What Drivers Should Look for When Buying New HID Xenon Bulbs
HID xenon bulbs are normally expected to last around 3000 hours, however when its time to buy replacement xenon bulbs, drivers often find that they are faced with a bewildering array of options.
The price and selection of replacement xenon bulbs also varies quite considerably depending on where you buy them from, be it the a main dealer, a high street accessory shop or an online specialist.
Array of Colour: the HID Xenon Bulbs
There are three colour differences when it comes to the xenon bulb. The variations are 6000K, 8000K, and 14000K. The K is for Kelvin, which means the colour changes are based on temperature. The unit measures the colour of the HID Xenon.
One common misconception is that the colour temperature is used to measure the heat emitted by the bulb. This is completely untrue, all xenon bulbs generate similar levels of heat so a 14000k xenon bulb is no hotter than a 6000k bulb.
Colour temperature begins at 4000K ending in 14000K. This rating simply discusses the tint the bulb will provide when it is on. We have a listing below of the various tints.
* 4000k - white light with a yellow tint
* 6000k - Completely white
* 8000k - white light with a blue tint
* 12000k - white light with a purple tint
Unfortunately buying xenon bulbs on the basis of colour is not straight forward, as the higher the colour temperature of a xenon bulb the less light it will actually emit from your headlights. This effect is barely noticeable for bulbs in the 4000k to 8000k level however at bulbs rated at 12000k and higher the drop off in terms of light emitted is quite marked.
The light output is measured in lumens or lm. A new vehicle will have xenon bulbs rated at 4300K with a light output of 3200lm. 12000K bulbs have 2,200lm, which is 1,000lm less light being provided. If you do want a deep purple bulb to enhance the look of your vehicle you have to be concerned with the light emission you receive.
Purchasing HID Bulbs requires you to research the various places you can buy them. You will be able to find a sizeable savings by shopping around at various stores. Online car retailers that deal in selling HID Xenon Bulbs often provide the best cost reduction for replacement.
For instance, if you purchase an E1 Osram Xenarc, which is standard on vehicles, you would be charged 200 from most dealers. The same light bulb can be found online at a specialty shop for 70. This is quite a big difference in cost, thus shopping around is imperative.
A last point that should be made is that the HID Xenon Bulbs operate at a high voltage. If you have never replaced one of these bulbs before or feel uncomfortable about the replacement you will want to have a professional auto personnel install the bulb. A nasty shock could burn out the new bulb or harm you.
Finding the right headlight bulbs for your car can be quite a challenge, which is why Phoenix Xenon Bulbs have a wide selection of the latest products available. By fitting the latest Xenon Headlight Bulbs, with the right colour tint, you will ensure that your car is going to really stand out from the crowd.
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