What happens if... you install xenon in regular headlights

Gas-discharge light sources, which motorists usually call "xenon", operate on a mixture of inert gases, which also contains xenon.

Such a lamp produces light that is noticeably superior in brightness to a halogen analogue, the emission spectrum is close to natural lighting, and it consumes almost half as much energy.

In a gas-discharge lamp there is no incandescent filament: light is produced by an arc discharge occurring between two electrodes.

The absence of an incandescent filament makes xenon lamps insensitive to vibrations, as well as resistant to temperature fluctuations (range from -60 to +105 °C) and the effects of condensation.

To ignite the lamp, a starter is needed, and to maintain burning, an electronic ballast. First, a voltage of 25,000 V is applied to the lamp, then it stabilizes at 80 V with a frequency of 300 Hz.

Xenon requires special headlights designed specifically for this type of radiation. Since the early 90s, such lamps have been installed on the factory assembly line of executive-class cars.

Bi-xenon is the ability to get both low and high beam from one lamp with two filaments, built into a base H4, HB1(9004), HB5(9007) or H13. In such lamps, the focal length changes by moving the bulb with an electromagnetic solenoid, which allows switching modes.

When retrofit-kit sets appeared (gas-discharge lamps replicating the design of standard bases), xenon began to be installed instead of standard lamps, supplementing the system with a separate ignition unit.

Why do they do this? Primarily for savings: a Chinese-made kit will cost 300-500 UAH, while a German set can cost about $200.

"Factory" xenon will cost noticeably more — from $400 per headlight.

However, in Europe, the use of xenon not installed under factory conditions is prohibited. Inspectors on the roads identify such cars by the absence of headlight washers. And here not everything is as clear-cut as it might seem.

Color temperature of xenon

In stores, lamps with the following color temperature indicators are most often found:

• 4300 °K — "milky white";
• 5000 °K — "white";
• 6000 °K — "blue crystal".

With an increase in color temperature, the light spectrum contains more blue tones and fewer yellow ones. Daylight, whose temperature is 5500 K, is most comfortable for the human eye.

But it is important to remember: the higher the glow temperature, the worse visibility becomes in rain or snowfall. The optimal range is 4300-5000 K. If you install xenon with a higher temperature, the road illumination may be insufficient.

With an increase in color temperature, the brightness of radiation also decreases. Standard xenon from the factory has a temperature of 4300 K. When switching to 5000 K lamps, the brightness loss is insignificant — about 100-200 Lm. But at 6000 K, illumination drops to 2800 Lm. Therefore, for many, the compromise choice is the average value — 5000 K.

Headlight washers: a mandatory element

The glass of the headlight, through which the light beam passes, can distort its shape. And since xenon is characterized by high radiation intensity, any contamination of the headlight surface turns into a diffuser: light begins to spread to the sides, road illumination drops, and the risk of blinding oncoming drivers increases.

High-quality washers solve this problem, therefore xenon lighting necessarily requires the presence of headlight washers. For example, one used washer nozzle at a junkyard costs about 250 UAH.

Features of headlight design

With headlights, not everything is simple either. "Factory xenon" is usually mounted in special headlights with lenses. This ensures a clear cutoff line of the light beam on the road.

For standard xenon, a different type of base is used (D2S, D2R and others), and the color temperature usually does not exceed 5000 °K — again for better visibility.

To reduce the risk of blinding other road users, xenon is supplemented with an automatic headlight leveling system at the factory. The system, guided by body position sensors, automatically changes the direction of the light beam.

During "garage" installation, all these subtleties are usually neglected.

Moreover, headlights not designed for xenon become cloudy over time. The reason is not the high temperature, but the emission spectrum: it contains an excessive amount of ultraviolet.

Advantages of xenon

• Light output and luminous flux of gas-discharge lamps are significantly higher.
• Xenon is more economical and efficient: if a halogen lamp uses almost 50% of energy for heating, a gas-discharge lamp uses only 6-7%.
• Long service life and high reliability, since there is no incandescent filament.
• The narrow glow spectrum improves visibility in rain and fog.

Disadvantages of xenon

Simply replacing halogen lamps with xenon ones (even if the bases match) is not enough. It is necessary to adapt the headlights: install lenses and an auto-leveling system.

All this, of course, increases the final cost of equipment and work.

Key points during installation

• You cannot install xenon by simply replacing bulbs.
• Gas-discharge light necessarily requires headlight washers.
• Headlights must be prepared for xenon: reflectors and reflectors should be replaced with compatible ones, lenses are needed, and preferably also an auto-leveling system.
• The safest option is a "factory" xenon kit along with headlights.
• Xenon lamps are changed only in pairs, as over time they change the shade of glow.
• Dim or, conversely, blinding light is the result of incorrect installation of equipment. That is why the requirements for xenon in Europe are so strict.

Conclusions

To summarize: having decided to install xenon — whether it is a factory kit or lamps in regular headlights — this should be approached with all seriousness.

Such an undertaking will not be cheap, otherwise the car will become dangerous for others, blinding other drivers.