One of the essential parts of a car is the headlights. Engine, wheels, or other things may be more critical to a driver, but headlights rank lower in utility. A driver doesn't need headlights to drive during the day, but you need them to drive anywhere after dark. So if you do a lot of night driving, headlights will be the part of your vehicle that will help you cover about one-third of your driving journey.
The halogen and xenon headlights are standard equipment on all automobiles. Long-lasting halogen lamps are frequently seen on cheap and outdated motorcycles. A contemporary light source that has gained much traction among manufacturers and drivers is xenon headlights.
What are Hid Headlights?
Headlight bulbs have been around in automobiles since the late 19th century when cars were introduced. For many years, halogen bulbs were state-of-the-art, introduced in Europe, and still widely used today due to their low cost.
Can Halogen Headlights Be Replaced with HID and Xenon Headlights?
On older vehicles that, by and large, use halogen bulbs, the filaments are directed to interrelate with the reflector and refractor components in the headlight enclosure. That means the direction in the light beams from a pair of halogen headlights is designed internally to be very specific in its aim. The purpose here is to position the light in a way that makes roads and surroundings clear in the dark but also to make the light bearable — as in noticeable but not blinding — to oncoming motorists.
Furthermore, in older automobiles that were designed to accommodate halogen bulbs, HID headlights may not function effectively. Few upgrade kits have been created today that feature any light placement or shielding. If you purchase an HID kit intending to replace the halogen bulbs on an older vehicle, bad results can create difficulties for you down the road. The new lights would probably have an excessively high beam that would blind other vehicles at crossroads, on congested two-way streets, and in their rearview mirrors.
The solution to this potential problem is purchasing pre-owned HID headlights engineered to produce the best beam from older vehicles. Retrofit Source Inc., a household name in the retrofitting sector, has supplied xenon headlights for a wide variety of cars and models. Don't just shop from any vendor if you want to replace your halogen headlights with HIDs. Instead, buy HIDs from The Retrofit Source, which works with older vehicles.
How Do HID Headlights Work?
Like halogen lights, xenon lights are named after the gas in that particular bulb type. HID Headlights are small for high-intensity discharge, which is how xenon lights work. HID headlights beam a light-emitting plasma. They are made by combining a xenon gas and vaporized salt. They are activated on an arc by the ballast in the range of 30,000 V. It is maintained a voltage range of 80 to 100 V.
Halogen headlights, in contrast, run hotter and emit heat, which is the bulb's main weakness. Precisely, the light consists of a filament electrified by heat, while halogen gas protects the filament and makes the bulb last a reasonable amount of time. These halogen bulbs are installed in every automotive due to their low-cost prices. But while halogen bulbs have long been an industry standard, they use a lot of energy and generate unnecessary heat to stay active. Thus, halogen bulbs have an inefficient lighting option. Because of all these unnecessary features of halogen lights, vehicle manufacturers are now mostly switching to HID headlights, which are more efficient, memory-saving, and better for night driving conditions.
How Do HID High/Low Beams Work?
Sunlight between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM is generally beneficial for motorists across the United States. Still, daylight hours before and after these hours vary greatly depending on the time of year. From late fall to early spring, the roads in the US can be dark except during rush hour. Consequently, October to March is the month in which you use low beams.
So how do the HID high and low beam options work? When you need your headlights to be as bright as possible, you choose the high beam option. But when you need dimmed headlights, you select the low beam option. In driving situations where there is little or no light on or around the circuit, it becomes necessary for you to use the high beam option. Low beams are more appropriate during early autumn evening hours when the sky gradually darkens.
Halogen and HID lights require different types of bulbs, so we cannot use them interchangeably. Vehicles with high and low-beam capabilities typically have two pairs of headlight bulbs. The high and low functionalities of some headlights can be altered, though. For instance, some HID lights are designed with both high and low beam settings, allowing drivers to switch between them based on the requirements and suitability of a specific time and location.
How Long Can HID Headlights Last?
By one estimate, HID headlights can typically last up to 2,000 hours at best. While better and more durable, HIDs can last up to four times longer. These HID headlights can last for four to six years when the daytime driving hours are separated and if the evening and night hours on the road are calculated in years. Depending on your driving frequency, you can get a long time with a pair of HIDs. For example, if you drive an average of one hour per day and you reduce the hours you go during the day because you don't need to use headlights during the day. Given these times, you will only use 180 hours of HID life per year. With an expected life of 2,000 hours, you can use this pair of bulbs for about a year.
On the more practical end of the spectrum, you can still get a fair amount of driving time with a similar set of HID headlights. For example, on the off chance that you live in an extreme engine state like California and drive a typical 65 miles per day — driving between Burbank and St. Nick Monica for work, plus evening exercises. For a walk around the city strip. You will cover about 23,400 miles per year. If by luck, 33% of those hours are spent driving into the evening, you'll just be adding your HIDs to 7,800 hours within the typical time frame of the year. You'll get a year of life from outstanding quality, long-lasting HID headlights.
