HID Kits and Halogen Bulbs
What is the difference between Xenon/HID Kit and conventional halogen systems?
HID Kits use different principles in the creation of light than halogen. HID bulbs contain a small capsule with a mixture of xenon gas and halide salts that aid in the creation of a powerful light source that is generally 3 times brighter than halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs use a filament that creates light from basic ohmic resistance across a filament. While halogen bulbs runs directly from the cars 12V system, HID bulbs require a ballast that can supply accurate high voltage.
What can I gain from having HID in low beams, compared to halogen?
Having HID bulbs in low beams is widely used. Having a slow turn on HID bulb in a low beam application is no downside. It is solved by having the low beams come on right after engine is started, and they cannot be turned off before you switch ignition off. In general, there are only advantages to HID Kits.
What can I gain from having HID in high beams in a traditional open reflector based system, compared to halogen?
HID/Xenon Technology
HID xenon bulbs are quite a recent development in automotive lighting technology. The HID stands for High Intensity Discharge, which refers to the unique way in which the bulbs produce their light. Unlike ordinary halogen headlight bulbs, HID xenon bulbs do not contain a conventional metal filament, so in order to ignite the xenon gas and metal halide within the glass bulb a very high voltage spark is needed which is delivered by two electrodes.
The high voltage that is used to generate the spark is around 20,000 volts, which is considerably higher than a car’s normal 12 volt supply and so a metal box, called a ballast unit, is fitted to help boost the voltage. Once the spark has been generated and the bulb is illuminated the voltage drops down to a steady 85 volts.
The xenon gas belongs to the group of elements known as the noble gases, and is held within a single sealed glass tube above the base of the bulb. When ignited the xenon helps to produce a light that is 300% brighter than halogen, and because the light is also much whiter it more closely resembles natural daylight.
Are HID Kits Right For Your Car?
HID stands for High Intensity Discharger and HID kits are used for upgrading a vehicle’s headlights. Some of the benefits of this modification include low power consumption and a better intensity of light. Many companies have recognized the worth of HID lights and therefore these lights are part of almost all new car and truck models. However, if you have an old car and would like to improve its performance then installing an HID conversion kit can prove to be a great modification. Buying these kits from a reputable car parts manufacturer is a good option to avoid legal issues and other reliability problems.
It has been found that HID lights produce up to 3 times more light than simple halogen bulbs which are factory installed. Furthermore, they require only 35 Watt power as compared to 55 Watt required by halogen bulbs. The technology used in these types of headlights is somewhat different and the functionality is optimized to bring about a positive change to your car’s performance. Reliable manufacturers provide waterproof and shockproof HID kits to their customers that can last for many years to come. Many people want to install these kits as they are not only cost effective but are also very easy to install.