Just what is and why

[madecov]

An HID different than a regular flashlight ?
I know they are very bright but what is it a High intensity discharge ?
What makes it different from any other light other than brightness ?

I have no idea /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif

 

[FalconFX]

Its bulb is a xenon gas chamber, struck by 2 end nodes and it sparks a high electrical arc across it to create an "arc" of light. There's a few variants, including short-arc xenons (Maxabeam), Sol-arcs (Light Cannon 100), and the D2S long arcs (X990, KumKang), etc etc... The "bulb" is controlled by a ballast that electronically controls current/voltage into the bulb, unlike a straight plug-in PR or bi-pin based bulbs, and usually has capacitors to stabalize current input...

HIDs are much more intense in light output than a filament can provide...

I know I'm describing it pretty crudely here (probably don't know what the heck I'm talkin' about) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ... Maybe Ken or Ted Bear can chime in...

 

[madecov]

Lets just say that's a bit more technical than this cop can absorb.

 

[FalconFX]

In layman terms:

Regular flashlights have xenon or krypton filled bulbs that use a filament that acts like a resistor. Electrical current flowing through the filament (usually tungsten) warms it up to create a light.

A High Intensity Discharge light is a light that has a bulb without a filament. The way the light is created is through high pressured xenon gas being charged through high electrical current in a bulb, creating an "arc" of light.

You can find a lot more information about some "Hyperlights" like the MaxaBeam, MegaRay and X990 here:

http://webpages.charter.net/kenshiro/superlights/superlights.html

 

[Pellidon]

So Peter should sue them for infringing on his ARC trademark? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tombeis]

Madecov:

HID lighting is used on the New BMW and other high end vehicles. They are the lights with the blue tint.

Next time your on nightshift, just pull a BMW over and take a look. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[S4MadMan]

Please don't pull me over. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Floating Spots]

Just think of it as a very compact florescent tube.
Its actually closer to a street light (which is the short arc or HID's bigger brother, the long arc).
Actually, if you know how a street light pops on sort of dull and brightens up, this is similar to a HID starting up.