One of the best ways to tell if your headlights are LED is to pay attention to the flashing. HID headlights flash for about seven or ten seconds before they reach their peak performance. In contrast, factory LED headlights are instantly powered on and have a bright white color. If you are unsure, you can ask a dealership for help. They should be able to tell you.
Spotting LED headlights
If you're planning to install LED headlights on your car, you'll want to know how to spot them. These lights use a projector instead of a bulb, which mean that they'll project light forward, rather than backward. However, they do cost more than traditional headlights. You can read about some of the advantages of LED headlights here. Just make sure to follow the rules of the road - and check with your insurance provider first!
To do this, first park your car against a dark wall, and then mark the center of the light reflection. To make the adjustment, you'll need tools like a carpenter's tool or a masking tape. To mark the difference between the two beams, you'll need to use a measuring tape that is at least two feet long. Once you've located the difference between the two lights, you'll know if you need to adjust the LED headlights.
Identifying a halogen bulb
If you're not sure what type of headlights your vehicle has, you might be wondering if you're seeing a halogen or a HID. You should be able to tell by looking at the bulb. Halogen bulbs are surrounded by a glass envelope that is pressurized with inert gas. Within the glass envelope is a small amount of halogen gas, which is usually iodine or bromine.
Halogen headlights were first used in the 1950s and are now the standard on most vehicles. The basic structure of a halogen bulb is similar to that of an incandescent bulb, except that it contains a tungsten filament encased in a bubble of halogen gas. The filament heats up to produce light and the gas helps the bulb last longer and produce more intense light.
Identifying a xenon bulb
If you want to know how to identify a xenon bulb in your car's headlights, you will need to learn about the various components of a halogen and xenon bulb. Halogen bulbs are easy to change, but xenon headlights are more difficult to convert without a HID conversion kit. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to make sure you're getting the best illumination.
Xenon headlights are more common in luxury cars from the last decade. Known as High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, they are highly efficient. They produce a white-blue light that is approximately two to three times brighter than halogen bulbs. Another major advantage is their longevity, lasting between 2,500 and 3,000 hours. What's more, xenon headlights are energy efficient as they produce light with a high-voltage pulse that creates a spark between two electrodes.
Spotting a halogen bulb
When identifying your car's headlights, you may be unsure of which type of bulb they contain. Halogen bulbs contain a pair of tungsten filaments inside a glass encasement that's pressurized. These bulbs produce light by heating a filament, which is made of tungsten, to about 2,500 degrees Celsius. Halogen bulbs also contain a small amount of a chemically reactive gas, usually iodine or bromine.
These led headlight bulb emit white or blue beams, with the former being brighter and better for nighttime driving. They also do not require second-by-second warming-up. In addition, they provide a wide beam for safe driving in both backroads and highways. And because they last longer than their competition, they are a smart option for heavily-used vehicles. However, if you have an old vehicle, it may be a good idea to consider getting new headlights for the best visibility.
