Well well… We’ve got halogen light or HID light for our vehicles, for some who don’t know, HID is the abbreviation for High Intensity Discharge, a type of gas discharge lamp.
Generally, HID excels over halogen light in many ways, such as the energy consumption, luminous efficacy, and life span. HID uses only 2/3 of a normal halogen needed power, generates up to 80% more lumens which means greater coverage and brightness, and lasts 4 times longer than a halogen light.
Normally our vehicles come with halogen headlight, which the temperature is around 3000K, K as in Kelvin, resulting in yellow light.
While HID, also can range from 3000K up to 30000K depends on the user. Normally OEM fitted HID is 4300K, which is yellowish white. Other than 4300K, popular temperature are 5000K (White), 6000K (Whitish Blue), 8000K (Blue), 10000K (Bluish Green), 12000K (Purplish Blue), and up to 30000K (Ultra Violet Purplish Blue).
Note that the temperature merely affects the color generated, and it is common mistake that most people assume that the higher temperature, the better luminous efficacy. The higher the temperature, the closer you can get a bluish beam that’s it. The more bluish you get, the less luminous efficacy you get, especially during foggy and rainy days.
So that in general, 3000K to 6000K has the best average luminous efficacy, where 5500K being the best.
No matter halogen or HID, it is best that they pair with projector type rather than reflector type, since projector type can project the lumens directly in front of the vehicle and covers the side very well. Reflector type needs to be carefully adjusted to prevent unwanted glare, and it is common that reflector type is less effective in foggy days.
