What is a HID ?
hid - high intensity discharge light.
it's a totally new lighting system. normally you have the yellow looking bulb, that's called halogen. hid is the ones that's super super white, and that you can see from FAR away. it's also called xenon
it's a totally new lighting system. normally you have the yellow looking bulb, that's called halogen. hid is the ones that's super super white, and that you can see from FAR away. it's also called xenon
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I've always thought xenon and HID are two different terms... 
So for my situation, I have 9006 Sylvania Silverstars installed in my ES. What would they be called? Xenon? HID? Or something else??
So for my situation, I have 9006 Sylvania Silverstars installed in my ES. What would they be called? Xenon? HID? Or something else??
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: North Cackalacky
Originally posted by lexusk8
SO for my situation, I have 9006 Sylvania Silverstars installed in my ES. What would they be called? Xenon? HID? Or something else??
SO for my situation, I have 9006 Sylvania Silverstars installed in my ES. What would they be called? Xenon? HID? Or something else??
The package should have mentioned this. The web site does:
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm
Last edited by Daddy-O; Mar 22, 2003 at 08:57 AM.
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From: Alabama
Halogen's use a filament, which heats up to produce a light -- much like the light bulbs in your house.
HID bulbs have two electrodes that spark to ignite Xenon gas. That's one reason why they are reffered to as Xenon's. Don't be fooled though by fake cheap bulbs that claim to be Xenon when they are not -- they are actually halogens. A normal pair of Xenon "bulbs" (replacements for those who's car originally came with Xenon's) should cost $200-300. Where as HID Conversion Kits (for cars that came stock with halogens) can cost from $450-$600.
Fake bulbs from PIAA, Nokya, etc. should be halogen bulbs with blue coatings on the outside. This causes light output to be limited since there is a blue coating, used to achieve the color, limiting the amount of actual light output on the road. Lifespan of these fake bulbs can be very short as well, while HID/Xenon bulbs can last up to the life of the car.
HID bulbs have two electrodes that spark to ignite Xenon gas. That's one reason why they are reffered to as Xenon's. Don't be fooled though by fake cheap bulbs that claim to be Xenon when they are not -- they are actually halogens. A normal pair of Xenon "bulbs" (replacements for those who's car originally came with Xenon's) should cost $200-300. Where as HID Conversion Kits (for cars that came stock with halogens) can cost from $450-$600.
Fake bulbs from PIAA, Nokya, etc. should be halogen bulbs with blue coatings on the outside. This causes light output to be limited since there is a blue coating, used to achieve the color, limiting the amount of actual light output on the road. Lifespan of these fake bulbs can be very short as well, while HID/Xenon bulbs can last up to the life of the car.
Last edited by brendanlim; Mar 22, 2003 at 09:49 AM.
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Thought it might be worth mentioning here that the besides poor lighting, the blue coated halogens usually run at higher wattages than stock too, which can over time burn up your wiring or melt your sockets. I think that's about the only thing brendan missed. 
Due to all these fake bulbs being referred to as xenons, I don't even like using the term when referring to actual real xenon HID lights since it seems strongly associated with the fake bulbs, at least in my mind.
Due to all these fake bulbs being referred to as xenons, I don't even like using the term when referring to actual real xenon HID lights since it seems strongly associated with the fake bulbs, at least in my mind.
halogen bulbs also get away with the use of the name Xenon because the inert gas used inside the bulb is in fact Xenon. In this case the gas is not ignited like in the HID set up. Because of its stability and resistance to transfer electrons, it reduces the loss of electrons from the halogen filament thus supposedly creating a longer life bulb.
steviej
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