The headlights are an indispensable part of any car. This is not just because headlights have an important purpose and they help the driver to drive easily in the dark but also because they have an aesthetic value. They improve the overall appearance of the car and thus, car buffs are keen while selecting or upgrading the headlights for their cars. This states the importance of having a sufficient amount of knowledge before embarking on a car headlights factory or business. This blog provides ample knowledge on the different kinds of car headlights and which are the most famous among users.
Car Headlights Types Based on Headlight Housing
The term “car headlight housing” is explanatory in itself. Headlight housing simply means the house of the headlight bulb or the structure where the headlight bulb resides. A headlight bulb is placed inside of this housing which is a primary component located in the front part of the car. It disperses the light produced by the bulb inside.
These headlight houses have different varieties and the placement of bulbs in each headlight house. Primarily, there are two different types of headlight houses which are projector headlight houses and reflector headlight houses.
Projector Type Headlights
The projector-type headlights have a functioning similar to that of the reflective type headlights except for the fact that they have an additional lens in the interior which acts as a magnifying glass, increasing the brightness of light, thus providing better illumination.
Pros:
- It provides, brighter and even light which does not blind the other car drivers or pedestrians
- It can house HID bulbs too
Cons:
- Sometimes, LED bulbs do not perform in the way they are expected to in a projector-type headlight
- These headlights are a bit expensive
Reflector Type Headlights
The reflector headlight is the most common headlight that one can find in cars. These headlights have a bulb that is encased in a bowl-like case and this case has mirrors that reflect the light to provide illumination. Rather than having a lens, here mirrors are used to produce and control the beam of light.
Pros:
- Simple to design and manufacture thus, these are inexpensive
- Smaller in size, and Halogen and LED bulbs can be used
Cons:
- The light produced is uneven with intense and weak spots
- The less controlled output of light and not good for the drivers in the front
Projector Vs Reflector Headlights
There are some major differences between the projector headlight and the reflective headlight and we cannot exactly say which light is better because it depends on a variety of factors and cost. Projector headlights are best for increased and even illumination on the road but it comes at a higher price than reflective headlights.
The reflective headlights are cheaper to install and replace too but they provide an uneven beam of light and HID bulbs cannot be used with them. If cost is not an issue then projector headlights will make a smart choice but reflective headlights are the most common and compatible with LED and halogen bulbs too.
Types Of Headlights Based on Headlight Bulb Types
The headlight bulb types are the real source of illumination which are encased inside the headlight housing. The housing is responsible only for dispensing the light produced, the principal part of producing the light is done by these bulbs.
The car headlight bulbs are usually of four types:
- Halogen Headlights
- HID Headlights
- LED Headlights
- Laser Headlights
Halogen Headlights
The halogen headlights for cars are one of the most widely used headlights, even today. The halogen headlights have a bulb that contains a filament made of tungsten enclosed within a sealed glass body filled with a combination of iodine and bromine gases. When the tungsten filament is heated up, it produces a yellowish, bright light which is useful for providing nighttime as well as daytime lighting. The gases ensure that the filament does not get thin and break or cause the blackening of the bulb.
These headlights have a typical lifespan of 450 to 1000 hours. These headlight bulbs are generally cheaper, $10 to $20 for a single bulb.
Pros:
- They last for a longer time and are easily replaceable
- They are smaller in size and by far, the most affordable
Cons:
- They are less energy efficient as compared to other bulbs
- They produce a slightly yellowish light
Xenon/HID Headlights
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) or xenon car lights are a step forward than the halogen bulbs and are typically used on expensive cars. Here, the sealed bulb contains electrodes, xenon gas, and vaporized metals. When energy is passed through the pair of electrodes, the xenon gas is heated up and gives out a beam of bluish-white light, for which xenon bulbs are famous.
They have a typical lifespan of 2,000 to 10,000 hours. The average cost is $100 per bulb.
Pros:
- Produce brighter light ideal for country roads and are more energy efficient
- Provide the farthest visibility to the driver and have a longer lifespan than halogen bulbs
Cons:
- They are expensive and take time to provide the maximum light output
- Not safe for the oncoming drivers since the beam of light is extremely bright
LED Headlights
The led headlights for cars are brighter and more efficient as compared to HID and halogen bulbs. This is because the process of electroluminescence produces brighter and more efficient light. When electricity is passed through the diode, photons are produced, which are light particles.
They have a typical lifespan of 10,000 to 30,000 hours. The average cost is $100 for a bulb which is the same as an HID bulb but with more benefits.
Pros:
- They are small and compact and thus, provide styling versatility
- They do not heat up, have a longer lifespan, and instantly lights up to their maximum capacity
Cons:
- They are expensive
- There are some obstacles while changing from halogens to LED
Laser Headlights
Laser headlights glow through the process of chemiluminescence. In these, a laser is fixed inside the headlight housing which is filled with phosphorus gas and when the laser glows up, a chemical reaction takes place between the laser and the gas, thus producing a beam of light. These are some of the best lights for cars but their use is limited.
The typical lifespan of laser headlights is 50,000 hours which is higher than LED car headlight bulbs. The average cost is $8,000 to 12,000.
Pros:
- Produces much brighter light than LEDs and are even smaller in size
- Instantly on/off and far-reaching light
Cons:
- Highly expensive
- Produces more heat than LEDs
Conclusion
Apart from these four major types of car headlights, there is another type which is called quad headlight. It contains two bulbs in each headlight housing, used for low and high beams. This is also an upcoming trend nowadays.
