HID HEADLIGHTS

HIDs are popular automotive headlights and different from standard car lights. These are high-performing and come in plenty of styles but aren’t for everyone. Before making the final decision, here’s what you must know.

Origin

High-intensity discharge lights were first launched in the 1990s and eventually rose to fame as a superior choice to halogens. But these have been around for hundreds of years and were initially called gas discharge chambers. Today, we know them as HID xenon lights, referring to the gas utilized in the product’s startup. HID headlights first appeared as a novelty feature on the 1991 BMW 7 Series. Automakers have adapted well to HIDs since then, and today the segment is ever-evolving.

Color

Color is a critical component since it impacts your driving conditions. Inclement weather requires warm lighting, whereas you need crisp white in clear conditions. The way HIDs create light is quite interesting – a glass capsule encompassed by a glass tube contains electrodes, salts, gas, and metals. So when you start the HID headlights, electricity powers up the ballast, reaching up the bulb and creating an electric arc inside the capsule. This phenomenon triggers the inner components to turn into plasma, emitting light in specific colors. This internal composition is responsible for the various colors HID headlight kits exhibit right out of the box.

Components

HID conversion kits have a ballast that converts the vehicle’s electricity into a high-voltage AC spark to fire up the HID xenon light. Most ballasts are identical; the difference lies in their startup, reliability, and power. Next, let’s talk about the HID bulb – vehicles either feature two separate bulbs for low and high beams (single beam) or a single bulb supporting both low and high beams (dual beam). Other components include the internal wiring, rubber grommet, external wiring, canbus system, wiring harness, and connectors.

Technology

As mentioned earlier, the HID system is a xenon gas bulb with electrodes that ignites the xenon gas to power up the light. HID headlights operate at warmer temperatures and burn out in a year or two, for the number of components involved and the power that goes into igniting xenon.

Beam Pattern

If you originally have a projector headlight, HIDs work best since these are omnidirectional, unlike unidirectional LEDs. In the case of reflector headlights, the technology is more forgiving and has much room for what would work. The idea is to mimic the original beam pattern as the better the beam pattern, the brighter and safer the headlights.

Pros & Cons

HID is a tried and true technology that works pretty much with everything. These are a reliable and popular choice among automotive enthusiasts. Here are some of the must-know pros and cons:

Pros

• Bright light
• Longer lifespan
• Reliable
• Greater visibility
• Energy efficient
• Plug-n-play installation
• Low maintenance

Cons

• More glare
• High cost
• Overheating
• Impaired nighttime visibility

LED HEADLIGHTS

LED headlights are the new and hot trend as these are noticeably longer-lasting, energy-efficient, and the brightest. These gained traction a little before the 2000s. Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes have all witnessed the trend. But should you choose them too? Let’s see.

Origin

LEDs that we know today have been around for years. The first-ever experimental infrared LED showed up in 1961, after which Nick Holonyak Syracuse invented the red LED technology in 1962. 1972 was when M. George Craford discovered the yellow LED. Later in 1979, Shuji Nakamura developed the game-changing ultra-bright blue LED, making white LEDs possible. By the 1980s, Japanese carmakers started embracing LED vehicle lights. Ultimately, in the autumn of 1996, white light-emitting diodes came up for sale, and the rest is history.

Color

LEDs create light differently. Essentially, a circuit board is responsible for the entire mechanism. Power going from your headlight switch to the bulb reaches the solid-state set of light-emitting diodes releasing energy to create light. This light is actually blue, and with a yellow phosphor filter, different shades of white come into action. With that said, 5,000K to 6,000 K is the easiest to create, use, and sustain on the color spectrum and gives the best lighting for better on-road performance.

Components

HIDs are a little complicated, but LED kits have a fairly simple, concise, and refined situation. A single beam bulb singlehandedly manages either the high beam or low beam. So, take out the existing bulb and plug in the new LED. In the case of a dual-beam pattern, the connection is plug-n-play; however, the bulb itself has two arrays of LEDs to support the functionality. No moving parts, no harnesses, just the power driver, connector, and the bulb makes for the entire installation.

Technology

Car LED light kits have compact technology. These are surface-mounted diodes, essentially an on/off switch. These operate at much colder temperatures and offer better road visibility, extended lifespan, and adequate brightness. 

Beam Pattern

An incorrect LED won’t make an ideal beam pattern in projector or reflector headlights. But sometimes, they work well as HIDs have more scatter and glare. LEDs have an excellent optical alignment for a precise beam pattern. But then again, the situation remains skeptical, especially with random LED bulbs.

Pros & Cons

Automotive LED headlights are getting more popular thanks to their amazing benefits over regular incandescent bulbs. But as with HIDs, these too have limitations. Below are some pros and cons to keep in mind when purchasing LED headlights for cars:

Pros

• Bright white light
• Decent and immediate illumination
• Less impact on oncoming drivers
• Looks and feels much cooler
• Produces less heat
• Longer lifespan
• Energy efficient

Cons

• Upfront investment
• Heat dispersed to the emitter

A Good Reason to Choose LED Headlights

LEDs are small-sized lights with bigger potential. These automotive lights allow better illumination, and most states also permit high-quality aftermarket car LEDs. These may be emerging tech, but constant modifications are making LEDs the lights of the future. Even with high initial costs, you’re only going to save in the long run. LEDs will last you a good long while before needing a replacement. These are worth considering for your auto headlights.

Upgrade with HID Nation

HIDs or LEDs, whichever you decide, we can help you make the right upgrade. Hope this blog helps you choose the best headlights for your needs. But, it’s always a good idea to do your research and make an informed purchase. For more assistance, get in touch with us.