That’s the difference between lumens and lux. But that’s not necessarily what you want in, say, a snowstorm.įinally, even if LED headlights throw more short-distance light, they don’t always do the same at longer distances. In front of a wall, it looks like they’re giving off more light than halogens. In addition, LEDs produce more glare at short distances.
Otherwise, they’d broadcast a solid wall of light. Because LEDs are so bright, OEMs sometimes have to ‘tone down’ the reflective mirrors. Sometimes, halogen headlights are actually the better choice. Plus, even though LEDs are brighter, they don’t always improve visibility. The space right in front of your car might be a bit brighter, but further out, it may actually be darker. However, unless the headlight assembly is shaped with the ‘bulb’ technology in mind, it won’t distribute light properly. Both use mirrors to reflect light, with the latter using a lens to further focus it. Modern car headlights typically use either projectors or reflectors. Without something to bend or reflect their light, they’d still be brighter than halogens, but only in one direction.Īnd that’s the biggest problem with trying to convert halogen lights to LED ones. It’s especially vital for LEDs, because, unlike halogen bulbs, their light isn’t omnidirectional. RELATED: Are Colored Headlights Dangerous and Illegal?Īll automotive headlights need ways to focus the light their bulbs/LED assemblies produce. They use no gas and contain no filaments. They work by passing electricity through semiconductors, which release light, explains. LED headlights, though, don’t work the same as either of these two. Xenon bulbs, aka ‘high-intensity discharge’ bulbs, lack the filament instead, they use electrical current to directly heat xenon gas. As current flows through the element, it starts to glow, releasing light and heat. Inside the bulb is a tungsten filament (the ‘heating element’) surrounded by halogen gas. Halogen headlights work like traditional incandescent bulbs, Carfax explains.
And while some advertise the former as ‘LED bulbs,’ that’s actually incorrect terminology. It’s important to note that LED headlights are distinct from halogen ones. LED headlight bulbs aren’t drop-in halogen replacements Customized 2017 Dodge Challenger with LED headlights | Ben Holland / Barcroft Media / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Halogen capsule headlamps upgrade#
But trying to upgrade your lights that way isn’t always worth the hassle or expense. And since LED headlights aren’t always standard, that often means trying to fit the bulbs in halogen housings. After all, if you can’t see the oncoming danger, how can you avoid it? That’s why, to try and counter poor headlight performance, many turn to LED bulbs to brighten up the road. Even if your car’s headlights aren’t adaptive, they’re still an important car safety feature.
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