My car has electrically adjustable outer rear view mirrors – or ORVM’s as they call them. My car cleaner regularly tilts them anyway he wishes when he cleans the car mirrors. Today while at a traffic signal i realised that my mirrors were awry and adjusted my left one first and then my right. as soon as i adjusted my right a beam of white light hit my eys through the ORVM. On a second look i realised that it was a 2 wheeler fitted with a HiD light.
The light was so bright and ‘so in my eyes’ that i could not look at that side at all. Then i remembered my old post about HiD lights. Nothing has changed and they still continue to be a menace on the streets. It is high time the transport ministry did something about it!!!!
The light was so bright and ‘so in my eyes’ that i could not look at that side at all. Then i remembered my old post about HiD lights. Nothing has changed and they still continue to be a menace on the streets. It is high time the transport ministry did something about it!!!!
my old post
————–
I
recently read that a high end car to be launched on the Indian roads is
going to have Laser assisted lighting. I immediately wondered about
the plight of the poor pedestrians on the road who may get fried by
these lasers!!!
Some
people looked at me condescendingly and explained that its a new form
of technology – that the lasers by themselves dont light up the road –
they light up a gas and the illuminated gas lights up the road – its too
complex for laymen like me to understand etc etc.
people looked at me condescendingly and explained that its a new form
of technology – that the lasers by themselves dont light up the road –
they light up a gas and the illuminated gas lights up the road – its too
complex for laymen like me to understand etc etc.
Well
I may not understand all that high end tech but even as a layman, i
know that most of our cars are equipped to be fitted only with the
ubiquitos yellow bulb. For some time even halogen bulbs were considered
illegal (I think they still are). Then came the fully illegal HID kits
and later OEM fitted HID lights on high end cars. As if all that was
not enough, someone designed these high tech laser lights.
I may not understand all that high end tech but even as a layman, i
know that most of our cars are equipped to be fitted only with the
ubiquitos yellow bulb. For some time even halogen bulbs were considered
illegal (I think they still are). Then came the fully illegal HID kits
and later OEM fitted HID lights on high end cars. As if all that was
not enough, someone designed these high tech laser lights.
Lasers
when misalligned can cause dangers to people in front of them but as
Laser lights are still too far away to be available freely on the
streets, let us examine the immediate danger i.e HID lights.
when misalligned can cause dangers to people in front of them but as
Laser lights are still too far away to be available freely on the
streets, let us examine the immediate danger i.e HID lights.
HID
stands for High intensity discharge and these bulbs are now being
installed as a standard fit on some luxury cars and as an after market
fitment for many other cars. The advantages are as follows:-
stands for High intensity discharge and these bulbs are now being
installed as a standard fit on some luxury cars and as an after market
fitment for many other cars. The advantages are as follows:-
1. They draw lower power
2. They last a longer time
3. Higher illumination and resultant higher range
4. Cool white glow with bluish tinge
5. Better night time visibility – so more safer
But look at the disadvantages:-
1. Use inert gas so they place a strain on environment
2. May leak into sorrounding environment or into the car
3. Misalligned HID after market kits may not illuminate roads properly and may cause accidents
4.Blue light may cause problem in foggy/low visibility conditions
5. Excessive heating up due to poor heat dissipation
but the more important ones are :-
5. HID LIGHTS GIVE OUT A BLINDING WHITE LIGHT THAT REFLECTS VERY BADLY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU
6. THEY TOTALLY BLIND THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF YOU ESPECIALLY IF THE BULBS ARE MISALLIGNED
7. THEY SUBSTANTIALLY BLIND THE TRAFFIC FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
as
you can see, the disadvantages weigh far in excess of the advantages.
Its time companies rethink on OEM fitment of HID lamps & Laser
lamps.
you can see, the disadvantages weigh far in excess of the advantages.
Its time companies rethink on OEM fitment of HID lamps & Laser
lamps.
They
could concentrate on LED lighting as they are more cost effective,
cooler (as all heat is used up to light up only) and safer!!!
could concentrate on LED lighting as they are more cost effective,
cooler (as all heat is used up to light up only) and safer!!!
Lastly – if you still have a compulsive urge to install HID kit for your car then –
1.
do not install bi-xenon kits where there is a HID lamp for both low and
high beams. HID on high beam can be very disconcerting and blinding for
traffic in opposite direction and may cause accidents which could
involve you also
do not install bi-xenon kits where there is a HID lamp for both low and
high beams. HID on high beam can be very disconcerting and blinding for
traffic in opposite direction and may cause accidents which could
involve you also
2. Install HID for low beam only
3. For high beam, use conventional yellow bulb (preferable) or halogen
Happy driving to you and those in your opposite direction!!!
