HID Headlights: Everything You Need to Learn About HID
As the world progresses, new technologies are also increasing. The story of halogen headlights is old, and the headlight has changed a lot. Drivers now have more options in choosing the lighting system for new cars. HID headlights have been around since the 1990s and were first used in the 1991 BMW 7-Series car. Despite automakers moving toward LED and laser technology, HID headlights are still popular in modern vehicles.
When it comes to upgrading lights, your first choice should be headlights. They can enhance the vehicle’s exterior appearance and further improve the performance and safety of driving at night. If you’re considering upgrading, you must learn about HID headlights.
What are HID Headlights?
High-intensity discharge lamps (HID lamps) are electrically powered gas discharge lamps. They produce light by an electric arc between tungsten electrodes placed inside a transparent fused quartz or alumina arc tube. Their tube contains a noble gas and often contains the appropriate metal or metal salts. HID bulbs are designed to be slightly different from regular bulbs, allowing them to emit more light. These bulbs provide several advantages, which is why they have become more famous in recent years.
How Do They work?
High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, with minor differences, work like other light bulbs. They work with an electric arc between two tungsten electrodes, which gives light. Usually, it is kept in a tube made of quartz.
Xenon gas is used in the tube to improve bulb longevity and efficiency. HID headlights work better than a normal light bulb. As such, they do not have a filament and use less energy to produce light. They last longer because they have no filament to burn. They last ten times longer than other headlight bulbs out there. An HID headlight requires more energy than the average headlight system to produce this light. So, you can only change the bulb and expect the same effect.
How Many Types of Headlights?
There are generally two types of HID headlights, standard HID and Bi-Xenon. Standard HID lights typically come in applications where one bulb is used for low beams and another for high beams. It’s called a single-beam headlight system, and you use HID bulbs for the low beam.
Bi-Xenon headlights are dual-beam system lights in which a single bulb does two jobs, producing both low beams and high beams. This kind of system often uses a shield or reflector to change from low beam to high beam and needs moving parts within the headlight assembly. Additional complexity increases the cost of these units. This headlight system requires maintenance to function properly. In contrast, Bi-Xenon headlights do not work in a single-beam headlight system.
What are the Advantages of HID Headlights?
Advantages of HID Headlights
HID headlights work much better than halogen lights, allowing them to use little energy to produce the same result. With this, you can easily save fuel, even a small amount.
These lights produce more light with better visibility. They show you more than other bulbs and allow other cars to see you more easily.
These bulbs are very durable. HID headlight bulbs work between 5,000 and 8,000 hours. It is a significant advantage over halogen bulbs which have a typical lifespan of around 1,000 hours because they do not have filaments; they are very fragile and can break easily. Therefore, they last longer than halogen bulbs.
Consumers increasingly prefer HID bulbs because they produce white light, while halogen bulbs make yellow light. It is a cleaner light than yellow light and adds to your vehicle’s aesthetics.
These lights are very easy to install. You can buy installation kits that are not too expensive and install them yourself.
Cars with HID lights can cost more than conventional lights. If you upgrade to HID bulbs, you may have to spend a little more. Like the HID headlights, the 9005 headlight bulb led is also a high-beam bulb used in vehicle headlights. A high beam light produces a lot of light that illuminates a considerable distance when driving in dark conditions or bad weather and makes it easier for other drivers to see.
What are the Disadvantages of HID Headlights?
Disadvantages of HID Headlights
One of the big disadvantages of HID headlights is that they are too bright. They may seem very bright in rearview mirrors, which can be a problem for other drivers. However, that doesn’t surely mean that they harm other drivers—they can appear a bit brighter.
Therefore, be conscious of your following distance if you install these headlights. Also, many drivers told problems when utilizing these headlights in foggy and rainy weather. Therefore, they may be harder to use in these situations.
Final Words
If you are thinking of upgrading the lights in a new car, HID headlights can be a viable and great option for you. or make your vehicle’s brightness, color, and performance more efficient than halogen headlights. The cost of upgrades may be high but not outweigh their benefits, performance, and longevity. It will also enhance the beauty of your car, as everyone likes.