When it comes to driving lights, some of the most popular and widely available these days are auxiliary lighting devices that utilise HID and LED technology. Both are widely considered to be better alternatives to halogen lamps and other conventional automotive lighting devices because they are more durable, longer-lasting, and energy efficient than the latter. If you're planning to purchase a new driving light for your vehicle, LEDs and HIDs definitely make the better choice.
Let's start with HID driving lights. HID basically stands for "high intensity discharge." Each HID driving light has one light bulb, wherein a tube of glass is filled with gas and has two electrodes on either side. When electricity passes through the electrodes, the metallic vapour releases energy to create light. According to experts, if halogen lamps are equal to the household incandescent light bulb, then HIDs are considered to be the automotive equivalent of the household fluorescent tube.
HIDs come in different colours and brightness. However, unlike LEDs, whose brightness and light intensity are measured in lumens, the colours and brightness of HID lights are described by the bulb's Kelvin temperature so you might want to pay attention to the light's "colour temperature" when buying HIDs. Also, take note that the lower the Kelvin temperature is, the brighter an HID light bulb will be. For example, the HID light bulbs with 3000K temperature produce the brightest light while those with 12000K temperature have the least bright light.
Now, let's go to LED driving lights. Unlike an HID driving light, a single LED driving light has several light bulbs with light emitting diodes (LED). When an LED is switched on, electrons recombine with holes within the lighting device and release energy in the form of photons, producing what is called the "electroluminescence effect" to create bright light. But if there's one noticeable difference between HIDs and LEDs, it is the fact that latter is considered generally safer than the former because LEDs don't contain metal vapours or gas that can be detrimental to one's health when ingested accidentally. They are more energy efficient, too.
As mentioned earlier, the brightness and intensity of LEDs are measured in lumens, not in Kelvin temperature. The higher the lumens are, the better and brighter the device's light output will be. Also, unlike HIDs, a pair of driving lights can be sold with different illumination style. For example, one LED driving light can produce spot light, while the other can generate flood style of illumination.
When it comes to choosing between the two, it all boils down to personal preferences. To put it simply, there's really no way to exactly determine whether you need an HID or LED driving light. After all, each of these lighting devices has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is up to you as a discerning car owner to assess your needs and requirements and make the most appropriate decision.
