whats up guys havent been around in a while but im back. I have a question about HID lighting systems. I was looking at the Xenon Technologies web page and they offer three types of systems..The 4,100k - 5,000k and 6,000k. I am interested in something that really lights up the road..What are your opinions on the 5000 and the 6000 k ? Is the 6000k worht it or is the 5000k enough?

 

my 8000k lights up the road just fine!

 

don't go any higher then 5000K. Your only getting into blue coloring. 5000K is a very nice clean white HID style light.

 

Those numbers you list determine the color temperature of the light put out by the kit. It has no bearing on how "bright" the light is. It is a scientific fact that the "hotter" colors closer to blue (which are in the upper fequency range of the visible light spectrum) do not perform as well as more yellow light in poor weather.

 

While we're on the subject of HIDs and color, I have a different question... What determines the color, the Bulb or the ballast? Thus if you had a 4100k and wanted to upgrade to a 5000k would you just upgrade the bulbs or the ballasts or both?

I searched for this but didn't come up with an answer. Thanks in advance.

 

Ballast - An electrical device, used to supply the necessary voltage and current to start and operate the lamp. Electronic ballasts are gradually replacing magnetic ballast because they are more efficient, quieter, lighter and facilitate dimming.

Gas arc discharge lamp - A tubular electric lamp filled with vapor. Light is emitted by the vapor when excited by an arc discharge between electrodes at the ends of the lamp. The composition of the vapor determines the color quality of the lamp.


Color temperature (degrees K) - White light can have different "warmth". A bit more red/yellow and white light appears "warmer". A bit more blue and light appears "cool". This can be quantitatively assessed by the assigning of a color temperature, given in degrees Kelvin. Think of color temperature as the color of a block of iron as it is heated to various high temperatures. A warm, reddish light is around 3500 degrees Kelvin, and above 6000 degrees Kelvin the light takes on a bluish tone. Sunlight is somewhere around 5000 degrees Kelvin. Generally, people may think of blue as a "cooler" color than red, it is actually hotter.

 

thanks for all the info guys