Can you imagine a car without headlights? It’s simply not possible as you would probably hit the first tree that comes your way when it gets dark. Automotive lights are one of the most important parts of your car, as they enable you to see the road at night and prevent you from hitting objects and more importantly pedestrians.
Headlight bulbs have improved a lot over the years, becoming brighter, more energy-efficient and with a longer lifespan. They come in a wide range of colors and shapes, which is how people base their choice when purchasing new automotive bulbs.
The latest trend is the LED headlights, so you can find plenty of websites providing information on this type, such as: http://www.elivestory.com/things-to-know-about-led-headlight-bulbs/. Apart from them, other older but still popular types are the halogen and xenon bulbs. Let’s learn more about their similarities and differences.
Halogen bulbs
This type of headlights have been used for hundreds of years and they are still used today, as most of the older auto models have them. They work in a similar way like the household bulbs, by allowing electricity to pass through the metal filament inside of them.
In order to produce brightness, they need halogen gas which fills the lamp and enables it to emit light. Some bulbs use xenon instead of halogen gas. Regardless of which kind of gas is used, the brighter they are, the hotter they become, which is why even a drop of water can cause damage. Therefore, when you decide to replace them, use gloves as your skin moisture can also lead to a defect.
Their lifespan is approximately 2000 working hours, which is not much in comparison with the other types, but people purchase them as they are the cheapest variant.
Xenon bulbs
Xenon bulbs have much longer lifespan, but are less used because of the higher price. Read more about their life expectancy.
Unlike the previous ones, these headlights don’t contain a metal filament, but work on the principle of electricity formed between two electrodes. Not containing a metal part, means that xenon lights don’t emit such heat as the halogen ones, but they need more time to warm up.
When they eventually warm up, they shine brighter than all the other types of automotive lights. Due to this fact, they are forbidden to be used in some countries, as they obstruct the visibility of other drivers.
LED bulbs
LED headlights are the latest trend among car manufacturers due to their energy-efficient work principle and long life-span. These headlamps use light-emitting diodes which convert electricity to light, by producing minimal heat, which makes them energy-efficient.
LED headlights have protection systems which prevent damage, such as the waterproof and the cooling system. These systems don’t let any water from the outside or any heat from the inside to cause defect.
They are brighter than the halogen lights, but cost more. However, although you’ll pay a higher price, these lights will serve you much longer than the others, around 30000 working hours. Even if your car isn’t automatically equipped with LED headlamps, you can purchase a LED kit and replace the old ones. They are easy to install, not requiring help from a mechanic.
Conclusion
We hope that this information on the three most popular types of headlamps, will help you decide which one is suitable for your vehicle.
If you are after a cheap price choose the halogen type, for the best luminosity pick the xenon type and for the longest lifespan go with the LED type!
