Options for HID-type halogen lights
Pragmatist
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 490
From: South Florida
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
GeorgiaHybrid,
I understand that it is possible to do the engineering work to make sure that the replacement headlights do not cause a safety problem. But even that doesn't solve the legal issue.
In Florida, where I live, FL Statute 316.216 establishes the DOT authority to approve or disapprove every automotive lighting device. Other states have similar statutes. In theory, they could approve non-OEM devices. In practice, they just don't.
So the project isn't just the engineering work to make sure you get it right. It also involves the paperwork process of each state to get the design approved. And, in practice, you just can't get those approvals.
I understand that it is possible to do the engineering work to make sure that the replacement headlights do not cause a safety problem. But even that doesn't solve the legal issue.
In Florida, where I live, FL Statute 316.216 establishes the DOT authority to approve or disapprove every automotive lighting device. Other states have similar statutes. In theory, they could approve non-OEM devices. In practice, they just don't.
So the project isn't just the engineering work to make sure you get it right. It also involves the paperwork process of each state to get the design approved. And, in practice, you just can't get those approvals.
Super Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,261
From: NW Georgia
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
Steve,
I never said anything about being legal, just that if done correctly, you will end up with a set of lights that will not blind oncoming traffic. If your car is not a problem to traffic, I doubt that a cop will pull you over to see if your car has factory HID's. With a projector lens and quite a few cars coming from the factory with HID lights, 99.9% of the people running HID kits will not get busted.
I never said anything about being legal, just that if done correctly, you will end up with a set of lights that will not blind oncoming traffic. If your car is not a problem to traffic, I doubt that a cop will pull you over to see if your car has factory HID's. With a projector lens and quite a few cars coming from the factory with HID lights, 99.9% of the people running HID kits will not get busted.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,678
From: Beautiful Pacific NW
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
Yes, you have to first get caught in violation of the law, and if you engineer or choose the aftermarket product correctly that possibility become virtually nil.
Happy 07 TCH Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 186
From: Dunbar, WV
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
Has anyone tried the PIAA Xtreme White Plus (4000K) H11 bulbs, if so, what has your experience been. What is the life expectancy, are they much brighter, and do they have a blue tint?
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
I was wondering that too, any pictures of an install?
A High Intensity Discharge or HID Kit gives a facelift to your old or new motorbike, car, truck, etc. through better quality illumination to hit the road with great amount of confidence. Choose your preferred HID Kit from HIDOnlineStore.
A High Intensity Discharge or HID Kit gives a facelift to your old or new motorbike, car, truck, etc. through better quality illumination to hit the road with great amount of confidence. Choose your preferred HID Kit from HIDOnlineStore.
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
The HID I installed wasn't hard at all to install. It was really a Plug-And-Play Kit. I mount the Ballast underneat the Headlamps.A High Intensity Discharge or HID Kit gives a facelift to your old or new motorbike, car, truck, etc. through better quality illumination to hit the road with great amount of confidence. Choose your preferred HID Kit from HIDOnlineStore.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,678
From: Beautiful Pacific NW
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
Hello
Drivers who want their headlights to have the clarity and high-end style of those on luxury vehicles like Mercedes and Lexus now have more choices available to them. Lighting manufacturers such as Osram Sylvania, General Electric, Philips Electronics and American Auto Accessories currently produce coated halogen bulbs that mimic the quality found in state-of-the-art, xenon-gas filled high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, which come factory-installed on many luxury vehicles. These products, which retail between $9.99 and $34.99 and use names such as "Cool Blue" and "Hyper White," are flying off the racks of parts stores such as Pep Boys faster than the stores can restock them. These bulbs use an interference coating that gives off a whiter, crisper light than standard halogen bulbs.
Long used to light sports arenas and stadiums, HID lights, which first emerged on European vehicles in the early 1990s and made their U.S. debut on Lincoln models in 1995, burn at a higher color temperature than halogen lights, giving them a crisp, white appearance. Much like vapor-filled street lamps, HID relies on an electrical charge that excites xenon gas in a sealed bulb, creating intense white light by igniting an arc between two small electrodes. It provides three times the light output and lasts up to 10 times longer, plus it has no filaments to break down or degrade.
Drivers who want their headlights to have the clarity and high-end style of those on luxury vehicles like Mercedes and Lexus now have more choices available to them. Lighting manufacturers such as Osram Sylvania, General Electric, Philips Electronics and American Auto Accessories currently produce coated halogen bulbs that mimic the quality found in state-of-the-art, xenon-gas filled high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, which come factory-installed on many luxury vehicles. These products, which retail between $9.99 and $34.99 and use names such as "Cool Blue" and "Hyper White," are flying off the racks of parts stores such as Pep Boys faster than the stores can restock them. These bulbs use an interference coating that gives off a whiter, crisper light than standard halogen bulbs.
Long used to light sports arenas and stadiums, HID lights, which first emerged on European vehicles in the early 1990s and made their U.S. debut on Lincoln models in 1995, burn at a higher color temperature than halogen lights, giving them a crisp, white appearance. Much like vapor-filled street lamps, HID relies on an electrical charge that excites xenon gas in a sealed bulb, creating intense white light by igniting an arc between two small electrodes. It provides three times the light output and lasts up to 10 times longer, plus it has no filaments to break down or degrade.
A coating on the interior of a halogen bulb does NOTHING but FILTER the level of light output in certain frequency bands, narrows the light spectrum. The light will look "cool blue" or "hyper-white" but in truth will yield a lower level of visable light for our human eyes.
Over the eons of our existence on this earth under the ligth and heat of our sun human eyes have "tuned" to make best use of the sun's light spectrum.
Thus 4300K is the most appropreate light band for us to see well.
Filtering a halogen's wide spectrum light output to get a narrower spectrum more centered to simulate the more coherent light spectrum of HID's will always be a detriment to your night vision.
Last edited by wwest; Nov 14, 2009 at 09:27 AM.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 231
From: Calgary, AB Canada
Re: Options for HID-type halogen lights
Hello friends....
Halogen bulbs are currently used in most production cars and have been religiously for the past half-century. Chances are your car is using halogen bulbs. The bulbs are your standard incandescent light bulbs that operate on direct current running through a filament. The filament is fragile and is usually made out of a coil of wire created from exotic metals. This is encased in a glass bulb material and often filled with a gas. When current (or amperage) is supplied to the positive side of the circuit and travels to the bulb it crosses the coil of wire (filament) where it encounters high resistance. This resistance generates heat and thus produces light.
Thanks
Halogen bulbs are currently used in most production cars and have been religiously for the past half-century. Chances are your car is using halogen bulbs. The bulbs are your standard incandescent light bulbs that operate on direct current running through a filament. The filament is fragile and is usually made out of a coil of wire created from exotic metals. This is encased in a glass bulb material and often filled with a gas. When current (or amperage) is supplied to the positive side of the circuit and travels to the bulb it crosses the coil of wire (filament) where it encounters high resistance. This resistance generates heat and thus produces light.
Thanks
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