HID bulb color shift? (Solved)

The color shift in HID bulbs is a normal phenomenon. The color temperature (Kelvin) rises as the HID bulbs get older, and the color output turns more bluish white. When you install a brand new HID bulb, you may notice that the color is toward the yellow.

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• The color shift in HID bulbs is a normal phenomenon. The color temperature (Kelvin) rises as the HID bulbs get older, and the color output turns more bluish white. If you have HID bulbs that are over five years, first, congratulations.

Why are my HID lights different colors?

The temperature at which the gas inside the HID bulb is heated determines the color of the light emitted ranging from red to white to purple. When looking to upgrade your headlights (or fog lights) from halogen to xenon HIDs, you will need to choose the color of the bulbs.

Why is my HID light turning pink?

HIDs have a much longer life than a halogen bulb, but for that reason are more expensive to replace. The passenger side HID bulb is blue, the driver’s side is pink, and the fog lights are white (halogen). The reason for this pink hue is due to a bad bulb.

Do HID lights fade over time?

The short answer is yes, they do. Both LED and Xenon HIDs will lose up to 70% of their original light output gradually over time. Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, hardly fade over time. For this reason, it can be tricky to know when it’s time to replace your LED or Xenon HID headlight and fog lights bulbs.

Do HID bulbs have a break in period?

Card00d85: yes, HIDs take a little breaking into before they reach their whitest, after a longer time they will start to have more of a blueish tinge to them.

Is 6000K brighter than 8000k?

The 6000k is usually the most popular. The higher you go in the Kelvin Rating, you get more color in the light in exchange for visibility. So 6000k will be just slightly brighter than 8000k and 8000k will be slightly brighter than 10000k and so on but they will have more and more color to them.

Which is brighter HID or LED?

Brightness. HID headlights are the brightest on the market, and the light they emit covers a larger area than halogen and LED bulbs. In fact, the area covered by HID headlights is nearly an entire third larger than the area covered by LED headlights. HIDs are also more effective at lighting up the sides of the road.

Why is my xenon light pink?

Xenon headlights provide a beautiful white light which may have a cold bluish tinge. But what if is suddenly takes on a violet glow or even pink? The answer is simple – it has come to the end of its life. Unlike incandescent lamps, xenon lamps do not suddenly burn out.

How do I know if my xenon bulbs are bad?

Xenon HID headlight bulbs that are buzzing, dim/losing brightness, flickering, randomly turning off, changing colors, or if they are simply not turning on are not necessarily the victim of a bad ballast. In fact, the issue can be related to one or more of the other components found in lights.

Why is my Acura headlight pink?

If one bulb turning pink is any indication, the other might be going too. The pink is probably the bulb not igniting properly or not getting hot enough to reach 4300k.

Why are my HID lights not bright?

Chances are your headlights are angled downward, park in front of a wall and turn your lights on, if they seem low then they likely are. If you’re worried about blinding oncoming traffic then keep the driver side slightly lower – as this the light oncoming traffic will be hit by the most.

Why are my HID headlights dim?

HID bulbs don’t dim over time like halogen bulbs simply because they don’ t have a filament. HID bulbs produce an arc. As a filament deteriorates, it deposits a metallic film inside the bulb. That’s what reduces light output.

Can you touch HID bulbs?

They actually run a lot cooler than tungsten, that’s why their running rating is 33watts, and touching them shouldn’t do any harm. If you’re worried, then a good clean with alcohol, maybe using one of those lintfree soft papers sold for camera lenses should clean them up.

Why do HID lights take time to warm up?

HID lighting requires a “warm-up” period because the lighting intensity is dependent on and changes as the material inside the bulb is evaporated into plasma. HID lights become less and less efficient over time because they must use more and more voltage to produce the same lumen output as the light degrades.

Do xenon bulbs need to burn in?

Xenon lamps don’t burn out like filament lamps. They waste away and die slowly. Even filament lamps have a burn-in time – though shorter than for xenon – in which the luminous flux and the important luminance still increase a little.

Color Shift or Color Slip.?