How much time can you get from a pair of HID headlights? You can get twice the driving hours and mileage from a couple of HID headlights, which you are liable to get from halogen bulbs. On average, halogen headlights last only 1,600 hours at low ratings and 3,000 hours at the highest ratings. If you measure it in years, halogen headlights last only two or three years. At these rates, people who live in states that require a lot of nighttime driving may need to replace a pair of halogen headlights every six to eight months.
How to Make Vehicle Headlights Bright?
If you want to increase the brightness and power of your vehicle's headlights, the easiest way is to upgrade your vehicle's HID headlights. These offer the whitest glow. The whiteness of HIDs is essential to enhance their aesthetics among modern motorcycles, as the white glow of HID headlights is similar to that of sunlight, making it the most natural and natural source of light for road navigation. Thus, cars with HIDs will likely be less difficult to travel during the late afternoon and early morning hours.
Depending on your situation as a driver, using HIDs has excellent benefits and may even be essential for you. For example, if you are only driving for a few hours on dark roads, which can be challenging to navigate, HID headlights can make your journey in the dark much safer and more accessible. Likewise, if you're visionary, the superior whiteness of HIDs brings a lot of visual clarity to the driving experience. Then again, even if you're a clear-eyed, experienced driver, you'll no doubt appreciate the daylight-quality brightness that HIDs provide in the dark of night.
How to Upgrade HID Headlights?
Headlight technology has been developed throughout the history of the automobile. Tungsten filament lights were the original headlights. And then, in the 1960s, halogen bulbs became the preferred headlight option. Fast forward to modern times, and you'll find high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights. Today many high-quality companies offer you flawless design and high-performance headlights. They offer a wide range of automotive parts. If your car is older, it likely needs a headlight upgrade. These companies upgrade how visible your vehicle is, especially at night. More importantly, they also improve your visibility while driving. You can upgrade from halogen bulbs to HID headlights. It can make for a safer and more comfortable ride in the dark.
Many drivers suffer from poor night vision, which makes them afraid to drive after sunset. But you can improve your vision with new HID headlights, moving confidently at any time of the day. HID headlights mounted on reflector headlamps emit a bright, unfocused light. The beam becomes too high and wide and becomes a safety hazard to other drivers, who may also need modifications to the wiring for the HID lights to work well on high and low beams. So when choosing this upgrade, choose a professional retrofit.
Projector lenses and tubes may not fit into HID bulbs for projector headlights. So you may need modifications when upgrading. Professional headlamp installers can do this for you. They have improved the driving experience for thousands of customers over the past 11 years. It is another dimension of lights sold by companies that bring their lights to motor vehicles. Their headlights incorporate the latest technology in new and old cars, adding beauty and catering to various tastes. When drivers discover how to upgrade their headlights to xenon, they look for style and quality.
What are the Benefits of HID Headlights?
Compared to halogen headlights, HID headlights are far more energy-efficient, generating more light with less power, putting less stress on your car's electrical system, and ultimately boosting fuel economy. Up to 20% of the energy in a standard halogen bulb is converted to light, with the remaining 80% lost as heat. Less than 30% of their energy is lost as heat. More than 70% of its energy is converted into light, while HID headlights do almost the opposite.
Read Also: Ten Benefits of Switching to HID Lights
HID headlights also have the advantage of producing more light than halogen bulbs, which is another benefit. An HID bulb's frequency will also typically be whiter than a halogen's, creating light more akin to sunshine than the naturally yellowish hue of halogens. While more expensive than halogen headlight bulbs, HID headlight bulbs are usually less costly than their LED counterparts.
Related FAQs
Are LED Headlights Better Than HID?
If you decide to upgrade to HID or LED headlamps, you should know that HIDs take a few seconds to reach full brightness, while LEDs fully illuminate immediately. LED lights also last longer and use less power than HIDs, giving them an edge that goes beyond peripheral lighting performance.
Are HID Headlights Worth It?
It also makes HID lights ideal for driving in foggy conditions. They reduced Energy Consumption. Finally, the energy they use is minimal. They have a low running consumption and need a lot of energy only when you're starting them up.
How to Install HID Headlight Kit?
- Remove the stock bulb
- Insert HID bulb carefully
- Plug HID bulb into the ballast
- Ballast has two connectors, positive and negative. Connect these to your stock H13 connector.
Final Thoughts
If you are ready to upgrade your car's lights from halogen bulbs to HID headlights, you can consult these companies for new lights that suit your vehicle's needs. So that when you hit the road, you'll enjoy better safety behind the wheel and during nighttime travel.
