Why do you need Headlights?
Headlights are used to illuminate the roadway. This makes it safer to drive on the road. Headlights and their light sources are thus the components of your vehicle that are relevant to safety. Choosing your best suitable headlight between the LED vs Halogen headlights, is something that the law regulates and which applies to design, light sources, colors, and photo-metric values.
When the time is dark and cold, when bad weather is common, it is important to be able to see and to be seen. If you are a driver, then this means that you need to be well lit. It is essential to have good light to see hazards in traffic. With good lighting, you can react appropriately to skid hazards or to obstructions on the road. You should also be able to detect pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
There are many types of headlights, but what we shall be looking at are the Halogen headlight and the LED headlight. Car owners have been traditionally using Halogen headlights in vehicle illumination. If you get your vehicle from the factory, it is usually equipped with Halogen headlights because they are inexpensive to manufacture.
The truth is that a great percentage of cars today have Halogen headlights. But in recent years, many vehicle manufacturers have equipped their vehicles with LED headlights.
What are Halogen Headlights?
Halogen headlights are a form of incandescent light bulb which uses a tungsten filament and halogen gas. When tungsten evaporates, the halogen gas allows it to be deposited again onto the filament. This makes the bulb last longer.
When current passes through the filament, it heats up. It then gets white-hot and light is emitted. It is so hot to touch Halogen light bulb. They emit a lot of energy heat.
The Halogen bulb design is very simple and it is also low in cost. You just have straight wires that make all the connections. A damaged filament makes the bulb stop working. Its simplicity makes it low in cost. It gets the job done in a less costly way.
Halogen headlights are the traditional headlights used in most vehicles. Today, they are still popular. The automobile inventors have made advances in Halogen technology that have resulted in very good price/performance ratio for Halogen headlights.
What are LED Headlights?
LED (Light-emitting diodes) headlights use a semi-conductor diode to move electrons. When voltage is applied, light is given off. It has a distinctive look and long life that has made it very popular today. They are very reliable. They produce brighter lights with warmer colors. Their shape is small and can be arranged in a wide variety of shapes and configurations. Little power is required to operate them.
They are commonly used in hybrid and electric vehicles. Emitters are used to operate LED lights but they create some heat. Thus, it requires a cooling system to preserve proper operation.
LED headlights are harder to design and implement, and thus they are more expensive than Halogen headlights.
LED vs Halogen headlights: The Final Comparison
Halogen headlights have already been in use for a long time. It has served the mankind its best till now. But as the time flies by, the older inventions have to pave a way for the newer and better ones. LED kind of headlights are, as we have already seen, one of the wonderful recent inventions, and going to serve men for a long period in future. Let's have a look at the matters in which the both kind of headlights differ from each other.
Luminous Efficiency
The bulb's capacity to produce light compared to its power draw is its luminous efficiency. It is the amount of power produced as light, in comparison to the amount of electrical power drain. The luminous efficiency of Halogen bulbs is only 2% - 4%. If luminous efficiency is improved then a brighter light is achieved by the LED bulbs, on the other hand, they are 10 times more efficient than Halogens and so are much brighter than Halogens.
Heat Emission
Majority of the charge in Halogen lights are lost in the form of heat and so they are less efficient than LEDs. LEDs also generate some heat but lower than Halogens. Halogens are not very durable and have to be replaced often. LEDs are wire and maintenance-free. With LED, frequent bulb changes are a thing of the past.
Lifespan
The lifespan of LEDs is much longer. They can last for 15,000 hours compared to only 1,000 hours for the Halogen bulb. And although LEDs are more expensive, their durability makes up for the cost.
Brightness
LED is not too bright and cannot cause temporary blindness to motorists. Their illumination is decent so it is far better than Halogen.
When Halogens light up, it takes time to achieve full brightness. When LED is turned on, it lights up immediately. This makes drivers behind you have enough time to reach when you step on the brakes.
Breakage Resistance
You can see more with LED lights. It is also much cooler since it does not emit heat. LED light is made with epoxy lenses and not glass and they are much more resistant to breakages compared to Halogens.
Configuration
If you want to get a whiter light with an LED, then you can change the physical properties of the semiconductor. To have the same results in a Halogen bulb, it requires a filament that burns hotter.
Operating Voltage
The voltage at which LEDs operate is lower than Halogens. This requires more electronic power for correct functioning. Electronic power is also needed in the cooling system to control and monitor the fans. With this, complexity, bulk, and cost are added to LED systems.
Visibility
An LED light is more superior. But Halogen has a significantly longer throw which can be more valuable than close-range brightness. Shorter throw distance of LED light is a big disadvantage for high-speed driving. If being seen or short-range visibility is a priority, then LEDs shine when they are put to work in this application. It can be on backup lights or brake lights.
Cost Effectiveness
Halogens are awesome as primary driving headlights. They might still be the way to go. They are versatile and cost-effective. The vast majority of automobiles producers make Halogen bulbs a headlight choice. LED lights are much better if you are willing to spend. Then you will be in for a more improved lighting experience. The cost can pay off with time.
You can change your car factory lights to LED if your state allows it. This is why it is important to check your state law first. There are usually some regulations on aftermarket car lights. You can make the right choice of headlights based on type and color with these regulations. It is always a good idea to comply with the law.
So, that's it for today! If you have something more to share with us please leave it in the comment box. We would appreciate it a lot!
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