How Does Each One Compare: LED vs. HID vs. Halogen Lights

Choosing and deliberating on an automotive lighting system requires the same amount of diligence you would put when deciding on a new car purchase. Factors such as safety, efficiency, aesthetics, and function are some of the things that need to be considered. With several options available in the market, how does each one compare?

Can your vehicle's light shine through snow?

Halogen Lights
 

The most commonly used and widely available type is halogen light. It is composed of a tungsten filament combined with halogen gas and produces a bright, white light and can last up to 1000 hours. They are easy to replace and less expensive than several other options, hence  its widespread use. The bright light that it produces can also be dimmed depending on the need.

However, the use of halogen lamps is declining due to its inefficient nature. Since these lamps rely on heat, approximately 55W in a typical fixture is consumed with most power converted to heat instead of light. These lamps also require careful handling; even the slightest amount of reaction from other substances (eg. sweat, moisture) can lead to a degraded performance.
 

HID Lights

The next lighting option is the HID (High-Intensity discharge) light also known as Xenon lights. The xenon gas in the lamp produces a slightly bluish light. Xenon light uses lesser power (around 35W) and has a lifespan double that of the Halogen lights (up to 2000 hours).
 

Compared to the halogen light, HID lights have a brighter output and produce a clearer sight for the driver. This however translates to a glaring, blinding light for the incoming traffic.  The slightly bluish HID light also poses a problem during poor weather conditions. In cases of rain, fog, or snow, HID light hits the particles and reflects back causing a white out effect where the driver cannot see through the weather conditions well.
 

LED Lights

The latest types used in the automotive industry are LED (Light-Emitting Diodes) lights. Compared to its predecessors, LED lights consume very low power (approximately 3W per cell) with most energy converted to light. Arrays of LED have been used in an Intel study for headlights that allow drivers to see through rain and snow. Since LED lights are small, these can be easily formed into different designs.
 

Although LED lights produce very little heat, rearward heat dissipation has been a concern as it causes high temperature in the emitter and could possibly affect the adjacent wires and parts. LEDs are also more expensive compared to HID and halogen lights but the prices are on a downward trend and falling fast as more and more manufacturers are finding ways to produce low-cost LED lights.
 

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Here's a summary:

In conclusion, all three types of lights used for vehicles have their own advantages and disadvantages; your choice of lighting system depends on how you will use it. Most automobiles have a combination of lights such as HID headlights with halogen fog lights. When it comes to light bars, use of LED light bars is the top choice of fleet management groups especially for police cars because of its efficiency, lower heat dissipation, and long lifespan.

Tips for Purchasing and Installing LED Lights on Your Vehicle

Getting off-road lights for your vehicle?

There plenty of options out in the market and if you're new to this, it can get quite confusing.  Put in a good amount of time for research and you will find the one that works for you. Aside from reading various company websites and product specifications, it's best to add the following pointers on your preparation list too:

• Read forums and online reviews and compare specifications to choose the right light bar for your vehicle. 
• The use of off-road lighting is governed by local regulatory bodies. Make sure you understand and comply with the rules and regulations regarding the use of LED lights on your vehicle.

Now that you’ve decided, it’s time to install your newly purchased lights. 

Ready to install your new lights?

Your LED light bar package will come with an Installation Manual.  Here are a few preparation tips that you can use to avoid mistakes and to ensure an easy installation:

1. Once you have your LED light bar package ready, check the contents and make sure that you have everything you need before starting. Before starting with the installation, check that the LED light bar is working by connecting it to a bench tester.
2. Make sure to disconnect the vehicle’s battery before starting with the installation. 
3. Find a solid spot on your vehicle to install your light bar on. Note the additional stress that acceleration and braking can induce. Installing it on the roll bar is ideal but if the roll bar is not where you need your lights on, plan for the placement because drilling will be involved. Do you want to mount it on the bumper, windshield, or roof? Forums are a great resource in finding out which one will best suit your needs as well as best adapt to the structure of your vehicle.
4. Make sure that you know what you are doing before drilling holes through your vehicle. Drilling can weaken the structure of your vehicle as well as chip the paint where you don’t intend to.
5. For easier mounting, get rid of dirt and clean the area of the vehicle where you will be installing the light bar.
6. Review the wiring diagram included in the kit and check if it is compatible with your vehicle. Here’s a good article discussing the different wiring diagrams.
7. Double check the wiring of the light bar; red wire with goes to the positive (+) terminal and black wire to the negative (–) terminal. Incorrect wiring can lead to a short circuit which can damage your vehicle’s electrical system.
8. Once done, clean up and secure the wires in a zip-tie to avoid clutter. 

If you have questions about how to do it, it’s best to ask for advice from individuals who have experience with such installations or you can take your vehicle to a professional sales shop.

Things to Consider When Choosing An LED Light For Your Vehicle

Getting a LED light system? Here's a checklist that you can follow when selecting a LED light product:

First off, consider the purpose of the LED light and the expected usage in the following contexts: environment, duration and frequency.

• Will these be installed on a vehicle that you use often? If so, how many hours per week might they be needed?
• Will the terrain be mostly paved, rocky, muddy, wet, loose gravel, or sand?

Know the purpose

Factors of the usage should be carefully considered when deciding how much money to budget for your light purchase – simple usage like on a golf cart or farm-use ATV means you might be fine with a lower-quality model with a lower price tag. More demanding applications like for off-road 4x4 racing, dirt bikes, and the likes will require a better investment in quality and a longer warranty.

Secondly, consider the most common specifications reported by sellers, such as:

• Reflector design – LED lighting comes in two types: 'spot' type lighting (30º spread) for longer-but-narrow distance illumination or 'flood' type (60º spread) for shorter-but-broad illumination. Decide which one suits your needs or go with a combination of both.
• Ingress Protection rating – The higher the rating, the better protection from water, dust, and other elements the light is stated to have. Generally, most manufacturers meet IP67 rating at minimum. An excellent reference table describing the various grades can be found here.
• Lifespan rating – Consider how long and often you expect to use the lights over a long timeframe and get a LED light that suits your needs. LED lights, as long as properly taken cared of, can last up to 50,000 hours of use and proves to be a more cost-effective choice than traditional lighting equipment.
• Light output and color temperature – How many lumens does each model report? What is the color temperature (reported in Kelvin [K])? Lower lumens and/or lower color temps means that the contrast between ambient lighting and the LEDs will not be as prominent, making it harder to identify objects while the vehicle is in motion. You need all the help you can get when driving 60 mph or more in low-light conditions. 5000K or lower color temperature gets into a bluish tint and your eyes will not benefit greatly from this at night. A color temp of 6000K should be the minimum rating for general night lighting use.
• LED brand – Check the LED manufacturer. Are the LEDs cheap Taiwan-made Epistar, CREE from the USA, or is it from the German brand Osram (Oslon)? Keep in mind that cheap lighting solutions can last several years and may work just fine for your needs if you don't plan to do heavy off-roading. Check for imitations since these are sold widely in the market; it’s best to inspect the LED and ensure that you are getting your money’s worth.
• Lens material – Do they use cheap lenses like low-grade glass or polycarbonate instead of GE Lexan lenses? If you will be driving on loose gravel or even on a normal paved road, a piece of gravel that impacts the lens can cause a fracture and subsequently lead to water intrusion, which could short-circuit the lights and ruin the light bar entirely.
• Accessories – Is a wiring harness, relay, and/or fuse module included?

There are several options to choose from in the market but make sure that you're comparing 'apples to apples' as best you can when shopping online. In addition to the price, look for warranty and construction specifications and compare amongst several brands in order to achieve better odds of a value-based investment in your equipment.