There aren't many car owners take the time to consider anything about their front lights than how to work with them. But there's some new technology behind the glass, argues Popular Mechanics. If you know how your car headlights work, you'll be able to maintain them more effectively and perhaps avoid that moose or angry drifter in the road.
How they started
There were headlights over a century ago. They used kerosene or acetylene to fuel them though. Small electric bulbs in a reflector/lens casing were then used after that. The lights would dim easily from corrosion since insulation in old bulbs was an issue. 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.
Sealed-beam lights around now
Tungsten filament bulbs resembled standard household light bulbs. By the 1920s, individuals started 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. By 1973, sealed-beam lights were replaced by quartz-iodine technology.
Moving on from there
Quartz-Iodine (QI) is the standard headlight technology in use today. The bulb is once again small, and more modern sealing materials help protect both the bulb and the reflector array. The filament burns much hotter producing brighter light. This is because quartz glass can withstand very hot temperatures. Modern filaments are great because headlights don't have to be re-aimed when replacing QI bulbs.
HID: Like a bolt from the heavens
A high-voltage arc just like a lightening bulb is used with High-intensity-discharge bulbs or HIDs. While a high first current is needed to turn the bulb on, once an HID is up and running it needs less energy than a standard QI lamp. The beam is very crisp with the HID bulb. Still, it can be hard in emergency situations to use the high beam on HIDs since it takes a minute to get there. For this reason, some modify HID arrays with QI bulbs for the high beams, but this could be prohibitively expensive.
Power-efficient LED
Headlights do not typically use LED (light-emitting diode) lights since they're typically for taillights. Popular Mechanics reports that there is only one car where they are standard. That is the Audi A8. LEDs light up very quickly which allows individuals to see further distances with the bright and power efficient LED light.
Some people want to experience LED car headlights although they don't own an Audi A8. There are DIY possibilities for those people, the Instructables site explained. The power used by an LED is very little. That means compatible turn signal switches are non-existent. You will need to switch them out to draw the right amount of current.
How they started
There were headlights over a century ago. They used kerosene or acetylene to fuel them though. Small electric bulbs in a reflector/lens casing were then used after that. The lights would dim easily from corrosion since insulation in old bulbs was an issue. 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.
Sealed-beam lights around now
Tungsten filament bulbs resembled standard household light bulbs. By the 1920s, individuals started 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. By 1973, sealed-beam lights were replaced by quartz-iodine technology.
Moving on from there
Quartz-Iodine (QI) is the standard headlight technology in use today. The bulb is once again small, and more modern sealing materials help protect both the bulb and the reflector array. The filament burns much hotter producing brighter light. This is because quartz glass can withstand very hot temperatures. Modern filaments are great because headlights don't have to be re-aimed when replacing QI bulbs.
HID: Like a bolt from the heavens
A high-voltage arc just like a lightening bulb is used with High-intensity-discharge bulbs or HIDs. While a high first current is needed to turn the bulb on, once an HID is up and running it needs less energy than a standard QI lamp. The beam is very crisp with the HID bulb. Still, it can be hard in emergency situations to use the high beam on HIDs since it takes a minute to get there. For this reason, some modify HID arrays with QI bulbs for the high beams, but this could be prohibitively expensive.
Power-efficient LED
Headlights do not typically use LED (light-emitting diode) lights since they're typically for taillights. Popular Mechanics reports that there is only one car where they are standard. That is the Audi A8. LEDs light up very quickly which allows individuals to see further distances with the bright and power efficient LED light.
Some people want to experience LED car headlights although they don't own an Audi A8. There are DIY possibilities for those people, the Instructables site explained. The power used by an LED is very little. That means compatible turn signal switches are non-existent. You will need to switch them out to draw the right amount of current.
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