Hello, everyone: I am very new to this community, but I have been really impressed with the wealth of information I have discovered thus far. However, there is one little issue with which I have yet to come up with a satisfactory solution. In my investigation, I discovered that certain threads have color shifting and some threads have color slipping issues, and I read a lot about it. This is the part that has me completely baffled. 5000k output on the HIDs I purchase would be ideal for me; they simply appear to be the correct taste in lighting for me (Pure white without that touch of blue in it, and not too high of a glare like the 4300k as to blind the drivers in front of me).

However, on a different site, there was a topic in which someone stated that his HID bulb color has fallen from 10k to 6k, and from what I can see, his color is becoming more yellowish in appearance rather than becoming more bluish in appearance.

If the first one is correct, I would go with a 4500k and allow it some time to change to a 5000k.

Very, very, very perplexing.?

Random major color shift in HID bulb?

And, how do you know this isn’t a simple “update” that can be done in seconds? The only acceptable wattage for an automobile HID system is 35 watts. Also, we’re not sure where these “Apexcone” bulbs come from, but we have a good hunch. Consider your options carefully before selecting the answer that is the most likely to be right from the following list: 1. A rubbish store in the Chinese capital of Beijing 2. A rubbish shop in the country of China 3. A trash shop in the People’s Republic of China C’mon.

1. ( (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( “No, no, but take a look at this.
2. “) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Please accept my apologies; I was under the notion that you were knowledgeable about the subject.
3. Thank you for standing up for yourself, and I apologize that no one else has done so before, but just because you’re an expert in your area does not give you the right to adopt a condescending attitude toward others or to police their choices.
4. Because 35 watts is the standard, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it is the sole acknowledged standard.
5. Even major brands are bringing out higher-rated items these days; one such example is KC, which overdrives their capsule at 70 watts in their high-end fixtures.
6. I typically stay away from this topic, primarily because of individuals like you, but I was expecting to obtain some meaningful and helpful comments to my question.
7. The only reason I’m using the low-cost apexcone lights is that one of my original phillips bulbs that I used in the retrofit burned out, and I haven’t been able to locate a replacement pair of what I want at a reasonable price, nor have I had the time to seek for them.

In addition, I apologize for not meeting your high expectations with the retrofit that I have installed that is safe, effective, and compliant with the legal requirements of my jurisdiction; yet, because you prefer to come off as entitled ***, your opinion doesn’t matter to me in the slightest.

Why are my HID lights different colors?

New high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs have an estimated temperature of 4150°K. When a light bulb is employed, the color moves to the “bluer” colorrange of 4,300°K, which is more intense. When the replacement bulb is first placed, it will throw a light that is somewhat more yellow/white in color than blue/white in color. Be prepared to see a variation in the hue of your headlights throughout this break-in time. The colorshift that occurs in high-intensity discharge bulbs is a natural occurrence.

1. If you have LED lights that are more than five years old, first and foremost, congrats.
2. Similarly, why are the colors of my headlights different?
3. Most likely, the bulb was changed with one that had a different color temperature than the one that was originally installed.
4. Most likely, the bulb was changed with one that had a different color temperature than the one that was originally installed.
5. As for your query, the ballast has nothing to do with the color temperature of your bulbs, so no, it is not related to it.
6. What causes my high-intensity discharge (HID) light to go out on occasion?
7. Flickering typically indicates that the automobile is unable to provide sufficient power to the ballast.
8. There is insufficient power being supplied to the ballasts by the car’s OEM harness.

HID Xenon Color Chart – Ultimate Headlight Temperature Guide

Whatever your needs, whether you’re seeking for the ideal HID color for your car’s headlights or simply want to understand more about how HID colors operate, you’ve come to the correct spot. For those who are unfamiliar with how high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs function, they produce light by heating a specific gas and metal combination that is housed within the bulb’s casing. The color of the light emitted by a HID bulb is determined by the temperature at which the gas inside the bulb is heated, which can range from red to white to purple.

Our in-depth HID color guide will ensure that you select the most appropriate color lights for your vehicle and requirements.

HID ColorTemperature Chart

Coloured HID bulbs are available in a range of hues, from yellows (3000K – 4300K) through whites (5000K – 6000K) to blues and purples (8000K and over).

