LED vs Halogen Fog Lights

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LED vs Halogen Fog Lights

20 March 2023 · Last updated on 20 March 2023

Yellow fog lights provide the best experience because yellow penetrates fog better than white light. Fog lights installed in front of the vehicle enhance your visibility to oncoming drivers and rear fog lights increase visibility to drivers approaching the vehicle from behind. Whether your light source is an LED bulb, HID, or halogens, the best lights should cut the glare and aid your driving. Yellow fog lights provide the best experience because yellow penetrates fog better than white light. There are two types of fog lamps used in automobiles, halogen, and LED (fibre optic). Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but each type has its own distinct look. Some claim LED fog lights offer better illumination. Others say it looks too bright and draws too much power.

Halogen type fog light

The type of bulb used to manufacture a fog light can affect its colour and its performance: while LED bulbs come in different colours (including white, red, and yellow), halogen bulbs can only produce yellowish-white light. Halogen fog lamps also have a shorter lifespan than their LED counterparts, as well as lower light output. Another drawback is that they draw more power from the car's battery, which may cause it to drain faster. Halogen light bulbs are made of a quartz glass tube with inert gas inside to prevent oxidation. Halogen lights are filled with electric current carrying tungsten filament wire that emits light when it heats up. The heat causes electrons in the metal to move quickly and collide with atoms in the gas inside the halogen bulbs, causing them to emit light.

LED type fog light

LED fog lights are more expensive than halogen types but often last longer. They also have a brighter output and draw less battery power from your car. LED fog lights typically come in white or yellowish-whitish colours. Blue is another colour that can be used, but it's not recommended because blue LEDs can cause decreased visibility when driving at night. Another benefit of LED bulbs is the fact they produce very little heat, so there's less strain on the vehicle's components. Some people claim LED fog lights produce too much light resulting in driver distraction which may put them in danger while driving after dusk or during inclement weather. LED lights also have more applications because of their different colour configurations Often they are used as driving lights and fog lights.

Is it worth replacing halogen with LED?

Halogen bulbs are standard in most vehicles. So, while contrasting LED vs halogen fog lights, is a shift worth it? LED lights are the best choice if you're looking to upgrade your vehicle's lighting system. For one, LED lights don't draw too much power from your car's battery resulting in longer battery life. LED bulbs also last longer than halogen ones. The colour of an LED bulb tends to be purer and brighter compared to halogen counterparts which are yellowish-white because it emits light at a higher purity level. Halogen lights are cheaper to replace, but they don't last too long. Halogens also draw more power from your car's battery resulting in shorter battery life.

Can I install new bulbs myself?

You can get the best lighting for your vehicle by changing the bulbs. Some bulbs are very easy to change and only take a few minutes to complete. In some cases, it's usually as simple as pushing in and turning counter-clockwise to remove the old bulb and pushing in and turning clockwise to install the new one. If you have any difficulties changing your headlights or bulbs to your brake lights, we encourage you to have an expert mechanic perform this procedure for you. An HID kit is, however, a bit more complex to install than the traditional vehicle bulb. Connecting the ballast to the wiring system of the vehicle is not straightforward. Contact a qualified vehicle electrician for this work. Under no circumstances should you ever touch a halogen bulb with your bare fingers. Doing so could affect the performance of the halogen bulb by transferring oils from your skin to the glass. Another vital point is that if the headlights or daytime running lights appear dim after changing a bulb, there may be another problem present - such as electrical problems or another malfunction such as a burned-out fuse. After successfully installing new bulbs, adjust the position of the lights relative to the ground so that the high beams and low beams do not become a nuisance to other drivers.

What are HID (High-Intensity Discharge) bulbs?

HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lights are a type of headlight that uses a xenon gas-filled tube, which is essentially an empty light bulb filled with the gas and two electrodes. When ignition voltage is applied to the electrodes, it creates an electrical arc between them and excites xenon gas atoms in the tube to emit ultra-bright visible white light.

What is the difference between halogen bulbs and HIDs?

HIDs vary from halogen bulbs in three ways, outlined below.

  • The light is brighter and whiter.

  • HIDs burn hotter than halogens, which causes the glass to get hotter.

  • They require a ballast to regulate voltage, which complicates installation.

What are xenon bulbs?

Xenon lights are a type of HID headlight that uses xenon gas-filled tubes instead of metal halide tubes used by standard HID headlights. These types of headlights commonly have a blue colour output when compared to other LED headlights. There are several major differences between Xenons and regular HIDs:

  • They provide a brighter light output with less power consumption because it uses a smaller xenon gas-filled tube.

  • They have a longer life span of approximately 8,000 hours.

  • Ballasts are not required for installation. Xenon bulbs use xenon gas for whiteness and brightness due to a more precise "mixture" of colours being emitted from the light source. Xenons also burn much cooler than regular HID lights. Since they run at lower temperatures, their lifespan is significantly improved, lasting roughly 8 times as long as regular HID lights. In addition, since there are no ballasts or igniters needed for installation, these types of headlights are easier to install than other types of LED headlights on the market today. As such, car manufacturers have replaced halogen bulbs with xenon types in most vehicles today. Make sure you don't accessories with tinted headlight covers. Find out more on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.

Content on this site, including cost guides and industry articles, is for general information only and may not reflect current conditions. Localsearch does not provide professional advice and makes no guarantees on accuracy or completeness. Costs are estimates and may vary considerably. Users should not rely solely on this information for making decisions. We strongly recommend consulting qualified professionals before acting on any information provided. Localsearch accepts no liability under Australian law for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this information.

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