I found them an excellent alternative to the first two because they consume much less energy and are more durable. This is because they use more energy to initiate the process and less after attaining performance temperature. Xenon HID headlights are twice brighter than halogen headlights and are more energy-efficient. However, when we talk about car headlights, manufacturers use Xenon gas. There are different variations of HID bulbs, including those using Metal Halide, Mercury, and Sodium. The headlights light up as long as there’s a continuous supply of power. HID headlights use a high-intensity discharge technology involving passing a high-voltage current through a gas-filled tube with electrodes on both ends to produce light.Īs the temperature rises, the xenon gas ionizes, and the metallic salts vaporize, reducing the resistance between the two electrodes. Sometimes they are referred to as Xenon headlights to refer to the gas used to light them up, but I realized they are two different types of headlights (explained later). HID is an acronym for High-intensity discharge, an accurate description of how they operate. The headlights were launched in the early 1990s and are becoming a favorite choice for motorists looking for brighter headlights with a longer lifespan. This was the second headlight produced after halogen headlights. The filament heats up to 2500 C to ignite the glow through a process called incandescence.

Halogens can be a combination of inert gases like argon and nitrogen and a small amount of bromine or iodine.Īn electric current is produced once you light up the car battery, which heats the filament and the gas to generate light.

Halogen headlights consist of tungsten filament surrounded by halogen gases inside a heat-resistant glass filament capsule. Halogen bulb headlights are nearly similar to incandescent light bulbs used in many homes, except they have a brighter glow.

They are still most factories’ default headlights as they are in over 80% of cars. Since these words come off as technical jargon, even for motorists, I want to explain what is the difference between LED, HID, and halogen headlights. Most motorists associate them with high-end vehicles, but it’s possible to replace halogen headlights with these new versions. The LED and HID headlights were developed and have become a signature look for new car models and aftermarket upgrades. However, as technology evolves, car manufacturers have discovered ways of producing long-lasting headlights that don’t consume lots of energy. Halogen headlights have been the industry standard for nearly two decades because they’re affordable and easier to replace.

Halogen vs hid vs led