LED vs HID headlights. one of the most asked questions in the automotive realm.
Debates on Led vs Hid headlights in forums can best be summed up as a war zone. Trying to get a straight answer can be difficult. So we are going to quickly break down some of the most common questions we at TJR have seen asked.
What does LED and HID stand for?
L-ight H-igh
e-mitting I-intensity
d-iode D-ischarge
How do they create light?
HIDs create light by heating a gas (xenon). This is why they have a warm up cycle when you turn them on.
LEDs on the other hand work by powering a bunch of little chips (Light emitting diodes). This allows for instant turn on and a really clean look overall
Which is brighter?
Simply put, LEDs have a higher potential output than HIDs. approximitely 15-20% more.
Are LEDs more expensive?
If comparing the same lumen level from the same company, the Led will almost always cost more due to the manufacturing costs.
If LEDs are more expensive, what are the benefits?
The Biggest reason that LEDs are worth their price is because of their life expectancy. they on average will last 2-3x longer than an HID. you pay more money up front but get it back in longevity. Due to them being chips you can get them in just about any color. My personal vehicle has red LED interior lights. Also, LEDs require no warm up, they turn on instantly meaning there wont be a delay when turning on your headlights at night or when flashing your high beams for example.
Do LEDs have any downsides?
They have two that we find to be worth talking about. One is that they dont heat up your light housing. Wait that sounds like a good thing right? well it is, as long as you dont live in a state that gets ice and snow. Being based out of Michigan it isnt unusual to see people scraping their led headlights in the winter because they dont get hot enought to melt themselves. Not a big deal but it can be annoying. Another thing to consider, is LEDs really arent meant to be used in reflector headlight housings. They do much better in projectors. They just dont focus the light well enough. Ever been driving down the road and a mid 2000 Silverado’s driving lights are blinding you in the middle of the day? Just us? Well you see our point lol.
Okay so what are the advantages of HIDs then?
Glad you asked. They by design have a more dense and focused light pattern, meaning they work great in both Projector and Reflector lenses and often give the illusion of being brighter. They are also generally 20-30% cheaper. But keep in mind they only last around half the length of an led so that can be good or bad depending on how your wallets feeling.
Not such a simple choice huh?
We at TJR personally run LEDs in everything. the instant on and off combined with the available colors gives you a lot more freedom than HIDs can offer, and they look great. Take into consideration the lifespan and the price is more than worth it to us.
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