Increasing the color beyond 6000 will produce pleasant blue light but might make driving more of a challenge. This range gives you the best “sunlight” look at night, making low-light driving safe. Ideally-in terms of safety and visibility-you want an HID bulb whose temperature is somewhere between 43 Kelvin. The higher the Kelvin, the less efficient the bulb actually is as it strays from the yellow light spectrum. Lower Kelvin temperatures produce a soft yellow light, and each temperature indicates Kelvin strength. It’s important to make your bulb choice based on what color is best for you, and the higher Kelvin in your bulb the more blue the bulb will look. Pure White: 5000 Kelvin, Sunlight-coloredĬrystal White: 6000 Kelvin, Blue-tinted white color Off-White: 4300 Kelvin, White, and Yellow combination Yellow: 3000 Kelvin, Akin to halogens, soft yellow light Since light color and temperature are both related to visibility and distance, it’s important to choose the safest option for you and your driving conditions, based on laws in your area. Blue light is harder on the eyes, as it has a shorter wavelength than yellow light. Our eyes react differently to different colors of light. Correlated color temperature-the bulb color-is the actual physical temperature of the light, and the spectral description is equivalent across both LED and HID bulbs.

The spectrum of energy that’s released in your headlight bulbs is measured in Kelvins. Unless your vehicle came equipped with HID bulbs straight from the factory, it’s generally a good idea to avoid using these bulbs. There are many significant disadvantages to HID bulbs in non-HID housings, such as oncoming traffic glare and increased heat. HIDs are not meant to be a long-term solution, and their color and brightness can distract other drivers. HIDs, as discussed, while producing the brightest beams for their colors are only slightly brighter than LEDs and do not last as long. They also run they same spectrum of bulb color as HIDs. LEDs have become more popular in recent years and are fairly simple to install. LED bulbs are brighter, they use less energy than halogens, and last for quite a long time. While halogens aren’t particularly bright compared to LEDs or HIDs, they do produce the white or yellow light you need to see safely while driving in low-light conditions. Most vehicles come equipped with halogen bulbs, the economical default. Still, there are advantages and disadvantages to HID bulbs, and it’s important to know how their light, color, and use compares to LEDs and halogens overall. HIDs produce a strong visible light as the electric current passes through the Xenon gas, they have less wear and tear over time. Since HIDs don’t have this filament, they have increased longevity. Filaments can burn out or get damaged during regular driving conditions, and you will have to replace them often. The filaments in regular bulbs wear out quickly because of travel. HIDs also cover a much larger area than halogen bulbs, giving you increased visibility in low-light conditions. Xenon gas lights up when an electrical current is passed through it, which creates a much brighter glow and circumvents the burnout of a filament. HIDs contain a gas called Xenon and do not have a filament like typical halogen bulbs. When choosing your bulb and color you should consider your vehicle, your needs, and your location-as well as the traffic laws that govern appropriate brightness. HIDs, LEDs, and halogens can come in many different colors, and the colors themselves serve very different purposes for your vehicle. HIDs are expensive, but the light they produce is brighter than typical OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) halogen bulbs.Īre HID bulbs the correct choice for your vehicle? Many people make the switch to HID bulbs for their vehicles because of the enticing colors or superior brightness to halogens, but is the change always correct? If you’ve considered custom automotive lighting in the past, read through this guide and learn how color temperature and spectrum can affect your visibility while driving, and which bulbs handle them better. Luxury cars often come equipped with HIDs or High-Intensity Discharge lights.

Halogen vs hid ballasts for cars