The most effective approach to choose the color/temperature combination to use for your HID bulbs is to consult our HID color chart. High-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs are most visible in the lower-middle portion of the spectrum, where they are predominantly white in color (4300K – 6000K).

What is the brightest HID color temperature?

The color temperature of the brightest high-intensity discharge lamp is 5000K, which emits absolutely white light. 4300K and 6000K will be equally bright, but will have a very little yellow (4300K) or blue (6000K) tinge to them (6000K). The majority of individuals who are shopping for HIDs assume that a greater bulb temperature would result in a brighter light, however this is not true in all instances. As the color temperature of the bulb rises to levels in the blue and purple spectrum, the light output will become inferior to that of standard halogen lights.

As a result, the light output (brightness) of HIDs is proportional to the quantity of electricity that is delivered.

High-intensity discharge (HID) ballasts, which serve as the power source, provide power measured in watts (W).

For optimum brightness and the best nighttime driving experience, we recommend our 55W HID kit in white, which generates an extraordinarily strong, dense, and broad brilliant white light without putting your vehicle’s headlights or electrical systems at danger of damage or failure.

Watts (W) to Lumens Conversion Table

* The total amount of light emitted by the headlights and fog lights combined.

What is the best HID color temperature?

The majority of customers who are considering upgrading their headlights from halogens to high-intensity discharge (HID) lights do so with the goal of boosting visibility on the road, in which case the optimal HID color would be 4300K, 5000K or 6000K. There isn’t a single ideal color because it will totally depend on what you want to achieve with a HID update. However, there is a color that is considered to be the most popular. In the next section, we’ll go through the optimal HID color temperatures for various applications:

• A brilliant white color with a maximum brightness of 4300K to 6000K (a robust and dazzling white hue)
• 8000K to 12000K (stylish blue to purple color) is the most attractive style. Imitating stock lighting: 3000K (bright yellowish light similar to halogens)
• Imitating stock lighting: 3000K (bright yellowish light similar to halogens)

Temp	Color	Details	Best for
3000K	Golden Yellow	Yellow (95%) White (5%)	Fog lights
4300K	Yellow-White	White (80%) Yellow (20%)	Nighttime visibility
5000K*	Bright White	White (100%)	Nighttime visibility
6000K*	Alpine White	White (90%) Blue (10%)	Nighttime visibility/style
8000K	Ice Blue	White (70%) Blue (30%)	Stylish look
10000K**	Pure Blue	Blue (95%) Purple (5%)	Stylish look
12000K**	Purple	Purple (100%)	Stylish look
*Recommended **May be illegal in some jurisdictions

It’s vital to remember that fashionable lights (those with a color temperature of 8000K or more) are the least bright and may even emit less light than your standard halogens. If you’re looking for the best combination of brightness and style, we recommend 6000K bulbs, which are extremely bright and have a pleasing blue hue. If you’re looking for a suitable balance between brightness and the original lighting hue, 4300K is the color temperature to use.

Lumens (Lm) vs. Kelvins (K)

The distinction between lumens and kelvins is a major source of misunderstanding when discussing this subject. The terms lumens and kelvins, in brief, refer to the measurement of brightness and hue of light, respectively. In the same way that pounds are used to measure weight, lumens are used to measure brightness, and kelvins are used to measure temperature. The higher the number of units (lumens) produced by a light, the brighter it will be. Lights that are warmer (yellow, amber, orange, red) are produced by lower temperatures (kelvin), whereas lights that are cooler are produced by higher temperatures (kelvin) (white, blue, purple).

It is theoretically possible for lights with varying color temperatures (kelvins) to provide the same quantity of light (lumens).

Understanding HID color temperature scale

The xenon HID color temperature scale is unique in that it places the brightest colors in the center of the scale, with the darkest and least light hues at the beginning and end of the range, respectively. To begin, it is vital to understand that the color of a HID bulb is generally represented in terms of bulb temperature (for example, AlpineWhite = 5000K), which is measured in Kelvins (“K”). Kelvin is an absolute color temperature scale that can also be estimated in lumens, which is a popular measure of light output/brightness.

As a general rule, bulbs with a greater color temperature generate less light output when compared to bulbs with a lower color temperature, as seen in the table below.

