Xenon or Ice - what to choose

Among motorists for more than a year there is a debate about what kind of lighting is best to use for headlights - xenon or LEDs. These two types have already forced a halogen illumination to "move" to the background. And xenon and LED-lamps have a number of advantages and disadvantages to each other, about which this article will tell in detail. At the end, a summary table is presented based on a comparison of technical characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before searching for the pros and cons of each type, it is important to understand: they work on completely different principles, and direct comparisons are inappropriate here. It is more appropriate to compare the effect, which gives the included headlights. It is worth to learn in detail about both methods of car illumination, weigh the arguments and only then decide in favor of a particular type. Now - in detail about each method.

Xenon .

Lamps of this type have a bulb with xenon gas. When you apply current inside it between the two electrodes creates electricity, which gives a bright light. To focus it on the road, the xenon lamp is additionally equipped with a special lens. Running electricity in the xenon field occurs at a voltage of 25 thousand volts: it is produced by a kindling unit.

Xenon lamp for headlights.

The advantages of xenon car lights are:

1. Reliable protection system. In case of power surges, the lamp will not burn out because the ignition unit will automatically turn off.
2. Highest quality of radiated light. It is comparable to natural daylight. Does not cause eye irritation, headaches.
3. No instantaneous "death" .. If a xenon light fails, the headlight will not go out immediately, but will fade out little by little. This gives the driver time to park safely.
4. There's not a lot of heat.. In this respect, xenon is markedly superior to LED.

The potential disadvantages of this type of lighting affect the mounting aspects. To install xenon headlights you will need to additionally purchase a kindling unit with a voltage converter. In addition, the installation of xenon can lead to A fine or deprivation of license.

Read also

6 best models of xenon bulbs

 

LED

LED means "light-emitting diode. This type of headlamp has several LEDs inside, giving a bright light when turned on. Then it is already assembled lenses and reflectors.

The appearance of the headlight with LED lighting.

Of the advantages of LED lighting for the car note:

1. High brightness - Up to 3500 lumens.
2. Long life. These lamps, in fact, "unkillable". With normal use, they will last for several years.
3. Low power consumption. This is the main trump card of LEDs, with which they "beat" the other types of lighting.
4. Reliability while driving.. There's no filament or other element that falls into the zone of risk when driving on a broken, bumpy roadway. LEDs are resistant to vibration.
5. Ease of installation.. You do not need to take your car to service stations - you can do everything yourself.
6. Ergonomic .. Thanks to the small size of LED lights, you can make lighting circuits of any complexity.
7. Instant activation. Electricity is supplied and the bulbs light up instantly.
8. Environmentally friendly. Neither UV nor IR radiation is emitted by LED lights, they do not contain hazardous substances. After failure, LEDs are recycled.

Read also

7 best LED bulbs for cars

 

Possible obvious disadvantages of this type only two:

1. Expensive .. In this respect, xenon and other lamps look more attractive.
2. Strong heating .. LEDs are designed in such a way that when they work almost does not heat up. But the board, to which they are attached, releases enough heat. So you need to take care of quality heat sink - a radiator or cooler.

Let's compare 3 key parameters of luminescence

Listing the pros and cons of each type is, of course, good and necessary. But all this is on paper (or rather, on the monitor). The main thing for headlights is how they cope with their task in the dark time of the day, especially in bad weather. Here is a characteristic of the parameters of luminescence for xenon and LED headlights.

Key characteristics of luminous flux	Light distribution	Light range	Penetration power
Xenon	Special lens focuses the light, makes it accentuated. Herein lies the disadvantage. Xenon light is too contrasting: illuminated spots are too bright, the rest is in complete darkness	Shines brighter on nearer sections	Not a significant obstacle
LED	Makes transitions between light and darkness smoother, softer. Even with lateral vision, you can see roadsides and other underlit areas of the road	Gives you more distance	Precipitation and fog, in fact, negate all the advantages of LED optics

A comparative table of the characteristics of xenon and led lamps

In the end - a comparison of the main technical parameters of the two considered types of lamps for car headlights. Along with other characteristics, they are collected in a single summary table. If the text didn't help you decide in favor of xenon or LED, perhaps the table will be that final argument.

Finally, a comparative video review.