The Difference Between HID Lights and Halogen Lights

New headlights can dramatically improve the appearance and performance of a car, truck, or SUV. Though halogen lights come standard on almost every vehicle, many drivers choose to upgrade to HID (high-intensity discharge) lights. Here are the key distinctions between halogen and HID headlights.

Components

Halogen lights consist of a tungsten filament and halogen gas. The gas heats up and illuminates the bulb. With HID lights, electrodes charge the xenon gas inside the bulb to create illumination.

Lifespan

The average halogen light lasts for 500 to 1,000 hours because their filament will eventually break down. The xenon gas in HID lights allows them to last for 2,000 to 3,000 hours of use.

Efficiency

HID lights don't require as much energy as halogen lights and put less of a strain on the car battery if the headlights are on while the engine is turned off. Also, halogen lights need to be replaced about twice as often as HID lights, which creates additional cost and waste.

Increased Visibility

HID lights have a much larger light spread than halogen lights, which improves visibility in a driver's peripheral vision. More illumination means a safer experience on the road, especially in dark areas and during inclement weather. The average HID light produces about 3,000 lumens, compared with 1,400 lumens for halogen bulbs (lumens measure how bright lightbulbs are). However, it's worth noting that HID bulbs may take a few minutes to reach full brightness.

Colors

Halogen lights typically come in either white or yellow. With HID bulbs, drivers can create a customized look with choices, including pale yellow, white, blue, and even violet.

Ease of Use

One advantage of halogen lights is that they fit in virtually every vehicle and are easy to change. HID lights often require a conversion kit, but they can be installed on most car models in 30 to 60 minutes, even by people with limited experience.

Oracle Lighting has a reputation for building high-quality lighting products that are on the cutting edge of innovation. We back up all of our products with extended warranties. If you're interested in converting to HID lights, you can shop online to upgrade the brightness, appearance, and durability of your headlights.