Converting HID color temperature (Kelvins) to Lumens (lm)

Temp	Color	Lumens *
3000K	Golden Yellow	~3,200 lm
4300K	Yellow-White	~3,200 lm
5000K	Bright White	~3,000 lm
6000K	Alpine White	~2,800 lm
8000K	Ice Blue	~2,300 lm
10000K	Pure Blue	~2,100 lm
120000K	Purple	~1,800 lm
*Estimate

There is a widespread misunderstanding that a higher temperature bulb will produce a brighter light output; however, this is completely incorrect. The best color temperature for high-intensity discharge lamps for maximum brightness is 5000K or 6000K, which is precisely in the center of the range. The human eye can see better and more clearly in white light that is equivalent to natural sunshine, despite the fact that 3000K (golden yellow) and 4300K (yellow-white) have higher light output (about 3,200 lm) than the whites (approximately 3,000 lm).

With the use of more powerful ballasts, such as the enhanced 55-watt HID conversion kit from XenonPro, it is possible to increase the light output by nearly double, up to an impressive 8,000 lumens.

Breaking down HID color temperatures

• Light produced by HID bulbs with a color temperature of 3000K has a golden yellow hue that is most similar to that produced by halogen lamps and fog lights. In order to boost the light output from their headlamps/fog lights while keeping the color of the light the same as their standard halogen bulbs, this bulb temperature is advised.

Yellow-White (4300K)

• In comparison to natural lighting, 4300K bulbs generate white light with a yellow tint that is equivalent to that of 4300K lamps. In this case, the bulb hue is ideal for drivers who want to significantly improve nighttime visibility without significantly altering the appearance of their stock lights.

Alpine White (5000K)

• 5000K is the most brilliant white light available, and it is located squarely in the middle of the color temperature spectrum. There is no doubt that this bulb will provide the purest white hue possible, making it ideal for substantially improving nighttime vision. Your headlights will be designed to appear like those seen on new premium automobiles such as BMWs and Audis, and will be the most comparable to LED headlights available.

Bright White (6000K)

• 6000K alpine white bulbs, which have a blue tinge to them, will not only provide very brilliant lights similar to those produced by 5000K bulbs, but they will also provide a fashionable blue hue.

Ice Blue (8000K)

• If you’re thinking about using blue or purple lights, you should be prepared to make some sacrifices in terms of brightness because they are just decorative. Although these bulbs create a brilliant light-blue beam, they will only be minimally brighter than your original halogens, but they will unquestionably appear more attractive

Pure-Blue (10000K)

• The pure blue 10000k lights, like the 8000K bulbs, are only for aesthetic purposes. When compared to the 8000K, they will generate a considerably deeper blue light and will be much less visible. This level of the color temperature color spectrum results in a significant reduction in light output, as previously indicated.

Purple (12000K)

• A purple light hue is produced as we come close to the end of the color temperature range. These lights are really attractive and one-of-a-kind, but they regrettably generate the same amount of light as standard halogen bulbs, and maybe even less.

BluePurple Headlights

Despite the fact that they are not a very bright source of illumination, blue and purple HID headlight bulbs are extremely popular. These are popular among drivers and automobile fans because of their “Fast and the Furious” appeal.

Pros of blue and purple headlights

• Despite the fact that they are not a very bright source of illumination, blue and purple HID headlight bulbs are extremely popular. These are popular among drivers and automobile fans because of their “Fast and the Furious” aesthetic.

Best HID color temperature for fog lights

The golden yellow (3000K) or yellow-white (3000K) hues of HID fog lights are the finest choices if you want to replace your current fog lights (4300K). We highly advise avoiding using blue or purple bulbs (or anything with a 6000K color temperature) for your safety during low visibility conditions (fog, haze, rain, snow, etc.).

Glossary of important light measurement terms

• Kelvin (K): a unit of measurement for the color temperature of a light bulb. Lux (lm): A unit of measurement for light production and brightness
• In electrical power, watts (W) are a unit of measurement.

HID Headlight turned a different color, why?

