Changing Standard Car Bulbs to Xenon
If you are considering changing car bulbs to improve the light produced from your car by switching from standard bulbs to Xenon lights you will probably be weighing up the cost versus the benefits, of which there are many.
Xenon Look Car Bulbs and Xenon HID Bulbs – There is a Difference
Crisp white Xenon lighting helps improve night time vision and is therefore a great way to reduce eye strain and improve safety when you are on the roads. However, if you replace your existing bulbs with ‘Xenon’ look car bulbs these will be a bit brighter than your current bulbs – up to 120%, but they are still halogen filament bulbs. They are direct replacement bulbs so the cost to change over to them is quite low, especially when compared to the cost of changing to a HID bulbs with a HID Kit. HID bulbs are not direct replacement options, you need to get HID bulbs as well as HID ‘ballast’ kits to complete the installation.
Xenon HID (high intensity discharge) bulbs are different from ‘Xenon’ look car bulbs as the HID version has no filament, using an electric arc to create light. They are more expensive and require very high voltages and it is for this reason you need to add a ‘ballast unit’. It is important to get a good quality one so that you benefit from quality light, with a good light pattern. Cheaper aftermarket Xenon HIDs tend not to last as long as quality branded ones.
Improved Lighting Gives You Many Benefits
Real Xenon HID bulbs give you much improved lighting, up to three times brighter than standard bulbs. The viewing radius is increased by using brighter Xenon HID car bulbs, which means you benefit from wider road coverage. The Xenon HID Kits when installed gives you a longer beam pattern which makes it easier to see other road users and gives you more reaction time to potential hazards, therefore improving safety. It also reduces blind spots with a better illuminated road making it easier to see the road ahead, with the white light giving drivers an advantage in the dark and in adverse weather conditions compared to those using yellow halogen car bulbs.
Improved brightness gives you better reflections from road markings and signs which reduces eye strain and provides a more comfortable experience for drivers, especially when travelling at night. Good lighting at night is crucial to safety as the lack of visibility is a major cause of accidents.
Xenon HID car bulbs are also more durable than halogen lights. They can withstand a greater amount of vibration as they do not have a filament. The Xenon car bulbs consume less power than standard headlights even though they produce more light, owing to their components.
Installing HID Kits
HID kits are fairly easy to install for most people who already know how to change car bulbs. When you come to install them it is important that you do not touch the clear glass on the bulb, as by doing so it will burn out instantly, should you get your fingerprints on the glass. High performance car bulbs do not last as long as regular standard bulbs so you will need to consider the costs as you will probably need to replace them every couple of years.
Considering the above it is difficult not to conclude that better lighting is worth the money.
Jonathan Elder is a web site writer for Splice Marketing Ltd. This article was written with the help of Autobulbs Direct, online retailer of HID Kits and Xenon Headlight bulbs.
You can purchase a complete range of standard, upgraded and HID bulbs online, with free UK delivery on most orders.
Processing your request, Please wait....
