5 Best Halogen Headlight Bulbs To Light Up The Road Ahead
We can never negotiate with our safety and security whether at home, walking down the street or driving a vehicle on the road. When we get inside a vehicle, the first thing we make sure before hitting the acceleration is that all the doors are properly locked. But how many times do we ignore that the headlights are not working to their full potential? This little negligence on your part could turn fatal for so many. Instead get a good set of headlights to ensure you are driving your family home safely. Although so many halogen headlights are available at auto parts stores, getting the best halogen headlight bulbs will illuminate the track efficiently and maintain your safety all the way to home.
In this article, we will learn more about halogen headlight bulbs, their construction, working and the best ones you can get at the parts stores or on Amazon itself.
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** Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews by click in "Reviews" column, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.com .
What is Halogen Headlight?
A headlight/headlamp is a light source fitted at the front of a vehicle to light up the track ahead and lets you see anything which could act a possible danger to your life. A vehicle, in general, has a pair of headlights to provide illumination on both sides of the track and increased visibility to the driver.
A halogen is a bulb with a tungsten filament inside a small glass tube which is filled with an inert gas. Although it was a good replacement for incandescent lamps, this bulb was not very efficient as a light source because of its large power consumption and less light output. But as we all know, things keep on undergoing technical advancements and came out more efficient than their previous versions. This is true with halogen headlamps too. Currently available headlights are far more effective than what they were some year ago.
How a Halogen Headlight Bulb Works?
Electric current has a heating property, the same principle used in electric irons. When this electric current is passed through a filament, the filament gets heated, and after reaching a certain temperature, it starts to emit light. But filament alone is not very capable of providing an illumination that could light up the road to a long distance and for a longer time, as the filament will melt off.
So engineers needed something which could support the filament and increase the amount of light production considerably. After some research and developments, they came up with a solution to fill the bulb tube with a halogen gas which is inert under normal conditions, but a little increase in the temperature will initiate them to produce a tremendous amount of light. This not only increased the intensity of light but also prevented the filament from getting melt.
This light is then directed with the help of reflectors, lenses and projectors to move along a straight line, in the desired direction.
Some Points to Keep in Mind When Buying a Halogen Bulb for Your Car
Not all halogen bulbs are meant for your headlights. If you will not check the model number of your car with the guidelines provided by the manufacturers of halogen bulbs or in the owner manual, you can run into the problem with compatibility issues. So it would be wiser if you will keep all the details beforehand.
Xenon is the most preferred gas as the filler inside a bulb tube. This inert gas has the property to emit the light when the temperature is slightly increased. Any gas mixture fill with xenon in it will provide the best illumination provided that other factors are kept constant.
5 Best Halogen Headlight Bulbs to Ensure a Safer Driving Under Night Sky
Lots of manufacturers out there, claiming their product to be the best in the business. But a claim is a claim, and it should not be confused with the reality. The reality is, if you have a team of skillful and innovative engineers highly motivated to design something out of the world, it is very likely that your product will lead in the niche. So without wasting any more time let us get down to the list and find what it is composed of.
1. SYLVANIA H7 SilverStar zXe
No more yellow looking dull halogen headlights. SilverStar zXe is fuelled by a proprietary Xenon halogen gas to offer you the look, feel and performance of a HID light source. White and bright, although new halogen bulb on the scene, its mirror top alloy coating and brilliant crisp white light make it the top contender in this arena. It is street legal, and DOT approved.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- A halogen headlight with a look and feel of a HID light
- Proprietary Xenon halogen gas technology
- Bright and white light output
- Cobalt blue coating offer optimal light transmission and color of a HID light
- A jewel-like finish with a mirror top alloy coating
Cons
- Please refer to Sylvania's Automotive Bulb Replacement Guide to check for compatibility with your vehicle
2. SYLVANIA H7 SilverStar Ultra High Performance
The SilverStar Ultra High Performance is one of the brightest and whitest down-road light. With a far-reaching illumination ahead and sideways this light provides a better clarity and a wider view of the driver in the dark. With a superior quality proprietary gas mixture and a specially designed filament, it ensures an ultra-high performance and a whiter color.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It is one of the brightest headlights
- It offers more down-road and sideways visibility
- White color provides more clarity
- It is street legal
Cons
- Go through the Sylvania's Automotive Bulb Replacement Guide to check if it is compatible with your car
3. Philips 9012 HIR2 Standard Halogen
If you are looking for a longer service life, then Philips has something in store for you. This miniature HIR2 Standard Halogen bulb is a good replacement for the old incandescent bulbs as they offer more light and twice the life of standard incandescent bulbs. The optimal filament design and gas fill mixture make it possible for these bulbs to offer better light and serve longer.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- Philips is a trustworthy brand
- A good buy for low price
- Original equipment quality seal for the most reliable performance
Cons
- Never touch the glass when installing these bulbs. Using gloves or paper towel should be preferred
- Do read instructions for compatibility with your headlight
4. SYLVANIA 9003 XtraVision
The XtraVision comes with a more robust filament to last longer and proprietary gas fill mixture for better illumination and clarity of the track. It is good at delivering more down-road visibility and reducing glare considerably. This product has been designed for maximum service life and durability.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It offers more down-road visibility
- Reduced glare
- Robust filament for added durability
- Proprietary gas fill mixture for enhanced illumination
- It is also street legal, means it is legal for on-road use
Cons
- As with other Sylvania halogen headlamps, compatibility could be an issue, so it is preferred that you go through the Sylvania's Automotive Bulb Replacement Guide.
5. Putco 230004MW Pure Halogen Headlight Bulb
These halogen bulbs are designed to fit most headlights. The superior quality material used in their manufacturing; guarantees long lasting durability. Putco Pure Halogen bulbs come in a pair and are easy to install.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It offers H4 halogen headlight bulb replacement
- Brilliant illumination of the road for more clarity while driving
- You can add custom look with these bulbs
- Mirror White light with 4000K color temperature
- Easy to install and works with most headlights
Cons
- Brightness did not stand up to the markFew compatibility issues
Conclusion
It was really a hard time to come up to the conclusion as the two products Sylvania H7 SilverStar Ultra High Performance, and Philips 9012 HIR2 were very competitors. Both the brands have a history of manufacturing amazing and trustworthy products. But Sylvania having three of its products in the top five series had the edge over Philips.
So to sum up, I would prefer to go with H7 SilverStar UHP for its amazing illumination capability not only ahead but also sideways, which is equally important as you never know when an animal could sneak from the side bush and come on to the middle of the road. It is no fabricated story as it has happened to many drivers on the highway. At times it has turned out to be fatal for both, those inside the vehicle as well as for the animal.
This halogen bulb not only offers bright but white light too. We all know that a white light will add to the clarity of the view and thereby, will make sure that the driver could easily figure out any danger on the road from a distance. A sturdy filament and a good quality proprietary gas fill mixture make this halogen bulb bright and durable, also a worth buying headlight bulb.
In the end, I would say that Sylvania H7 SilverStar Ultra High Performance is one of the best halogen headlight bulbs available in the market. I hope this review has helped you with decision making if you were planning to replace your current headlamp halogen bulbs with a new one.