The hue of HIDs changes with time. Occasionally, one of the two will do it before the other. When it is on the verge of becoming a “pinkish” caste, it is a hint that it is about to fail. It is best to replace both of them because the color temperature of the new and old ones would not be the same. The following is the link that was previously posted: Headlights are changing color? – AcuraZine Forum & Discussion Board This has absolutely nothing to do with it. The “color shift” mentioned in that post is something that all projector-based high-intensity discharge systems perform.

1. The lights appear to be changing color to approaching traffic when the automobile goes over uneven ground (dips and crests), due to the fact that their field of view is stuck between the top and lower limits of the shield’s cutoff line.
2. When you look at the photo with the beam pattern on the wall, you’ll see a rainbow effect created by the projector’s shield.
3. That’s why they’re so brightly colored, thanks to the rainbow effect.
4. The people who are shoving HID kits into halogen reflector-based housings will never have access to this type of world-class illumination.

PS: On top of that, you’re blinding approaching cars from all angles, thanks to stray light and glare from all directions. Learn how you can take the next step and use projectors. And, yes, it is possible to use HIDs in halogen projectors – but not in reflectors that are meant for halogen.

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Which HID Color is the Brightest? – Better Automotive Lighting

Many people believe that the greater the “K” value (e.g., 3,000K, 5,000K, 8,000K, 12,000K, etc.), the brighter their high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights will be. and they’d be completely incorrect! This is due to the fact that the K value does not indicate brightness, but rather color. In order of decreasing value: 5,000K – 6,000K – 8,000K – 10,000K – 12,000K For brightness, you receive the most useable, real-world brightness (measured in Lux), and you get it in colors that are more closely approximate the hue of light produced by the sun!

Instead of the yellow hue that you were taught to color with crayons as a youngster, the sun is really 5,800 degrees Kelvin (5,800 K).

Finally, it comes down to our development and perception — we can’t see ultraviolet light very well, so colors between 8,000 and 12,000K aren’t very bright to us, and we can’t see infrared colors very well, so 3,000K golden yellow is likewise less brilliant!

Brightness jumped about 50% when going from 35w ballast to 55w ballast:

Each hue created a varied amount of brightness and useful light during the experiment seen in the video above. Because of this, you’ll note that the 5,000K colorHIDwas the brightest of all 7 tested, powered by both a 35w or a 55w ballast: 3,000K with 35w ballast: With a 55-watt ballast, the maximum illumination is 350 Lux at 3,000K. 490 Maximum Lux 4,300K with 35w ballast: With a 55-watt ballast, the maximum light output is 1,070 Lux at 4,300K. 1,510 maximum lumens at 5,000K with a 35-watt fluorescent lamp: 1,140 maximum Lux 5,000K with a 55-watt ballast; 1,430 maximum Lux 6,000K with a 35-watt ballast; 1,430 maximum Lux 7,000K with a 25-watt ballast With a 55-watt ballast, the maximum illumination is 980 Lux at 6,000K.

Color and brightness in headlights has the same relationship regardless of if you’re looking at HID or LED.

Headlights that are not comply with DOT / FMVSS108 are not street legal in the United States.

The legality of international street travel differs from country to country.

Because this legislation does not apply to a specific bulb, ALL LED and HID bulbs from all brands, regardless of marketing claims, are forbidden from being used in halogen headlights on public roadways in the United States of America.

HID Headlight Conversion Kits

If you are considering purchasing High Intensity Discharge lighting, you should first consult a HID color chart to determine which HID colors are most appropriate for your application. The HID color chart illustrates the varied hues of light produced by high-intensity discharge lamps in terms of Kelvin.

Kelvin what?

A Kelvin is a unit of measurement used to quantify the temperature of colored objects. It may be used to determine the color of the lights in a HID kit by measuring their hue. Typically, HID systems are made available in a variety of colors ranging from 3000K to 20000K, with HID hues ranging from yellow HID lights to various shades of blue headlights in most situations. For high-intensity discharge lights, the most popular HID colors are 6000K (for white headlights) and 8000K (for amber headlights) (blue headlights or what is some term iceberg blue).

1. This is something that must be remembered.
2. One widespread misperception is that higher Kelvin values equal brighter lights.
3. This isn’t the case at all.
4. In fact, 4300K is the most accurate representation of natural sunlight, making them perfect for use in automobiles and other similar applications.
5. After about 10000K, the light gets so blue that it scatters before it ever reaches the road, and it does not project far enough to be of actual use to the driver.
6. The blue headlights in the HID color chart may be visually appealing, but they are ineffective when it comes to seeing the road at night.

