#10car

The most recommended lights to drive at night are not always curved led bars or xenon. We explain what are the advantages and weak points of each of them so that you can choose the one that best suits you.

Almost half of the 2,000 km per week that I carry out analyzing the test cars are during the night and I am struck by how something as basic as the lighting is so neglected by drivers, workshops and technical inspections. How is it possible that something so cheap and simple to have in order as is the adjustment of the headlights is not proven? The number of cars I cross (and even the test cars that I am analyzing) with poorly regulated lights is amazing.

The first thing we must be clear about is that the best and most expensive lighthouse one can imagine is useless if it does not shine in the right area. Although curved led bars or xenon headlights have automatic height correction systems, this system only varies the height of the headlight within a certain range. On the other hand, if in the basic setting they are already too high or too low or to the left or right, the automatic corrector will not prevent us from just looking in front of the bumper or we will blind those who are traveling in the opposite direction.

Another factor that completely destroys the lighting of our headlights is the dirt and degradation of the "glass" (currently almost all are made of plastic material, usually polycarbonate).

You already have the first two tips:

●       Check the adjustment of the headlights accurately. It takes no more than half an hour of labor and the change is spectacular.

●       If your headlights are yellow or scratched, take them to polish and clean, also usually cost more than 15 or 20 euros per lighthouse.

Whis is better Xenon Or Curved LED Bars

Now that we have made it clear that the worst beacon on the market can illuminate better than the most expensive, simply with a good adjustment and cleaning, we will see what advantages have the two systems that are proliferating more today.First of all, we must clarify that a very white light is not the same as the amount of light. The color of the light is measured in Kelvin. The whitest light is between 4,000 and 5,000 ºK. Above that range, the tonality becomes bluish and violet, while below it is more yellowish. It is not true that the higher the "light temperature", the better it looks. The best light is in that range between four and five thousand degrees.

What measures how much light a lighthouse produces is another magnitude that is measured in lumens or candelas. Here, the higher the number, the more light and the better it is, but the regulation limits the maximum amount of light and, above 2,400 lumens, the automatic height correction system and headlight washers are mandatory.

In general, curved led bars headlights have a lighter or even bluish light than those of xenon, but less lumens. What's more, some curved led bars headlights give a whiter light, but actually light less than others with conventional halogen lamps.

In my personal experience, only led headlights of high-end models and very high prices are better than those of xenon and bi-xenon. In most cases, the curved led bars headlights illuminate the road less, although its light is whiter: the track of light on the asphalt is smaller and the limits of the road are less visible and hard shoulders with LEDs. Another negative point for LEDs is that their white light produces more self-glare in conditions such as fog, heavy rain or snow.

Above these headlights are the most modern with laser technology. They are undoubtedly the best, but they are only available in long-range headlights, not in dipped-beam headlamps, and for now only for very high-end vehicles.