HIDs, passing currents between opposite electrodes stimulate xenon gas and halide salts within a quartz enclosure. HID headlights function similar to neon lights, where current (high voltage) passes through a gas-filled tube with electrodes at both ends. Few, however, have implemented HIDs across the board.įunction. Since that time, other automakers have adopted HIDs. The xenon HID headlight first appeared on the 1991 BMW 7 Series, and it was initially viewed as a novelty feature.

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 its launch in the early 1990s, the light has slowly gained favor as the superior choice when compared to halogen lights. 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 Headlightsįor nearly two decades, the halogen bulb went unchallenged as the global standard in automotive headlights. In this piece, we specifically look at HID headlights compared to LED headlights. New headlights are a big purchase, so you should fully understand what each form of light does - and what might be the best fit for your car.

Halogen capsule vs hid headlamps upgrade#

Headlight bulbs, conversion kits, HID bulbs, fog lights - these are just some of the many products car enthusiasts are buying to upgrade their cars. HID lights can be purchased everywhere - including on big consumer websites like Amazon. HID headlights and LED headlights have both come a long, and changed the world of automobiles rather significantly. Halogen bulbs were present in nearly every car for decades - but this has changed. Along with these changes, has come the improvement of previously existing technology.

The world has changed - technology has found its way into nearly every aspect of modern life.