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.