Fifteen years ago, lighting technology took a leap forward with the invention of “High-Intensity Discharge” (HID) automotive headlights. They first appeared on the 1991 BMW 7 Series. Today, as costs decrease, HID Headlights are becoming available on at least some models from the nearly every major manufacturer.
Description:
# High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights, also know as Xenon lights, produce a bright light resulting from an electric arc inside a capsule full of Xenon gas. Many times, HID lighting appears to give off a bluish tint when the bulbs are lit. This technology produces a significantly brighter and whiter light than that of a standard halogen light. HID lights first began appearing on luxury cars in the late 1990s and are becoming increasingly more common as standard equipment.
# The automotive HID (high intensity discharge) headlight lamps are often referred to as xenon lamps but they are more of a specialized metal halide lamp than anything else.
# Once illuminated, HID light output is three times that of halogen, and as an added benefit, the ignited gas uses very low voltage, thereby reducing the load on the alternator. The light, now at a “hotter” color temperature than halogen, appears nearly white. The powerful white light makes distant street reflectors and signs highly visible to the driver. As HID light is more intense, the bulbs are typically placed behind projector beam headlight assemblies. These lenses allow the bright HID beam to be very focused, often with a very pronounced beam cut-off, or area where the light stops, to reduce glare to opposing traffic. In addition, most HID-equipped vehicles have standard beam leveling control, dropping and raising according to vehicle load and angle, to further prevent glare to other road users.
# Early HID headlights were only used for the low beam, with a halogen bulb reserved for high beam use. As reflector technology has improved, “bi-xenon” headlights (offering both a “low” and “high” HID beam) are offered on many vehicles today.
Purpose:
# As a newer headlight technology, HID lights provide better visibility at night, which help to improve nighttime driving safety.
# HID lights also consume less electricity than their halogen counterparts, reducing load on the car’s electrical system. Because of the projector-like technology of HIDs, their high-tech appearance is also a welcome addition to today’s vehicle designs.
# HID lamps produce up to 70% more light than standard halogen bulbs, and have a longer service life than conventional sealed beams or halogen lamps,
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
# They also last longer. With an expected lifespan of 3,000 hours (about 90,000 miles for the average driver), many consider HID headlights a “lifetime” bulb that never needs to be replaced. Even if the bulb does burn out (and they can), the modular design allows bulb-only replacement, much like traditional headlight bulbs.
# Check headlight operation frequently and always replace defective bulbs with another of the same exact type. During replacement, be careful not to touch the bulb itself as the oil from your skin can cause the bulb to fail.
# Cars with HID lights from the factory meet lighting safety requirements for that specific make, year and model. If you plan to retrofit your car’s standard halogen lights over to HID, make sure the bulbs/conversion kits result in a legal installation for street use.
# HID conversions are usually more involved than just a simple bulb replacement and require thorough research before making the decision to switch.
# Many active safety features are invaluable as driver aids but rarely used. HID headlight is an active safety feature that is used frequently, increases headlight reliability, and improves driver visibility.
Description:
# High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights, also know as Xenon lights, produce a bright light resulting from an electric arc inside a capsule full of Xenon gas. Many times, HID lighting appears to give off a bluish tint when the bulbs are lit. This technology produces a significantly brighter and whiter light than that of a standard halogen light. HID lights first began appearing on luxury cars in the late 1990s and are becoming increasingly more common as standard equipment.
# The automotive HID (high intensity discharge) headlight lamps are often referred to as xenon lamps but they are more of a specialized metal halide lamp than anything else.
# Once illuminated, HID light output is three times that of halogen, and as an added benefit, the ignited gas uses very low voltage, thereby reducing the load on the alternator. The light, now at a “hotter” color temperature than halogen, appears nearly white. The powerful white light makes distant street reflectors and signs highly visible to the driver. As HID light is more intense, the bulbs are typically placed behind projector beam headlight assemblies. These lenses allow the bright HID beam to be very focused, often with a very pronounced beam cut-off, or area where the light stops, to reduce glare to opposing traffic. In addition, most HID-equipped vehicles have standard beam leveling control, dropping and raising according to vehicle load and angle, to further prevent glare to other road users.
# Early HID headlights were only used for the low beam, with a halogen bulb reserved for high beam use. As reflector technology has improved, “bi-xenon” headlights (offering both a “low” and “high” HID beam) are offered on many vehicles today.
Purpose:
# As a newer headlight technology, HID lights provide better visibility at night, which help to improve nighttime driving safety.
# HID lights also consume less electricity than their halogen counterparts, reducing load on the car’s electrical system. Because of the projector-like technology of HIDs, their high-tech appearance is also a welcome addition to today’s vehicle designs.
# HID lamps produce up to 70% more light than standard halogen bulbs, and have a longer service life than conventional sealed beams or halogen lamps,
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
# They also last longer. With an expected lifespan of 3,000 hours (about 90,000 miles for the average driver), many consider HID headlights a “lifetime” bulb that never needs to be replaced. Even if the bulb does burn out (and they can), the modular design allows bulb-only replacement, much like traditional headlight bulbs.
# Check headlight operation frequently and always replace defective bulbs with another of the same exact type. During replacement, be careful not to touch the bulb itself as the oil from your skin can cause the bulb to fail.
# Cars with HID lights from the factory meet lighting safety requirements for that specific make, year and model. If you plan to retrofit your car’s standard halogen lights over to HID, make sure the bulbs/conversion kits result in a legal installation for street use.
# HID conversions are usually more involved than just a simple bulb replacement and require thorough research before making the decision to switch.
# Many active safety features are invaluable as driver aids but rarely used. HID headlight is an active safety feature that is used frequently, increases headlight reliability, and improves driver visibility.
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