Types of Bulbs?

[Khimson]

Anyone explain the differences between Halogens, HID, Xenon bulbs, etc...

 

[triangleman29]

Everything I hear HID's are the ****... Can't wait to get some... Much brighter( like 300% brighter then OEM)... The light guys will be on here in a bit to let you know the particulars......

 

[BlackedOutHemi]

Anyone explain the differences between Halogens, HID, Xenon bulbs, etc...

Halogens are the stock bulb that come in most cars. They normally have the yellowish tint to them, and are called halogen due to the halogen inside of the bulb. They tend to be the run of the mill bulbs in the head lights and don't really offer much output compared to others.

HID (xenon and bixenon) is an acronym for high intensity discharge lamps. These are generally used in upgraded headlights and high ends cars. They put out a lot more light than the halogen bulbs due to energy coming out of the light being mostly visible light rather than heat. The initial "spark" is what starts the reaction for light and then from there it uses less energy as it increases in intensity (the heating up effect you'll see if you ever watch any turn on).

Xenon and Bixenon are general terms used to describe the type of headlight. Xenon are low beam only HIDs, while bixenon HIDs are high and low beam, due to a "shield" inside of the projector that drops when the high beams are activated, causing the light to be spread out instead of having the sharp cut off like normal. The term is due to the fact that the xenon bulb gives both the low and high beam light, thus, bi-xenon. At the same time though, the term Xenon also refers to the fact that Xenon gas is used in the bulb, as they do not have a filament like traditional halogen bulbs.

 

[GhostRam94]

very well said eddie

 

[audio1der]

very well said eddie

+1

One added point; any well-thought out HID set will include projectors as opposed to reusing stock reflector-based headlight housings like our 4th gens. (2013s have optional(?) projector headlights)
A reflector-based headlight is designed solely to work with a halogen bulb and cannot properly focus the energy of a Xenon bulb. That is why you may often be blinded by oncoming traffic who use "ebay" quality "HID kits" to their vehicles.; those are cheap partly because they provide only bulbs and ballasts, no projectors. Don't be fooled; aiming your headlights down does not make up for not using projectors.
Quality kits from folks like our own JJ always use quality projectors. Just food for thought, from the other guys who have to share the road with you.

Cheap HIDs in reflector housings are a pet peeve of mine. I LOVE a nice HID setup that will illuminate a parking lot below a crisp cutoff.(see pic)

 

[Khimson]

So if I were to switch to xenon lights and not change the reflector, chances are I would be blinding oncoming traffic? If I understand you, projectors focus xenons properly right? Do you know where I can buy better/brighter lights? My brother has a 2010 Subaru and when he turns on his headlights it has a perfectly cut light so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic and its pretty bright (factory). Is that what the projectors/xenon are?

 

[4x4Hemi]

Thats what projectors do. you can buy some from JJ (Retroshop.us) the lights are crazy bright!! wayy better then stock

 

[BlackedOutHemi]

So if I were to switch to xenon lights and not change the reflector, chances are I would be blinding oncoming traffic? If I understand you, projectors focus xenons properly right? Do you know where I can buy better/brighter lights? My brother has a 2010 Subaru and when he turns on his headlights it has a perfectly cut light so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic and its pretty bright (factory). Is that what the projectors/xenon are?

HIDs in stock reflector housing throw light everywhere. You can aim them down and not blind people as much, but you also wont get the maximum output out of the light. If you want it done properly, JJ (0212353), creates custom Ram lights that incorporate projectors and HIDs together. Retroshop. I'm about to receive my second pair of headlights from him and loved my last pair, would even say it was the best thing I did to my truck.

 

[MADDOG]

Here's what HID's with projectors in a stock housing look like after JJ & his painter have massaged a set of stock headlights.