What are HIDs?
High Intensity Discharge. Unlike your regular Halogen light bulbs, which use a 'burning' filament to produce light, HIDs use Xenon gas, Mercury, and Metal Halide Salt, and are ignited by an arc of high voltage energy provided by a ballast, making them much like a fluorescent light.
Temperature (color), and Lumens (brightness)
Probably one of the most mis-understood factor of HID lighting is the temperature and lumens. Many people think that the higher temperature(k), the brighter the bulb. This in fact, is un-true, in fact, the higher the temperature, the LOWER the light output is. For example, a 5000k HID bulb puts put 3200lm (lm = lumens) which is more than 3x the light produced by a regular halogen light bulb, whereas a 12000k HID bulb only puts out 'only' 2100lm, which is about 2x the light of a halogen. Still brighter, but not as bright as the lower temperature bulb. Here is a list of temp/lumens.
3000 - Yellow - 3200lm
5000 - White - 3200lm
6000 - Blueish White - 2800lm
8000 - Blue - 2550lm
10000 - Deep Blue - 2200lm
12000 - Purple/Pink - 2100lm
6000 - Blueish White - 2800lm
8000 - Blue - 2550lm
10000 - Deep Blue - 2200lm
12000 - Purple/Pink - 2100lm
Pros and Cons of HID conversions
Pros, for one, they are brighter. And lets face it, they're cooler. But, they can also be a safety hazard to other drivers on the road, and are also technically 'illigal'. Head light housings with Halogen bulbs are designed strictly for Halogen bulbs, to meet the government's standards, and to make the roads safe. HID bulbs produce light totally different from Halogen bulbs, and therefore are not intended for Halogen housings. HID bulbs in a Halogen housing will put out much more light than 'legally' allowed, and in some cases, due to the design of the Halogen housing, will actually blind passengers in front of and oncoming, of an HID equipped vehicle, even when properly aimed, due to the cut-off design of the housing, which is designed for the shorter, Halogen bulb.
Low beam only HIDs vs Low/High beam HIDs
Deciding on weather or not you should buy an HID kit with just low beams, or a low/high beam kit (bi-xenon) is strictly personal. The majority of us spend most our time driving with our low beams on, therefore the low beam has the most to be desired. I low beam only kit is simpler, and cheaper, therefore best for the HID buyer on a budget. A bi-xenon kit isn't actually 2 bulbs, but an HID bulb with a movable scoop that covers the HID bulb, therefore changing optics of the bulb, to cast as if they were high beams.
Thanks for your time, and I hope this helps! Good luck on your HID hunt!
Pros, for one, they are brighter. And lets face it, they're cooler. But, they can also be a safety hazard to other drivers on the road, and are also technically 'illigal'. Head light housings with Halogen bulbs are designed strictly for Halogen bulbs, to meet the government's standards, and to make the roads safe. HID bulbs produce light totally different from Halogen bulbs, and therefore are not intended for Halogen housings. HID bulbs in a Halogen housing will put out much more light than 'legally' allowed, and in some cases, due to the design of the Halogen housing, will actually blind passengers in front of and oncoming, of an HID equipped vehicle, even when properly aimed, due to the cut-off design of the housing, which is designed for the shorter, Halogen bulb.
Low beam only HIDs vs Low/High beam HIDs
Deciding on weather or not you should buy an HID kit with just low beams, or a low/high beam kit (bi-xenon) is strictly personal. The majority of us spend most our time driving with our low beams on, therefore the low beam has the most to be desired. I low beam only kit is simpler, and cheaper, therefore best for the HID buyer on a budget. A bi-xenon kit isn't actually 2 bulbs, but an HID bulb with a movable scoop that covers the HID bulb, therefore changing optics of the bulb, to cast as if they were high beams.
Thanks for your time, and I hope this helps! Good luck on your HID hunt!
***PS: munster asked me to do a write up on my kit/findings etc, and i will in a day or two***
