New Xenon like bulbs in the market

ST7677 · 5th August 2007, 13:24

Guys, the K rating is the colour of the light.
Approximately
3K is yellow
6K is white
8K is bluish
12K is ultravioletish

Higher K may look good cosmetically but is less functional.
Our eyes are most sensitive to yellow light, less to white, lesser to blue and blind to UV!
That is why most people who use white lights will face visibility issues.

Xenons can live with this limitation because their light output is 3-4 times more than halogen bulbs, so it compensates for lesser sensitivity of eye for white light. But for Xenon lights also it is recommended to stay below 5-6K color for good visibility.

Also a very imp thing is that xenon should always be used with projector headlamps, so that the light does not get dispersed and goes focused as a beam.
This is due to another limitation of Xenon, that unlike regular bulb, there is no filament whose ligt can be focused thru a reflector, hence a need for projector.

Xenon without the projector optics would disperse widely (hence sharply reducing the range of the light) and will also blind the oncoming traffic. This is the reason why in most countries after market Xenon conversion is illegal, incl in India. An improper showoff setup is bad for others and dangerous for you too...

sabret00the · 6th August 2007, 04:10

can these be fitted onto an ALTO...the OEM lighting sucks bigtime...headlamps on the ALTO get completely washed out by on coming traffic...are these lights better than normal halogens?

desigNation · 6th August 2007, 10:02

st7677-that was a good write up, good to know about all the terms and what the real xenon is.

gbpscars · 6th August 2007, 10:53

Yes,... these white lamps prooves to be a drive-spoiler during my weekend drives on the mumbai-pune expressway. even with a divided highway the light dispersion is very disturbing during heavy rains.

i coudnt resist interfering a discussion on optics especially when it is going the "isshtyle" way rather than the technical and sensible way.

ahem,...

please refer to my previous writeups on common terms used in lighting....

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/382108-post245.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/381303-post243.html

A sincere request to those who care for co-motorists and those who care to be sensible... please dont use xenon bulbs in reflective enclosures.

After installation of high wattage lamps / super-bright xenons in reflective enclosures, please align your headlamps (in older cars) or choose a lower than normal focus on your headlamp leveler to avoid glare to oncoming traffic. High wattage lamps like 100/90 or 130/110 on H4 must be slightly aligned lower than the stock lamps.

I have been using a 100/90 on my OHC since 8 months and a 130/110 on my friend's Scorpio and these have been aligned lower than normal and the cut-off of the low-beam can be seen clearly from within the vehicle, thus ensuring no glare to oncoming traffic.

srishiva · 6th August 2007, 11:04

I would second the opinion about safety to other drivers. These kits are not safe. You cant have cheap HIDs just for the look. It could be about someone's life.

5th August 2007, 13:24	#31
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	Guys, the K rating is the colour of the light. Approximately 3K is yellow 6K is white 8K is bluish 12K is ultravioletish Higher K may look good cosmetically but is less functional. Our eyes are most sensitive to yellow light, less to white, lesser to blue and blind to UV! That is why most people who use white lights will face visibility issues. Xenons can live with this limitation because their light output is 3-4 times more than halogen bulbs, so it compensates for lesser sensitivity of eye for white light. But for Xenon lights also it is recommended to stay below 5-6K color for good visibility. Also a very imp thing is that xenon should always be used with projector headlamps, so that the light does not get dispersed and goes focused as a beam. This is due to another limitation of Xenon, that unlike regular bulb, there is no filament whose ligt can be focused thru a reflector, hence a need for projector. Xenon without the projector optics would disperse widely (hence sharply reducing the range of the light) and will also blind the oncoming traffic. This is the reason why in most countries after market Xenon conversion is illegal, incl in India. An improper showoff setup is bad for others and dangerous for you too...
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 04:10	#32
sabret00the BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: YYC \| BLR \| CCU Posts: 692 Thanked: 55 Times View My Garage	can these be fitted onto an ALTO...the OEM lighting sucks bigtime...headlamps on the ALTO get completely washed out by on coming traffic...are these lights better than normal halogens?
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 10:02	#33
desigNation BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: calicut Posts: 661 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	st7677-that was a good write up, good to know about all the terms and what the real xenon is.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 10:53	#34
gbpscars BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 402 Thanked: 5 Times	Yes,... these white lamps prooves to be a drive-spoiler during my weekend drives on the mumbai-pune expressway. even with a divided highway the light dispersion is very disturbing during heavy rains. i coudnt resist interfering a discussion on optics especially when it is going the "isshtyle" way rather than the technical and sensible way. ahem,... please refer to my previous writeups on common terms used in lighting.... http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/382108-post245.html http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/381303-post243.html A sincere request to those who care for co-motorists and those who care to be sensible... please dont use xenon bulbs in reflective enclosures. After installation of high wattage lamps / super-bright xenons in reflective enclosures, please align your headlamps (in older cars) or choose a lower than normal focus on your headlamp leveler to avoid glare to oncoming traffic. High wattage lamps like 100/90 or 130/110 on H4 must be slightly aligned lower than the stock lamps. I have been using a 100/90 on my OHC since 8 months and a 130/110 on my friend's Scorpio and these have been aligned lower than normal and the cut-off of the low-beam can be seen clearly from within the vehicle, thus ensuring no glare to oncoming traffic. Last edited by gbpscars : 6th August 2007 at 11:02.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 11:04	#35
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	I would second the opinion about safety to other drivers. These kits are not safe. You cant have cheap HIDs just for the look. It could be about someone's life.
	() Thanks