Warm or Cool Colors

Colors in the HD color chart can be classified as either warm or cool depending on their temperature. In the HID bulb color spectrum, warm colors include those that are in the red to white range, which includes hues such as yellow and orange. Hues with low Kelvin values are considered to be warm colors. Colors with greater Kelving values are those that are considered cool. Once again, warm HID bulb colors are not always less bright than cold HID bulb colors in terms of brightness. Cool hues range from blue-ish whites to indigo shares, among other things.

1. Choose a bulb with a color temperature of 4300K or 6000K for the brightest possible light, as they are the closest colors to sunshine.
2. Yellow in color, it is generally regarded to be a reasonable replacement for Halogen fog lights.
3. Some people prefer 6000K kits, which are a very popular aftermarket alternative and are available in large quantities.
4. When the temperature reaches 8000K, the light begins to seem pale blue.
5. They look fantastic, and they are almost as functionally helpful as the 6000K kits, putting out almost as much light as the latter.
6. As a result, they are more likely to draw the notice of the authorities.
7. In all circumstances, lights with a color temperature of 12000K should be avoided.

It would be quite unsafe to drive with them, especially at night, especially in bad weather.

Lights with a color temperature more than 12000K generate deeper blue and even purple hues on the HID color chart.

It is critical that you select the proper housing for your HID lights, no matter which color you choose from the available options.

There will be no color change caused by the reflector housing, and the light it produces will be consistent throughout.

Projector housings are less frequent, however they are intended for use with high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps.

This will cause the light to seem somewhat different in hue depending on the angle from which it is seen.

The road itself, on the other hand, will be white and will have no influence on the colors of the HID color chart.

While many individuals are able to get away with utilizing 4300K and 6000K HID lights on their automobiles, they are merely fortunate that they have not been apprehended.

I hope this post has assisted you in understanding the HD color chart; nevertheless, for further information, please see this page.

Previous Article:“Get HID lights”

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Join Date: Aug 2016Location: Austin, TXPosts: 123

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4300K HID color temp expecation vs. reality I did a fair amount of research on here prior to ordering HIDs and chose the Xenon Depot Philips 4300K set.Based on what I read here and other places, OEM manufacturers typically choose HIDs with a color temp of 4300K and it offers a nice bright white output but will seem warmer when compared to LEDs.I didn’t want to go up in color temp due to the fact that I did not want to have lights that looked too blue, I was really after a neutral white light output.I’ve owned Acuras and Audis in the past, so I know what that light output looks like and is very neutral.These HIDs have a much warmer color and even have a greenish tint to them.I did not expect this.This is especially the case along the cutoff line.Here is a view of mine on the right and what I assume to be OEM HIDs on the left.You can see the much warmer tone to mine.Were my expectations not in line with reality?Should the light output from these be as warm/green as it is? Is this more of an effect of the projector design and not the bulb? If not 4300K, what color temp would get you an actual white output more in line with OEM HIDs?

HID Brightness

Headlights with HID projectors Because of its great efficiency and brightness levels, high intensity discharge (HID) lamps are employed in a wide range of applications. Stadiums, warehouses, and, of course, automobile headlights are all places where you may locate them. Because of the variability in the quality of the components, operating temperature, and condition of the bulb, among other things, the overall brightness in automotive applications might vary significantly. Navigate to the next section: Measuring Brightness Creating Colored LightHID Light High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Efficiency Lumen Lies: 35W versus 55WLumen Lies

Measuring Brightness

An integrating sphere of half-meter diameter Lumens, or the total quantity of light created by a HID, are commonly used to measure the brightness of the light produced by the device. Light is measured in lumens, which is the unit of luminous flux, which is the entire strength of light. It is necessary to place a HID lamp inside a sealed reflective sphere, known as a “integrating sphere,” so that its light can be bounced around in all directions within the sphere (integrated) and its power of light can be measured at a single point, and then converted into lumens based on the size of the sphere.

