subject: Different Types Of Car Headlight Bulbs [print this page] Different Types Of Car Headlight Bulbs Different Types Of Car Headlight Bulbs
There are many different types of car headlight bulbs. Headlights are part of the front of a vehicle that enables the driver to see when driving in low visibility situations or at night by illuminating the road in front of the car. With all the models of vehicles, there are just as many headlights to fit them all.
Acetylene or fuel were used in the earliest lamps that were made in the 1880's. Acetylene were popular because the flame was resistant to rain and wind. In 1904, electric headlights became standard. Then a lever that could raise and lower the lights were incorporated in 1917.
Traditionally, incandescent lamps were used in vehicles. The filament in these bulbs have a filament made of tungsten. An electric current creates the light by heating up the filament. The filament breaks after it thins out. The bulbs last longer the thicker the tungsten. However, thin filaments create brighter light than thicker ones.
Halogen lights also use a tungsten filament. Its long life comes from the halogen gas that is inside the capsule. The halogen basically regenerates the filament every time it is used. It's almost self-sustaining, but they don't last forever. Eventually, spots of it thin out so much that they also breaks.
A head lamp that doesn't use a filament is a high-intensity discharge (HID). This bulb creates and electrical charge between two electrodes. This arc of electrical current happens within a xenon gas capsule. These lights are three times brighter and lasts much longer. They can cause a harsh glare if mounted incorrectly.
The lamps generate different colors based on the temperature. As it gets hotter, it moves from yellow, to white, to bluish white. So each lamp emits a slightly different color of light. This is evident when driving down the highway.
Because high beams shine straight ahead, it causes too much glare to use when other vehicles are on the road. It's also not safe to use high beams during fog, rain, or snow due to back-dazzle of the light off of the water droplets. Low beams are used most of the time when driving in low light situations because the headlights are dipped downward.
Car headlight bulbs are as diverse as all the types of vehicles that exist. They come in different sizes, colors, and longevity. HID lights are the most efficient and long-lasting.
