subject: Why HID Lights Are Better Than Normal Headlights? [print this page] Why HID Lights Are Better Than Normal Headlights?
Halogen bulbs are a special type of light bulb that utilizes different bulb construction and elements from standard light bulbs to achieve longer bulb life and a distinctively brighter or "lighter" glow. Perhaps the most common place to find halogen lamps is in the headlights of certain vehicles. The basic operation of a halogen lamp is the same as a normal light bulb: a halogen lamp contains a filament made of tungsten metal, which is heated up with an electrical current producing incandescence, which is the light that is given off by a very hot object. This contrasts with fluorescent lights, which use a lower degree of heat to excite gases which give off UV light which, in turn, excites a layer of phosphorescent material on the inside of the bulb which glows as visible light.
Normal headlight is made of a glass envelope capable of resisting very high temperatures, plus a gas, usually a combination of argon and nitrogen, and a tungsten filament. In order to create light, the bulb receives electricity from the car and heats the tungsten filament to around 2,500 degrees Celsius. While generating the radiating light, the bulb also creates a large amount of heat which basically represents wasted energy. When the halogen light bulb comes to the end of its lifetime, it usually happens so because the tungsten in the filament evaporates and leaves the filament, finally reaching the glass and causing the light to burn.
Halogen light bulbs or normal head lights with halogen bulbs have a number of advantages that could make it the number one option for most car makers: they create a brighter illumination, mostly thanks to the heat generated by the filament; they come in a number of different sizes, which basically means that such bulbs can be installed on most car models; they are dimmable, thus allowing car makers to build multiple versions, depending on body type and dimensions.
Xenon Headlights are known as High Intensity Discharge lights. A xenon headlight is much more efficient when it comes to the amount of produced light as compared to the halogen ones. Of course, this can be easily considered a major setback, especially from the point of view of incoming traffic, especially if the angle of illumination isn't properly configured. According to official stats, a xenon bulb produces 3000 lumen and 90 mcd/m2, while a halogen light generates 1400 lumens and 30 mcd/m2. Xenon lamps have slowly become available in a number of sizes and versions, especially to be used on various types of cars. Xenon lights have a pretty long lifetime, exceeding the one of halogen lamps: estimates are pointing to an operation life of around 2,000 hours in normal conditions.
HID lights are more expensive regardless if we're discussing about installation costs, replacing or maintenance. HID lights produce ultraviolet as well as visible light, which makes reflective highway signs glow more brilliantly. If it is the issue of performance; once you drive behind xenon headlights, you never want to go back.
