Are Xenon bulbs _real_ HID setups? Mercury?

[pstickne]

Are Halogen/Xenon lights really HID lights?

I am so confused. I've also found links on Hella Xenon "HID" bulbs :-/

I thought that High-Intensity Discharge lights worked on a different principal and required a ballast. I thought I read that they used metal vapours (mercury*: see below).

I mean, I can get a Halogen/Xenon flashilight [and you can swap bulbs as long as connection and voltage is the same], but I sure as hell can't find any HID flashlights--at least around here :-)

If I'm going to spend $200+ per light, I don't want it to be "HID-like" (look on Ebay and this is about all you can find )

*Mercury? Do they contain mercury?"...potentially fill wounds with mercury, which is very poisiness" from http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/hl-hid ... tmWouldn't that make them illegal [in the sates]?

More troubling info:"All HID kits containing an HID bulb intending to replace a halogen bulb is illegal to sell in North America." from http://faq.auto.light.tripod.c...s.htm

[lessthanjakejohn]

http://www.g20.net/forum/showt...legal

[lessthanjakejohn]

lol, if you want NEW HIDs youhave to get them by tommorow

[APEXi240]

I don't believe that. I went to the DOT website and couldn't find anything about this upcoming law. That post, or repost or whatever was simply an advertisement ploy. I know that Philips HID kits are DOT approved, so I don't understand how they can make a law against something they approved.

I could be wrong, so if anyone has any definitive proof (not a thread containing an add from another board) I'd like to find out.

Yes HIDs do require a balast...what is the company that makes the headlights? That will tell you everything. Retail prices are anywhere from 350-1000 for real HID kits...200 seems a little low.

[pstickne]

On http://www.1000bulbs.com they _only_ haveHigh Pressure Sodium, Mercury Vapor (Mercury, see :-) and Metal Halide HID bulbs. They don't seem to have any automotive bulbs, but if there were Xenon HID bulbs, shouldn't they be listed here?

Are Xenon "HID" bulbs just called that because of their brightness over more traditional halogen bulbs? Or maybe because they use a ballast system?

And, if $200/light is on the low side, all the more reason to know the facts :-)

(And for the "Buy before Aug 15" thread, that does seem pure bogus. What are they gonna do, ask you for a notorized receipt? :-)

[pstickne]

http://store.yahoo.net/hidfact....html

has "Xenon bulbs" and "HID products" in a different catagory. Arg. This is so confusing.

[pstickne]

http://store.yahoo.net/hidfactory/hiasqu.html [FAQ]

"...creates an arc inside a Xenon gas filled HID bulb or capsule and excites the gas producing a nice colored light with a much higher Lumens rating."

So, HID bulbs _can_ be made with Xenon.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

Stop the madness

[APEXi240]

Yes, HIDs are referred to by most automakers as Xenon headlights. However they make Xenon bulbs which are not HIDs, imitations and such. They are usually just bulbs.

Let it go...

[lessthanjakejohn]

I don't believe that. I went to the DOT website and couldn't find anything about this upcoming law. That post, or repost or whatever was simply an advertisement ploy. I know that Philips HID kits are DOT approved, so I don't understand how they can make a law against something they approved.

I could be wrong, so if anyone has any definitive proof (not a thread containing an add from another board) I'd like to find out.

Yes HIDs do require a balast...what is the company that makes the headlights? That will tell you everything. Retail prices are anywhere from 350-1000 for real HID kits...200 seems a little low.

I read something in 'Consumer Reports" a few months back saying the DOT was looking into banning them.

[lessthanjakejohn]

I searched the NHTSA and the DOT, nothing....

[stutt944]

hell, i could go over to the thermostat right now, rip it open, break open the mercury capsule and poor it down my throat if i wanted to...doesnt mean it's illegal.

[MasterMan]

u cannot buy HID that will just plug in. for HID u need a transformer and such.. its a whole diffrent setup from your haligon (sp?) bulbs.. u can get a good HID set up for around 600$ now.. i think they look awsome, if i had the money i would put them in my car, as they do help when driving at night.. and its not "rice" because they do help, alot btw i think 6000k is what BMW uses..

[pstickne]

Yeah, finally figured it out. HID bulbs need a ballast (think transformer and, sometimes, a seperate ignitor). They operate 20,000V+ (much lower current though :-) so the total power [in auto apps.] is usually only about 35W.

I think I'll just get "normal" Xenon bulbs. I'd much rather have better handling :-)