Automotive Headlamps: Halogen headlights vs. Xenon headlights vs. LED headlights

by Jack Lau Sales Manager

A headlight, also known as a headlamp, is a light that is mounted in the front part of a vehicle, such as a car, van, or truck. It has a reflector and a special lens. Its purpose is to light up the road ahead so that the driver can see it even under dark conditions.A headlight must be able to properly illuminate the highway in front of the vehicle even during nighttime, overcast weather, and other situations where visibility is low. Its hould not cause a strong glare or temporary blindness to drivers of vehicles that are approaching from the opposite side of the road.

At now, there are there type of Headlights, Halogen headlights vs. Xenon headlights vs. LED headlights.

Halogen headlights

Halogen refers to a member of a certain group of five chemicals that are very reactive and poisonous. These chemicals are classified as non-metals. Halogen bulbs are popularly used in headlights. Each bulb has a thin tungsten filament and a glass filament capsule filled with halogen gas.The gas routes back the tungsten to the filament so it regenerates the filament each time the headlight is turned on and used. A halogen bulb produces a bright, white light.

ADVANTAGES:

longer life
different dimensions
very efficient
bright illumination

DISADVANTAGES:

energy wasting
extra care required

Xenon Headlight

Xenon is a highly unreactive gas that is colorless and odorless. It may be found in small quantities in the atmosphere. It may be extracted from liquefied air to be used for commercial purposes. Xenon is commonly used in headlights. It is utilized in some filament-based automotive lighting technologies. A xenon bulb emits a clean and white light and may also be used in HID (high-intensity discharge) lighting. An HID bulb does not have a filament; instead, it uses a xenon gas-charged, sealed system that generates light through an electrical charge that starts an arc between two electrodes.

ADVANTAGES:

longer lifetime than halogen lights
more efficient than halogen as they use less power
better visibility for the driver

DISADVANTAGES:

too much glare and thus, potential problems for the incoming traffic
very high costs
possible harmful materials could be used

LED Headlight

The acronym "LED" stands for "Light Emitting Diode." It is a semiconductor diode that gives off light when voltage is applied to it. LED is a popular display and lighting technology that is used in various kinds of electrical and electronic products. LED produces light in less than a hemisphere. This means that it needs to be cooled from the back.As a result, an LED headlightmay require a different design from halogen andxenon headlights. An LED headlight may potentially come in different designs because its small size makes it versatile.

ADVANTAGES:

small size, allow great manipulation for various shapes
very low energy consumption

DISADVANTAGES:

high production costs
low amount of generated power
high temperature created around adjacent assemblies

Which is Best: Halogen, Xenon, or LED Headlights

Each type of headlight has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. That is the reason why one cannot pick out a definitive winner among the three types. That’s why the headlights that may be best for some drivers may not necessarily be the best for others. It depends on the particular priorities and needs of the buyer.