| If you are an off roading expert then lights are | | | | colour corrected whiter light. More people are |
| important to say the least. When you are out on | | | | moving away from these lamps and opting to |
| your adventure, particularly if it is dark then you | | | | choose the newer more efficient high pressure |
| want good visibility at all times. High-intensity | | | | sodium and metal halide lamps. |
| discharge (HID) lamps are the very best in lights. | | | | When off roading, particularly when it is dark or |
| When compared to the normal fluorescent and | | | | visibility is poor then HID lamps are ideal as they |
| incandescent lamps, HID lamps produce a much | | | | can produce high levels of light over large areas. |
| larger quantity of light in a relatively smaller | | | | Recently, HID headlamps have become very |
| package. | | | | popular vehicles. Many 4x4 owners prefer these |
| So here comes the technical part. HID lamps | | | | when out on an off-road adventure as they |
| produce light by striking an electrical arc across | | | | produce a clearer, brighter and more natural type |
| tungsten electrodes which are housed inside a | | | | of light than light emitted from normal headlamps. |
| specially designed inner fused quartz or fused | | | | All off road drivers are aware that the conditions |
| alumina tube. This tube is then filled with both gas | | | | are not those of normal roads. The lifespan of an |
| and metals. The gas aids in the starting of the | | | | HID bulb can be as long as 2500 hours which |
| lamps. Then, the metals produce the light once | | | | exceed the normal life span of regular halogen |
| they are heated to a point of evaporation. | | | | bulbs. Halogen bulbs are heated by tungsten |
| HID lamps are available in different forms, including | | | | flament which can be damaged or can overheat. |
| - Mercury vapour lamps(CRI range 15-55) | | | | HID bulbs are lit by gas ionisation which means |
| - Metal halide lamps (CRI range 65-80, ceramic MH | | | | they will never produce high temperatures causing |
| can go to 90's) | | | | them to overheat. As long as the xenon gas in |
| - Low-pressure sodium lamps (CRI 0 owing to | | | | the lamps has not been exhausted the HID lamps |
| their monochromatic light) | | | | will discharge excellent light. |
| - High-pressure sodium lamps (CRI range 22-75). | | | | If you are a regular 4x4 off road driver the High |
| The first commercially available HID lamps were | | | | Intensity Discharge(HID) lamps should be fitted on |
| the mercury vapour lamps which produced | | | | your vehicle so if you do get lost out on your |
| bluish-green light. These lamps today produce | | | | adventure you won't have to sit in the dark. |