What is H.I.D.?
H.I.D. stands for High Intensity Discharge. It refers to
lighting technology that relies on an electrical charge to
ignite xenon gas contained in a sealed bulb (capsule). HID
lighting doesn't have a filament but instead creates light by
igniting an arc between two electrodes. HID lights get their
name from the intense white light produced by the electrical
discharge. HID lamps are also called xenon lamps,
referring to a gas inside the lamps.
Is HID new?
HID lighting has been gaining ground over the past several
years. HID lighting systems were first offered as an option on
high-end luxury cars and are currently offered as standard
equipment on 7% of all European vehicles. HID made its North
American debut in 1995 on the Lincoln Mark VIII and today, HID
headlights are available in the U.S. as an option on several
different high-end models. Although halogen is still used on the
majority of vehicles manufactured today, HID will continue to
make headway due to its safety and performance benefits. Kits
for additional vehicle models are continually in development.
Why HID?
Xenon headlamps are the best vehicle lighting currently
available because they offer more light than conventional bulbs
- and this in a quality similar to daylight. Some
auto experts cite the almost complete darkness on isolated
highways as a reason for why HID lighting is becoming popular.
HID lights promote safety by providing a better overall view of
the roadway and the ability to see upcoming objects quickly and
more clearly. For example, road signs and objects on the road
are easier to see when illuminated by HID headlights.
HID provides a better vision.
It can be vital to see more in borderline situations. Because
the risk of having an accident at night is about twice as
high as during the day - despite the fact that there is less
traffic on the road. The reason: humans are inadequately
equipped to see at night or in poor weather conditions. The
better you can see and the more similar the light conditions are
to daylight, the better the compensation for the factors that
make night driving difficult:
- Overstimulation caused by the large number of
traffic signs.
- Reduction of visual acuity at night to one
twentieth of the daytime level.
- Loss of important information due to restricted
field of vision, considerably reduced ability to recognise
contrasts and colours.
- Tiredness and decreasing concentration.
- Diminishing powers of vision in the dark from 30
years of age onwards.
How is HID different?
HID lighting provides about three times the light output of
standard halogen headlights while using less energy. HID lights
are designed to last up to 5 times longer than standard halogen
lamps.
HID is similar to daylight.
Xenon bulbs offer more light than conventional bulbs and that in
a quality similar to daylight. Ensuring more safety. Road
illumination is brighter and wider with the xenon light which
has a longer range. In particular, dangers at the curb areas as
well as obstacles in front of the vehicle are recognized more
quickly. Pedestrians or cyclists can also be seen better, as can
traffic signs at the edge of the road. In poor weather
conditions - such as rain, fog or snow - drivers also have much
better spatial vision. This means that the orientation ability
of drivers is less limited despite adverse conditions. Driving
comfort is also improved. Because it is not the act of seeing
itself which leads to tiredness and other negative effects, but
the concentration involved. A road that is illuminated more
brightly and widely by xenon light reduces the amount of
concentration needed, so that drivers do not become tired as
quickly and can concentrate on driving longer.
Once with HID, always with HID.
In 1997, the renowned opinion research institute Emnid carried
out a survey among drivers whose vehicles were equipped with
xenon light. The results of this survey speak for themselves:
|
94% |
of all
xenon users have a positive opinion of xenon
light, the main features mentioned were brightness (42
%) and general illumination (35 %). |
|
85% |
of all
xenon users feel they could see better at night,
with the age-group over 50 this figure even rose to 90
%. |
|
83% |
of all
xenon users would order their next car with xenon
light again. |
|
80% |
of all
xenon users feel they can see better in the rain
using xenon light. |
|
75% |
of all
xenon users state that the wider illumination of the
road creates more safety for cyclists and
pedestrians. |
|
64% |
of all
xenon users consider xenon light to be so good that
it should be made standard for all vehicles. |
|
61% |
of all
xenon users feel safer with xenon light. |
Dual beam HID.
There are
two versions of H4 (Hi/Lo).
- Ver. 1: This special dual-bulb
version generates regular and high beams in one
single base utilizing a HID capsule for the regular
and an H1 halogen for the high beam. This
solid-state design definitely outlasts the moving
mechanism design. Another plus is that this design
is cheaper due to the lack of controllers which are
required for controlling the mechanism.
- Ver. 2: This is a single-capsule
that generates regular & high beam patterns using a
movable shutter. It is more expensive due to
the required controllers as mentioned above. But
one's eyes see a constantly agreeable light and do
not have to continually re-adapt between the two
colors/intensities/clarities. Moreover, apart from
the setting mechanism for the shutter, additional
expenditure for a separate headlamp with its own
control electronics is no longer necessary. This
saves energy, money, construction space and weight,
and helps reduce fuel consumption.
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Is HID here to stay?
Experts indicate that automotive lighting will continue to
evolve and HID lighting systems will displace the current
halogen headlight technology. Experts further say that although
it has been regarded as a luxury option or a prestige item, it
will become a more common, expected and affordable feature.
Projected worldwide HID usage is expected to exceed 10% of all
vehicles by 2008.
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upgrade your vehicle to HID system today!
Some photos from our client, 0 modification!
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