Xenon headlights ($470 for a pair..make your own)

[Elliott Potter]

Erm...not exactly.  An HID lamp is very different from a halogen. 
Halogen bulbs charged with Xenon gas may look different, and may even be
a bit brighter (I've never seen the two side by side) but it's not even
close to an HID lamp.  And HIDs have a very unique look that I've never
seen duplicated.  Keep in mind that real HID lamps need a ballast to
supply the 25,000+ volts and 20 amps to start; not at all like an
incandescent bulb.
Having said that, you can also tell blue bulbs from HID's a mile away,
because:
- HID's aren't blue!  No!
- A car with HID's has a huge swath of daylight in front of it; one with
blue bulbs has its high-beams on and still very little light in front of
it

I say stick with halogens.  Remember that Blue Coating == subtractive
color, so you have *less light* coming out of the bulb rather than more.
--
Elliott


Muhammad Sohaib Bukhari wrote:
> 
> Hella has started to sell (for $89??) bulbs that use the actual xenon gas!
> This gives you the same color as the xenon headlamps. Add to that a $279.95
> HID kit (www.fet-usa.com) to boost the performance output of the bulbs and
> you have your self anexcellent xenon headlamp replica.
> 
> Muhammad Sohaib Bukhari
> 84 4ksq
> 
> >There is another option...
> >
> >Sylvania sells a "Cool Blue" lamp that appears to be Xenon/Halogen mix.  I
> >just purchased one for my car (not going to replace the other until the
> >headlamp gets fixed from my "mishap")...
> >
> >In the side by side comparison, it does appear brighter, however they are
> >the
> >same wattage rating, so I don't see how it is possible.  What I think is
> >happening is that there is a broader range of wavelengths in the blue end
> >of
> >the spectrum that makes the light more white...
> >
> >Arden
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