The ULTIMATE (almost) light bulb comparison thread (w/pics!)

[srt8danno]

Y2K5SRT that is a fantastic write up and explanation with pics. I’ll file that one away for future use when a member needs answers to that kind of question.

I just realized that I put Xenon lights in my kitchen with that blue coat. They make the glass tile backsplash stunning!

[Y2K5SRT]

Thanks guys, but this is still a work in progress. I have learned a LOT more just in the past few hours (when I wasn't watching the season finale of Dexter ).

Did you know that there is no such thing as "DOT approved" lighting? It's the manufacturer's duty to "self certify" their products and many put a "DOT" marking on the base whether they conform to the law or not. How about this juicy tidbit: Blue lights often appear "brighter" only because they increase the glare to the human eye. Why? Because yellow light triggers a stronger pupil-closing response than blue. Thus the pupil is open wider and sees a brighter light - but only when looking at the light itself. Check the pictures above to see what the actual blue light does for lighting up the path in front of you - not as much.

Stay tuned, as I am going to bite the bullet and buy some HIR's and get some more "scientific" pictures for this thread. Should be interesting!

[Undertheradar]

Great job Y2K! I'm glad Meister told me a few weeks ago to get the Xenon 9005 Hi-Lite. I bought a set and happy to hear your results. NOW only if I can get it done already...

[Brick Tamland]

Great thread brotha... time and effort there.

[LINKS]

Originally Posted by Ukyo Yoshiro

great thread!! i truely respect all the hard work that went in to this

nice whipppp if ever you want to put some screens in there let me know....

[Ukyo Yoshiro]

where are you located?

[300C2NV]

Just curious, will 9005 Bulbs work for the low beam headlights also? I've got hologen's on my 300C, and looking to replace them with something brighter!

[Thunder_SS]

Actually that infor for HID lighting is a bit false. All lamps, incadescent, flourescent, or HID run on the same scale known as color temp and/or color rendering or CRI.

CRI is actually what you eye sees. On a scale based on 0-100, obviously 100 is perfect light. but very few lamps reach that ultimate 100 CRI, most fall well within a range of 60-90.

Color temp is actually the color base of the lamps. most of your household incadescent lamps run in the 3500 to 4000K range, which is a warm light or orangeish look. Most of the HID lighting like the headlights you are refering to are really a Multi-vapor metal halide, run in the range of 3000-4500K, which really is still on the warm side of the spectrum. You get the blue look because of the tint that is on the lamp itself. In order to get up in the 4000-5000K you are looking at flourescent lamps, SP41 has a cool white look to it, but this lamp only has a CRI of around 70. You can get a SPX41 that has a CRI of around 90 thou....but that will get spendy. Then there are some really fancy flourescent lamps called Chroma series, which has a 6500-7500K range, with a CRI of only 90.

So when you talk about Kalvins and CRI, you really need to put both in the equation to get a true reading on lighting.

[Rev.Hammer]

DUDE...MIGHTY Sir,
That was one of the best and most definitive posts that I have ever seen on any subject!!
AMAZING and well done!

[StealthAuto]

Awesome writeup!!!!! You put my foglight post to shame.. lol.. I appreciate the excellent information and images.

-Aaron