SubLGT
Flashlight Enthusiast
Are these two bulbs in use now, in production vehicles? How will they be superior, or inferior, to older halogen bulb types?
Part substance...ECE Proposal for Supplement 44 to the 03 series of amendments to R.37
H18 A high flux low beam light source category
H20 A high colour temperature light source category intended for high beam
The H18 category provides high luminous flux and low tolerances to achieve better beam performance in modern and future headlamps having a higher aspect ratio. The proposal, enhancing the H7-technology, combines the best in class geometrical tolerances with 13 per cent higher luminous flux than H7 to make up for the loss in reflector size. This applies to mainly the low beam but also to high beam.
The H19 category combines a higher efficacy (compared to H4, lm/W: high beam + 9 per cent; low beam + 20 per cent), an optimized shield design and tighter tolerances based on the H17 concept. This facilitates maximal optical efficiency in modern complex shape reflectors, leading to better beam performance than H4 in the compact car segments.
Part style.The H20 category emits white light of a colour temperature of 5,000 K that optimally matches the colour temperature of LED light sources and can therefore be combined with LED low beam.
Are these two bulbs in use now, in production vehicles?
How will they be superior, or inferior, to older halogen bulb types?
Superior. The H18 is an "H7 on steroids". Its nominal luminous flux is 1700 lumens (vs. 1500 for H7). Higher luminance and longer lifespan, too. Maximum wattage 69w at 13.2v (compared to 58w for H7). The H18 will not be a direct drop-in replacement for H7 -- the base keying arrangement prevents H7 from being installed in an H18 headlamp and vice-versa, but it will not be particularly difficult to defeat for someone who is determined to do so.
...If the H18 does turn out to be a direct drop-in replacement for the H7, would you choose it over the Osram Rallye 65w H7?...
Those H20's will have poor efficiency as well as a short lifespan; you'll have to replace them every month!
Do you think non-blue H20 bulbs will be offered?
They should've at least made the permissible output a wide range, say, from 1000-2000 lumens.
If the H18 does turn out to be a direct drop-in replacement for the H7, would you choose it over the Osram Rallye 65w H7?
And thanks to Sasha for making the CPF! [/end wrangling for Brownie Points]Thank you very much, Virgil and Alaric (and to SubLGT, for bringing up the topic!)
Many people don't! Hence the proliferation of sloppily-made, hugely-filamented, highly-overwattage bulbs that sell like hotcakes.I had no idea just how important beam focus can be.
I shouldn't paint with too broad a brush, but usually into oversaturating the foreground, but potentially into the glare zones. Same with high beams, but at least when they put light into the glare zone there isn't other traffic to be bothered by it.P.S. -- Just out of curiosity: With a more poorly-focused but still decent bulb (e.g., Osram 65w H7 as compared to the more precise H18), where does the "wasted" light go? Is there a general rule of thumb (e.g., above-cutoff glare; overlit foreground...), or is it a matter of anywhere and everywhere? And are the effects equally strong for high beam vs. low beam? (Thanks in advance -- this is all very interesting!)
Is there some note that does limit H20 to the high beam function? I suspect there is a huge market for a variety of dim, but "official LED white + 100% legal" beamz, including faugx.It's considered not an issue because the bulb is intended for high beams, which are relatively little usd.
Is there some note that does limit H20 to the high beam function?
Besides, Sylvania has the market covered for short lifespan, blue-tinted bulbs.No, but... short lifespan mean(s) it is very unlikely a maker would specify this bulb for any other function.
is it possible for beam focus to degrade as a bulb ages?