Your car's headlights have more functions than simply ensuring that you don't crash into a tree when driving during the night. They also notify people on the road of your presence and help maintain a sufficient distance. Although the headlight bulbs aren't that complex, it is good to have information about them, as you may need to change a blown bulb. Required by the law all over the US, the low and high beam headlight bulb help you see and be seen by others at night and in any weather.
You have the option of using the high beam headlight when driving at night, especially when you cannot see enough of the road ahead of you. As low visibility can be scary at night, even for the expert drivers, therefore, the high beam headlight bulb can shine at a certain angle for illuminating the road ahead and let you see twice as far as compared to the low beam.
The high beam headlights can be used when there is pitch black outside or driving in the dark on a country road. Most drivers do not commonly use high beams, but nobody wants to be without them. The bright light of the high beam headlight bulb distinguishes it from the low beam, also called the main beam.
The high beam headlight is pointed straight compared to the low beam that is angled down. This is why the angle of the high beams can be a little dangerous in some situations. Therefore, it is mainly recommended not to turn on the high beam, especially when driving behind somebody else or when traffic is coming from the opposite direction.
You can use some bulbs on both the high and low beams, while others switch back on two different bulbs. The single filament bulbs have a single filament and two settings, on and off. The single filament bulbs are used in the car headlights having two separate bulbs. H1, H3, and H7 are the most common single filament high beam headlight bulbs.
9003 or HB2/H4 is among the most common dual filament bulb used. The dual filament is the bulb that uses two filaments in a single bulb. Vehicles using dual filament bulbs can make things easier for the drivers. Therefore, instead of replacing the four different headlight bulbs, the cars with dual filament bulbs only require two.
There are chances that you may drive on a dark street, a construction zone, or an unfamiliar road. Here you may realize that you cannot see the entire road ahead of you, and your vision gets impaired. Here you can turn on the high beam where no vehicles are near you. This can protect the cyclists and the pedestrians who may cross in front of you.
Street lighting can be sparse on an open highway or a rural road, making driving difficult when it is dark. With the help of the high beam, you will be able to see further down the road and avoid hitting any pedestrians, animals, or cyclists who might be taking a late-evening stroll.
You may have poor visibility on some interstate highways, and the headlights may only illuminate the road. When you have to travel in such low-visibility conditions, the high beam headlights can increase the range of your viewing.
If you have a high beam headlight not working, it can be because of a blown bulb. Because of this, both the high and low beams may blow out simultaneously. The lifespan of the headlight bulbs is limited, and this is why they eventually burn out.
Damaged wiring is among the most common issues that may cause the high beam headlight bulb not to work. It can be damaged because of a crash or poor installation practice. The broken wiring can stop the current flow, and it is sent elsewhere, either to the ground or to another circuit.
The failure of the headlight switch is not that uncommon because it is inside the vehicle and is not entirely protected. So, when you drive too much, especially at night time, and you may have to change between the high and the low beams, then the headlight switch might fail.
If you find the high beam to be functioning but not lighting your way, then there is a chance that you may have a headlight fogging problem. This may not simply be scuffing, but it could result from the chemical change from the exposure of polycarbonate to the solar ultraviolet. This kind of light doesn't project very well, so it can be tough to see.
Changing the high beam headlight bulb in the halogen headlights is possible without going to a workshop. It would help if you kept in mind that the rectangular headlight cover must be removed before replacing the lamp. You can never touch the bulb glass with your fingers because the oils and grease can vaporize in the heat and damage the reflector by leaving a deposit.
The high beam headlight bulb can maximize the headlamp lighting, leaving no shadows and brightening the road for you. The lumens offered by this light can also help pierce the dark spots of the road. This headlight bulb is the most durable as it can provide you with a top-notch quality even in solid rains. The only important thing for you is to know the headlamp model of the vehicle so that you can avoid buying the wrong high beam bulb.
Usually, there are two separate single filament bulbs used in the headlights. One bulb can function as a low beam, whereas the other can be turned into the high beam headlight bulb to have a brighter high beam.
Many people get confused regarding the difference between the high beam bulbs and the low beam ones, but the high beam bulb cannot fit into the low beam reflector. However, the circuit of the low beam is capable of powering the high beam bulb without any issues.
If your high beam bulb fails suddenly, you can try the dimmer switch, as it can turn it on again. Try it a few times and if this doesn’t work, use the hazard lights. You need to pull off the road as quickly as possible and keep on the hazard lights so that the other vehicles can see you.
High-beam headlights shine at an angle to illuminate the road 350 to 400 feet ahead or about twice as far as low beams. (Remember that 68 mph equals about 100 feet per second. When you travel at highway speeds at night, low beams may give you only a second or two to react to a hazard.)
High-beams increase your visibility to 350 to 400 feet, or the distance of an average city block. This increased visibility improves everyone's safety, any time you are driving on dark streets or highways, especially if pedestrians, bikes, or animals are present.
Low beams are lower intensity and reach a shorter distance in front of your car. High beams are high intensity and light a greater distance.
Turning On The High Beams
The very simple way of turning the high beam on is to push the blinker lever away from you. While pushing away the lever, you must feel the click to be sure that the high beams are turned on. As soon as you feel the click, your car's high beams are turned on.
High beams and low beams are two different parts of your car's headlights. Both high and low beam headlights are important safety features on your vehicle, but many drivers don't know whether their car uses different bulbs for high and low beams. The truth is, it all depends on the type of car you drive.
