Light Guide
Lamp Applications / Types of Lighting

A well-equipped vehicle will sport three types of lighting. KC HiLiTES Fog Lights throw a wide, low beam to get under extreme weather conditions. Our Driving Lights are a must-have improvement over stock headlights, burning brighter and penetrating farther through the night. KC HiLiTES Long Range Lights (for off road applications) complete the performance lighting picture, throwing high intensity light that projects up to 1 and 1/2 miles.

Flood Lights produce vertical as well as horizontal light to illuminate a broad area directly in front of the light source. These lights are great for lighting up a work area or for use as auxiliary back up lights.

The standard headlamps that come on cars and trucks provide adequate illumination under ideal circumstances. When weather conditions worsen or when driving on long open stretches of rural interstate highways, auxiliary lighting is needed. There are 3 basic types of auxiliary lighting; Fog, Driving, and Long Range. The illustration below gives a relative comparison of the beam patterns as seen from above.

Your original equipment headlights are good for a lot of conditions, master of none.

Bulbs/Wattage: Measured in watts; higher wattage means brighter light. (except for HID metal-halide systems which project the brightest beam available at relatively low wattage.)

SEALED BEAM (Incandescent)

The vacuum sealed beam was the traditional automotive light source for many years. For many applications such as marine, it remains popular due in part to its complete atmospheric sealing which keeps water and condensation away from the interior of the light. Bulb life is typically less than a Halogen or HID light source and the Color temperature is approximately 2700° K.

QUARTZ HALOGEN

A very widely used light source due to its relatively low bulb cost, good bulb life and whiter light temperature of approximately 3000° K.

 

 

HID - HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE

This exciting automotive technology uses mercury and xenon gases to create and maintain a light source. These two gasses are ignited by applying 30,000 volts of current (provided by a Ballast) to two electrodes within a glass tube about the size of a green pea. HID lighting is extremely durable and draws much less power than traditional sources. KC HID's produce a whiter light source that is more than three times more powerful than a halogen source and attain a color temperature of 4200° K (actual daylight is around 5500° K).

Lens: Most critical in determining clarity, focus, and beam pattern of any light. Plastic lens are common in low power lights; glass lens are required for high-power lights.

Amber or Clear? Clear lens pass more light to let you see better. Amber lens provide more contrast and let the other drivers see you sooner. Amber is more easily seen in fog or snow.

 

Housing: Casing which contains the bulb and lens. Can be made of ABS plastic, aluminum, chromed steel or stainless steel. Some housings have "shock mounting" for severe conditions.