How long do halogen headlights last

Michael Barton Heine Jr. Lifewire Technology Review Board Member. Article reviewed on Oct 27, Tweet Share Email. In This Article. How Long Should Headlights Last? Tungsten-Halogen Headlight Longevity. Changes in Halogen Headlight Technology.

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These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Despite the long list of pluses, there are a few disadvantages to choosing xenon headlights.

For one, HIDs are expensive…or at least, they used to be. Due to their high price, HID headlights are most useful for people who normally drive at high frequencies after dark on most nights of the week. If you only make fleeting, twice or thrice-weekly usage of your vehicle, HID headlights are probably not worth the extra cost. Also, keep in mind that if not installed properly, xenon lights can inflict intense amounts of glare toward oncoming motorists, as well as through the rearview mirrors of cars ahead.

For this reason, aftermarket HID kits are illegal in certain states. Before you purchase HIDs, check the laws in your area. Furthermore, xenon headlights should only be purchased from a reputed source, and all installation work should be handled by a licensed specialist. Out of all the headlights on the market, the LED undergoes the most unusual process to generate light. When an electron enters a low-energy hole, a photon is released. The process is also known as electroluminescence.

The frequency at which this process occurs — thousands of times per second — is what produces LED light. Though the LED light made its first appearance in , it gained little market traction before the s. The light emitted from an LED is approximately two millimeters wide. In terms of brightness and coverage, LED headlights cover stretches of ground ahead with an intensity of whiteness that rivals HIDs and surpasses halogens. When driving up dark, twisty hills during graveyard hours, LED headlights will alert you to dangers in time enough to slow or stop your vehicle, such as when a deer or opossum crosses the road.

The light within an LED bulb will instantly power on at its full brightness without flickering or any warm up time.

In short, the HID vs. LED headlights debate favors the latter when it comes to brightness safety levels. LED lights are small in size, and this is convenient for automakers because it makes each unit lightweight and more easily applicable to various designs. That means automakers are able to tailor LED lights to suit the designs of particular vehicle models. Due to the lack of drainage on the engine itself and the fuel usage such activity entails, LED headlights could even reward you with minor savings on fuel costs.

Simply put, LEDs need more cooling to operate than do halogen and xenon headlights. LED headlights, on the other hand, have a strange and somewhat troublesome relationship with heat. A closely related downside to the LED is the cooling system that accompanies the light. Simply put, LED lights are difficult to fit into a car because the cooling system is meant to be placed in the engine bay.

For the most part, this is a contradiction because the engine bay is the part of a vehicle where temperatures typically rise. When an LED headlight has been awkwardly retrofitted, the cooling system could face challenges trying to stay cool when the lights are on and the motor runs. So, the choice of LED lights should factor in for your practical needs as a driver. Do you frequently drive at night, or rarely? Do you spend many hours per day in your car, even in times of rain, or do you seldom use your vehicle more than twice weekly?

If you spend 12 or more hours per week driving between the hours of pm and am, LED headlights could actually be the way to go due to their virtually unlimited lifespan. One of the latest innovations in the headlight market is the laser light, which debuted in the early s and has been aggressively promoted by Audi and BMW in the European market.

Out of all the headlight types, laser lights are the closest thing to prophesy fulfillment for the futuristic Sci-Fi of decades long past. Many people are curious as to whether laser lights will render LEDs outdated before they even have a chance to catch on in a major way.

While lasers themselves are dangerous, actual lasers play just a small role in the luminescence of laser lights because they actually rely more on phosphor to create the light. Looking at something like the Laser Headlight found in the BMW I8 — there are three blue lasers that fire through small mirrors, which point the energy onto a phosphour plate or lens.

When interacting with lasers, phosphor generates white light. This light is relayed onto a reflector and out through the front of the headlight and then of course onto the road. Essentially, the light that beams from a laser light is created by phosphor- not the actual lasers. This makes the laser light safe for use on late night roads and highways. Not yet legal in the US.

In terms of brightness intensity, laser lights have the advantage in the LED vs. Laser lights can produce 1, times the intensity of LEDs, but consume only half as much power. Another thing to consider regarding the distance to which laser light can travel is the speed at which your car moves. Since a mile contains 5, feet, a motorist traveling at 60 mph would have roughly 25 seconds to respond if danger is spotted ahead at a distance of 1, feet. With headlights that could reach only half the distance of laser lights, a driver would have merely 10 seconds to respond.

Laser lights also offer one of the best advantages in terms of color range. Due to the phosphor within a laser light, the color temperature of the light is in the 5, K to 6, K range , which places the light within close range of natural daylight approximately 6, K.

Halogen headlights last anywhere from hours to 1, hours. Vehicles with HID headlights last a bit longer. These average between 2, hours and 3, hours of use before they need to be replaced. Moving up the scale in longevity are Xenon headlights.

You can expect your LED lights to last an average of 30, hours. As with pretty much every part of your car, how long your headlights last depends on several factors that are unique to you and how you drive. Photo courtesy of Flickr. Featured , Maintenance.