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looking at new cars and the one i really like has xenon headlights. what exactly are the differences between xenons and regular headlights? do they have bulbs that need to be replaced? are they more expensive when they need to be replaced and how often does that occur? how do they work? they look great but just not really sure what they are. thank you
'98.5 Black Ford Contour SE Sport 5-speed. All the SE Sport features with all the 98features that were supposed to be decontented for 98.5
'04 Silver Toyota RAV4 L Auto. Fully loaded.
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you get to tell people "yo, muh whip got dem zee non lightz. fer rizzle!"
in all seriousness, i have no idea what they are. i know they are brighter and blue (maybe?).
~Andrew
2001 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition
20 valves of fury
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Its a gas filled ballast-type of bulb. Blue is only if you get a color range in that area... keeping it lower will give you whiter light.. Ask Goonz.. he's got all there is to know about lights.
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
In a constant state of blow-off euphoria.
Originally posted by Kremitthefrog:
I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.
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Headlights with Xena...the warrior Princesse's brother in them.
E0 SVT
Kids, yeah, I have kids. How many do you want?
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XENON HID lamps do not have a filament. Instead the light is created by an electrical discharge between two electrodes in an air tight tiny quartz capsule filled with xenon gas, mercury and metal halide salts. This improves durability as road vibrations can cause damage to coil lighting technologies. These light sources also produce a blue-white light that is safer because it is closer to natural daylight. more info here HID FAQ
#0009
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I kinda know what they are, and I have read the wiki article before, but I still dont understand something with HIDs This is an arc type light method if I am not mistaken? so is it just a bright electical current passing jumping a gap between two conductors spaced slightly apart? Something like this????? guess I need a pic or technical explanation 
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Originally posted by NO 4 EVR:
I kinda know what they are, and I have read the wiki article before, but I still dont understand something with HIDs
This is an arc type light method if I am not mistaken? so is it just a bright electical current passing jumping a gap between two conductors spaced slightly apart? Something like this????? guess I need a pic or technical explanation
yes, regulated current comes through the ballast into the bulb..
#0009
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Originally posted by Goonz SVT:
Originally posted by NO 4 EVR:
I kinda know what they are, and I have read the wiki article before, but I still dont understand something with HIDs
This is an arc type light method if I am not mistaken? so is it just a bright electical current passing jumping a gap between two conductors spaced slightly apart? Something like this????? guess I need a pic or technical explanation
yes, regulated current comes through the ballast into the bulb..
Uh oh... check out this smart guy! 
The ballast does 2 things, starting and regulating.
Since there is a gap between the 2 electrodes in the tube, there is a lot of resistance. The starting part of the ballast provides a spike of voltage to overcome the gap.
Then the regulating part of the ballast kicks in. It is like a constant current type transformer that, obviously, keeps the current constant to maintain the arc (while the voltage can vary). You need this regulation since the resistance of the lamp goes down quick once you've initiated the arc. So if there isn't any regulation, the bulb will just keep drawing power until it destroys itself (or destroying the power source).
Ballast on Wikipedia
Last edited by Big Daddy Kane; 06/09/06 02:15 AM.
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they are headlights for Scientologists.
Thank you Xenu for your Xenon HIDs
Brett
The man thinks its best for everyones safty if i dont drive for 6 months
'95 Moonlight Blue Contour (ITS ALIVE AGAIN!)
MODS:
Knauberized,Reverse Indiglo Gauges,LED's,AEM Intake,Rust holes for more power!
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