Unless there are nearby vehicles. Explanation When driving at night, use your high beam headlights if you are not closely following another vehicle and there are no oncoming vehicles. High beams allow you to see twice as far as low beams.
When to Use High Beams
High beam headlights give off a bright glow that goes as far as 350-400 feet in front of your car. That's approximately the length of one city block. High beams are aimed directly in front of you and are great for driving at night in rural areas or on poorly lit roads.
H11 LED Bulbs. As earlier mentioned, the H11 LED bulb is a low beam light bulb, which makes it ideal as the 'normal' bulb for your car. The term normal implies how the low beam is the most common bulb in lighting due to its angling. This feature makes them suitable for both fog lights and headlamps.
Low vs High Beam Headlights: Key Differences. Both headlights are mandatory lights on the front of your car. In everyday driving, you would use the low beam for regular night-time driving. Whereas the high beam only needs to be on when it is especially dark city areas with no street lighting.
Improved illumination is the most apparent difference from halogen lights. LED headlights can illuminate dark roadways 25% farther than their halogen counterparts, and high-beam settings on LEDs offer a significant improvement over low-beam settings, according to a study from AAA.
Reason #1: Blown Fuses or Bad Replays
Or, it could be a bad relay. If the headlight relay has failed, it may not respond when you attempt to switch the high beams on. Replacing the relay should restore the system and get your high beams working once again.
The High Beam Symbol | High Beams Symbol
The high beam symbol is a blue symbol with five horizontal lines vertically stacked to the left of a shape that resembles a headlight. This will engage on the dashboard to notify you that your high beam lights are active.
High-beam headlights shine at an angle to illuminate the road 350 to 400 feet ahead or about twice as far as low beams. (Remember that 68 mph equals about 100 feet per second.
LED lights are not illegal, except where the headlight is concerned. You may use LEDs in unregulated auxiliary lights. Side markers are A-OK.
Some cars (mostly higher-end vehicles or performance vehicles) do have separate bulbs for their high and low beams. Generally, you'll have a standard halogen bulb for low beams, and then an HID bulb for your high beams. These are not interchangeable.
The 9005 is the High Beam and the 9006 is the Low Beam. You'll need both of them for your car.
If an approaching car is using its high-beams, don't look directly into the oncoming headlights—look toward the right edge of your lane. Watch the oncoming car out of the corner of your eye. Do not try retaliating against the other driver by keeping your high-beam lights on. If you do, both of you may be blinded.
To avoid glare from the headlights of an approaching car:
Look briefly toward the right side of the road. Stay focused on the centerline on the road. Flash your high beams. Explanation You should avoid looking toward the bright lights of an oncoming vehicle by glancing toward the right side of the road.
As such, this answers the question of whether high beams are brighter or just higher. That means that high beams are both brighter and higher than low beams as they have higher brightness settings and are pointed higher than low beams.
Drive slower
One of the main reasons why you should drive slower at night is because of slower reaction times. With limited visibility, reacting to hazards, traffic signs, and other vehicles takes longer. By driving slower, you'll have more time to make the appropriate actions when necessary.
Explanation If you must drive in foggy conditions, you should use your low beam headlights, as well as your fog lights, if your vehicle has them. High beams direct their light upwards, where it can bounce off the fog and into your eyes, reducing visibility even more.
You should only use full beam headlights on unlit stretches of road at night. When meeting oncoming traffic (including cyclists or pedestrians), following another vehicle, or driving on left-turning bends, you must turn off full beam headlights as they can often be dazzling and may cause accidents.
Even though the connectors of 9006 and H11 bulbs may look similar, they are completely different. Thankfully, similar to 9005 bulbs, 9006 bulbs can also be used with H11 connectors if you want.
What is an H11 bulb? The H11 type bulb is used as a regular headlight for you cars. Some headlights are dual beam, but H11 bulbs are single beam lights. That mean you need two bulbs per headlight. This makes it work well for replacing the the high beams, low beams, or fog lights.
It's basically a matter of different filament with different characteristics. The H9 has a 65w (nominal) filament optimized for maximum luminance and flux at the expense of shorter lifespan. The H11 has a 55w (nominal) filament optimized for long life at the expense of lower luminance and flux.
If an approaching driver is using their high beam headlights, you...
High beams are sometimes referred to as 'brights' or 'full beams'. The light beam for high beams is angled upwards in order to illuminate a surface area above and beyond the light of the low beams. High beams have a long-range focus. Unlike low beams, high beams will never turn on automatically.
When driving in fog, you should use your:
High beams. Low beams. Explanation It is best to postpone driving until a fog clears. However, if you must drive in the fog, you should do so slowly and use your windshield wipers and low beam headlights.
H4 Bulbs. H4 bulbs contain two filaments, giving them the option of being either high- or low-beam lights. The bulb has a three-pronged attachment to the wiring harness. Originally developed for European race cars, these bulbs are very bright and can give off white, blue, violet or yellow light.
Color: Both LED and HID lights can offer a range of colors. Distance: Both LED and HID lights have good range, usually up to 300 meters (about 985 feet).
Some LED bulbs have two diodes on each side, with one slightly above the other. These are called dual-beam lights, and both low and high beam diodes are put onto the single LED bulb.
So yes you use more gas when your headlights are on. Since the headlights (along with all other electrical peripherals except AC) run on battery, which is continuously charged through the running engine, there's no noticeable drop in fuel economy.
One quick test, if you don't have a bulb handy or if you are out on the road when you notice the headlight issue, is to pull over and tap the light with your fist, which sometimes will make it go on, he says. “If it goes on, that means the filament is burnt out,” Zullo says.