There aren't many car owners take the time to learn anything about their headlights than how to work with them. The story and technology beneath them is interesting. Knowing how your headlights work is helpful for maintenance and crash-avoidance purposes.
How they started
More than a century ago, auto headlights were fueled by either kerosene or acetylene. These open flames were eventually swapped out by small electric blubs within a reflector/lens casing. The lights would dim easily from corrosion since insulation in old bulbs was a problem. Another problem with these lights -before the corrosion took its toll - was their intensity resembled constant high beams that blinded oncoming traffic, so the United States government made them illegal in 1941.
New bulbs to use
Then there were Tungsten filament bulbs. They were comparable to light bulbs inside your house. By the 1920s, people began to have switches for high and low beam lights. Brightness and overall beam control were inconsistent, which is not surprising, considering the bulbs were cheaply made. The sealed-beam lights were changed in 1973. The quartz-iodine lights came in.
Moving on from there
The standard headlight used today is the Quartz-Iodine (QI). The bulb and reflector are protected with modern sealing materials while the bulb is quite small. The filament burns much hotter producing brighter light. This is because quartz glass can withstand very hot temperatures. When a QI bulb is changed, headlights don't need re-aiming to take place. Modern filaments make this possible.
Now HD bulbs are available
A high-voltage arc just like a lightening bulb is used with High-intensity-discharge bulbs or HIDs. Getting on the HID light takes a little bit far more energy. Keeping it on is much less energy than a QI though. It can be hard to have high-beams on HIDs because they take a minute to get there, although the beam is much crisper. It can cost a lot, but you are able to modify HID arrays with QI bulbs.
Very bright LED bulbs
Most taillights have LED (light-emitting diode) lights already. Most headlights will not though. According to Popular Mechanics, only the Audi A8 has them standard today. Light in weight, vibration-resistant, bright and power-efficient, LEDs light up faster than a standard QI bulb, providing quicker warning that could be seen at greater distance.
If you do not own an Audi A8 and want to experience LED headlights now, there are DIY choices available, such as the one described at the Instructables website. The power used by an LED is very little. That means compatible turn signal switches are non-existent. Switch them out. That's the only way to get the right current going.
How they started
More than a century ago, auto headlights were fueled by either kerosene or acetylene. These open flames were eventually swapped out by small electric blubs within a reflector/lens casing. The lights would dim easily from corrosion since insulation in old bulbs was a problem. Another problem with these lights -before the corrosion took its toll - was their intensity resembled constant high beams that blinded oncoming traffic, so the United States government made them illegal in 1941.
New bulbs to use
Then there were Tungsten filament bulbs. They were comparable to light bulbs inside your house. By the 1920s, people began to have switches for high and low beam lights. Brightness and overall beam control were inconsistent, which is not surprising, considering the bulbs were cheaply made. The sealed-beam lights were changed in 1973. The quartz-iodine lights came in.
Moving on from there
The standard headlight used today is the Quartz-Iodine (QI). The bulb and reflector are protected with modern sealing materials while the bulb is quite small. The filament burns much hotter producing brighter light. This is because quartz glass can withstand very hot temperatures. When a QI bulb is changed, headlights don't need re-aiming to take place. Modern filaments make this possible.
Now HD bulbs are available
A high-voltage arc just like a lightening bulb is used with High-intensity-discharge bulbs or HIDs. Getting on the HID light takes a little bit far more energy. Keeping it on is much less energy than a QI though. It can be hard to have high-beams on HIDs because they take a minute to get there, although the beam is much crisper. It can cost a lot, but you are able to modify HID arrays with QI bulbs.
Very bright LED bulbs
Most taillights have LED (light-emitting diode) lights already. Most headlights will not though. According to Popular Mechanics, only the Audi A8 has them standard today. Light in weight, vibration-resistant, bright and power-efficient, LEDs light up faster than a standard QI bulb, providing quicker warning that could be seen at greater distance.
If you do not own an Audi A8 and want to experience LED headlights now, there are DIY choices available, such as the one described at the Instructables website. The power used by an LED is very little. That means compatible turn signal switches are non-existent. Switch them out. That's the only way to get the right current going.
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