Every car, truck, van, and SUV on the road today has headlights. However, you've probably noticed an increase in different types of headlights in more recent years - gone are the days where every vehicle on the road had the same bulb. Here is some information on headlights, from Oliver Automotive in Novato, CA.
Incandescent Bulbs - For over a hundred years, incandescent bulbs have been the standard headlight in the automotive world. Though they've changed over time, more recently to brighter and longer-lasting halogen bulbs, in principle they work the same way - with a gas-filled bulb, a filament, and a power source.
Projector-Beam - Projector-beam headlights utilize standard bulbs, but they're installed in the opposite direction and light is reflected and projected through a lens to better disperse light. Projector beams are brighter and more focused than conventional setups.
HID Bulbs - HID headlights, or Xenon headlights, are some of the brightest on the market, with the farthest-reaching beam. While that's great for the driver, you want to be careful they're correctly adjusted - if you've ever been blinded by an excessively powerful blue or white headlight, you were probably staring into a poorly adjusted HID. There's an adjustment procedure that should be performed by a technician at any time HIDs are installed or fall out of alignment.
LED Headlights - LED headlights are the current trend - they're bright, they don't use much power, they don't produce heat, and they last a long time. Many modern manufacturers, particularly of higher-end vehicles, are beginning to install LED headlights as a stock option from the factory.
Laser Headlights - LED headlights are great, but laser headlights maybe even better. They don't need wiring to produce light - just a laser concentrated into a headlight full of a gas that illuminates when excited by a laser beam. It's still a new technology but could take the place of standard bulbs in the near future. Whether you need a headlight changed, adjusted, or upgraded, our technicians have you covered. For the best fleet automotive and diesel service shop in Novato, CA, call or stop by Oliver Automotive today.
