The content of the article:
- Classification of bulbs for cars
- How to choose headlight bulbs
- Selection of optics by car brand
- Causes of blinking car lamps
Replacing car bulbs is troublesome. The modern market is replete with products of a wide variety of modifications and manufacturers. It is unlikely that anyone can deal with the entire offered assortment, but it is still possible to highlight the main thing.
Classification of bulbs for cars
There are two main types of car lamps:
- headlight lamps (designed for headlights);
- auxiliary lighting lamps (this includes bulbs for side lights, interior lighting, signal lights, etc.).
According to the principle of operation, autolamps are divided into several types:
Incandescent lamps
The classic and familiar version of the lighting fixture. It is a vacuum glass sphere containing a spiral made of thin tungsten wire. Differs in low efficiency (from 6 to 8%) and susceptibility to temperature rise. The lamp tends to heat up and can melt the plastic parts of the machine if not careful.
Halogen lamps
A light bulb is a cylindrical bulb (as opposed to a spherical incandescent lamp). A tungsten coil is also placed inside, but instead of a vacuum, the flask is filled with an inert gas containing halogen vapor.
This made it possible to solve some problems that remained characteristic of incandescent lamps - the design of halogen devices helps to clean the interior of the glass vessel, which excludes the settling of tungsten particles on the walls during operation. Therefore, the halogen lamp is not in danger of dimming.
Xenon lamps
They are a cylindrical flask filled with xenon. Instead of a spiral, two electrodes are placed inside, between which, after the supply of electricity, an arc arises. Lamps have a high color temperature (K), unlike the previous two options.
But xenon lighting devices require an ignition unit to provide the lamp with the required voltage, which is not always convenient.
LED lamp
LED bulbs for a car have undeniable advantages:
- profitability;
- environmental friendliness;
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- high light temperature;
- the ability to switch to LED lighting without any major alterations in the car.
What are the preferred bulbs in the car? Each variety has its own characteristics. But LEDs have become so popular in recent years that a complete switch to LED car lighting will surprise no one.
Classification of lamps according to the characteristics of the base
The base not only performs the functions of fixing and transmitting electricity to the lighting device, but also serves to seal the bulb. The only exception is the LED version - these devices do not need tightness.
Base / plinth markings:
- 1 pin (S);
- 2 (D);
- 3 (T);
- 4 (Q);
- 5 (P).
How to choose bulbs for car headlights
Too large a choice of names and often questionable advice from sellers put many car owners at a standstill when they have to change lighting fixtures.
Points to consider when replacing head bulbs:
Lighting device type
Suitable lamps for headlights:
- Н1 - incandescent lamp in one filament, power 55 W, service life from 350 to 550 hours;
- H3 - designed for fog lights, have a special connector, power 55 W;
- H4 - halogen lamp with two tungsten spirals, used for high / low beam road illumination, power 55 W;
- H7 - have one thread, are well suited for high and low beam lighting.
In addition to the above, devices such as H11, H15, HB3, HB4, D2S and others are also used.
If you do not know which category you need, you can find information in the vehicle data sheet. All types of lamps and types of caps are indicated in the corresponding tables. Or you can grab a failed light bulb in the store and ask the seller to find you the same one.
The lighting devices in the headlights should be changed in pairs, otherwise the brightness will differ
Old lamps shine weaker. In addition, the life of any equipment is limited, and if one of the lamps burns out, then the second will not last long either.
Don't skimp on lighting details
Choose products from only a well-known and reliable manufacturer. The best bulbs for a car are made by Philips, Narva, Osram.
Each lamp is designed for a specific power that a particular car can provide.
Therefore, you should not buy a 90W device instead of the required 60W. Excessive loads can damage wiring, damage the plastic cover of the headlights, or disrupt fuses.
Lamps with a light temperature (K) of 4,000 to 4,500 have a white light.
At 5000 K, a bluish tint is clearly visible.
From 3,500 to 4,000 K — yellow tint.
It is desirable to buy ordinary factory-made lamps.
Do not experiment with products that have various enhancements (extra brightness, etc.). Such a device may not work correctly or not work at all.
How to choose a lamp by car make
To find a light bulb for a specific car, you need to know four things:
- Car brand.
- Model.
- Year of issue.
- Engine displacement (optional, but useful).
With this information, it is possible to choose the right type of lighting fixtures for any purpose, you just have to contact a consultant in the store.
When buying from an online store, you should look for a special service for the selection of auto lamps according to the above criteria. As a rule, similar filters for selection can be found on the websites of companies that manufacture automotive lighting products.
The selection of bulbs for the car can also be carried out by examining the documents for the car.
Interior lighting
For interior lighting, two types of lamps are most often used - baseless (W5W) and soffit (C5W, C10W).
To determine which lamp is needed in a particular case, you should study the failed one and understand which category it belongs to:
- W5W. Made entirely of glass, including a flat base, which is about 1 cm wide. The lamp has a power of 5 watts.
- C5W. Power 5 W. It has two cone-shaped tips on both sides, made of metal. The flask length does not exceed 37 mm.
- C10W. The design is similar to the previous version, with the only difference that the length of the flask is from 38 mm and more. Power 10 W.
- T4W. Power 4 W. This variety is rarely used. The lamp has a cylindrical metal base and a glass bulb.
It is advisable to install LED bulbs in the car interior. They are durable, shockproof and consume a minimum of electricity.
If there is enough space inside the luminaire, then it is advisable to install wider lamps. From them, the lighting will be brighter, and due to the economical consumption of electricity, overvoltage will not occur. But there are some peculiarities that lead to the blinking of LED fixtures.
Car lights are blinking - what is the reason
Low quality built-in stabilizer
Cheap LED bulbs are equipped with a regulator that is unable to limit the electricity supplied to the required level. The current supply exceeds the norm, as a result of which the lamp breaks down and works intermittently.
Excessive heating of the crystal of the LED lamp
This often happens when the headlight LEDs are located next to incandescent bulbs. The latter heats up, the temperature of the crystal rises above 80 degrees and the lighting fails, starts blinking.
Incorrect connection
Before installing the LED, you should find out what voltage is required for a particular lamp model.
Sooner or later, every driver is faced with a lighting problem and often does not know how to change a light bulb in a car. The sheer number of options confuses and complicates the choice, but determining which device is needed in a particular case is not so difficult. In order not to be mistaken, you should make a purchase in reliable stores, where qualified consultants work, who know exactly how to help the client and value their (and the store's) reputation.