Generating Light

Arc Chamber with High Intensity Display All high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps use an electrical arc as their light source, which occurs between two electrodes in the bulb within a glass “bubble,” or arc chamber. This is the process through which electrical energy is converted into light. More information may be found on the HID Bulb page. The greater the size of the arc, the brighter the light! The amount of power going through the arc is the most important component in determining its brightness.

• Return to the top of the page Color of the bulb has an impact on the total output since it determines how bright it is.
• Furthermore, in addition to the visible light spectrum, high-intensity discharge lamps (HIDs) emit some ultraviolet light, which is not visible.
• Almost all of the light that is created can be seen by the naked eye.
• However, when the color output changes farther to the blue, more UV light is generated, which is not visible to the naked eye!
• It is impossible for a credible business to sell HIDs in deep blue or purple colors since they do not emit a significant amount of visible light.
• Return to the top of the page When it comes to turning electrical energy into light, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs are not completely efficient.
• If you use a high-intensity discharge bulb that is 50 percent efficient and run it at 30 watts, only 15 watts will be converted to light and 15 watts will be wasted as heat.
• This is referred to as efficacy.

At 35 watts, a high-quality standard D2S OEM HID bulb provides 74 lumens per watt, which is excellent performance. The highest-efficiency halogen lights are only capable of producing a maximum of 38 lumens per watt. Return to the top of the page

35W vs. 55W

Is it truly a 55W power supply? Understand that the majority of “55W” kits on the market aren’t even 55W when you read this section. More information may be found on the HID Ballast page. A less expensive ballast that is rated at 55W of input power rather than output power. Almost all “55W” kits are actually just 35-40 watts in power, and they are simply asking you extra for a kit that is only 35-40 watts in power. You may put this to the test for yourself, like this amateur did. For example, suppose you pay a little extra and receive a kit that is truly capable of running on 55W.

• However, because it introduces a variety of dangers, Diode Dynamics does not advocate 55W high-intensity discharge lighting for the reasons listed below: Heat: A greater amount of electricity also generates more heat!
• Increasing the power by one watt might result in an additional 20 lumens.
• You will eventually run out of brightness and will only be left with heat.
• HID bulbs, like other factory-installed OEM HIDs, are intended to operate at 35W maximum.
• HID bulbs built exclusively for 55 watts of electricity are not yet available.
• Heat-related damage caused by a 55W HID kit This implies that even with a genuine 55W of electricity, significantly more heat will be generated, which is exceedingly dangerous because it has the potential to melt plugs and housings.
• Electricity Draw:If a ballast is producing a genuine 55 watts of power, it must be drawing around 65 watts of electricity, and when the ballast ignites, it pulls even more electricity.

A 55-watt relay must always be used, however not all customers will go to the extra bother of using a HID relay, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation.

Electrodes degrade with time, which is why high-intensity discharge bulbs have a limited lifespan.

A bulb that consumes 55W will typically last roughly half as long as a bulb that consumes 35W.

This is more than double the brightness of a standard halogen bulb, and provides sufficient of illumination for nighttime driving conditions.

What is the purpose of the 55W?

Companies are aware that they may charge more for 55W ballasts and bulbs because the costs of making them are the same as for 40W ballasts and bulbs.

You could even come across “75W” HIDs!

Keep clear from that; it’s merely an upsell.

Any organization that cares about its clients’ well-being and safety will not supply 55W HID lights without first conducting due diligence. Return to the top of the page

Lumen Lies

Keep an eye out! In many cases, sellers may simply use “benchmark” lumen output ratings, which are calculated using typical performance of an OEM-grade HID bulb driving a ballast that is of the same quality as the bulb. However, the majority of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps on the market are of poor quality, resulting in significant power waste as heat and a lumen output that is well below the quoted value. When compared to an OEM HID system, which produces 3100 lumens, most aftermarket HID kits only produce about 2500 lumens.

But why don’t they produce accurate readings of the data?

If you observe what appears to be a wholly random, rounded lumen rating, such as “3600 lumens,” it is most likely just that- a wildly erroneous guess on the manufacturer’s part.

The measurement data or information describing how they arrived at the lumen rating should be provided by your supplier if your provider has a lumen rating.

It’s most likely a totally educated estimate.