Automotive light bulb. Service life, replacement, inspection and performance improvement

The autumn-winter period is the time when effective lighting in the car is especially important. Light bulbs often burn out at the most unexpected and necessary moment. What determines the durability of this element and how can it be extended?

Dipped beam, side light, fog light, reversing light, brake light, direction indicators - the exterior lighting of the car, depending on the type of lights installed in it, includes up to 20 bulbs. This seemingly simple structural element during operation can heat up to temperatures above 3000 degrees Celsius, for comparison, the temperature in the engine combustion chamber rarely exceeds 1500 degrees C. The service life of a car light bulb depends on many factors. Some of them depend on the user, on others we have no influence.

The main rule that we must consider when choosing a light bulb, regardless of its type, is to avoid products of questionable quality. Tests carried out by independent institutions are consistent - the quality of cheap Chinese lamps, which their manufacturers consider to be tuning or pseudo-xenon lamps, is far inferior to their branded counterparts, which can also be reflected in their durability. To say that the miser loses twice in this case is quite fair.

Some types of light bulbs are shorter than others due to their design - H4 will last longer than H1 or H7. When deciding to choose popular lamps that give 30 or 50% more light than standard lamps, we must consider the fact that their higher efficiency goes hand in hand with lower durability. So if we're only driving in a city that's usually well lit, it's better to opt for a standard product, perhaps labeled "eco", which is more durable at the expense of slightly less brightness. In the case of frequent night trips out of town, you can choose light bulbs with increased efficiency. In this case, we advise you to buy two packages - consider one of them as a spare and take it with you in the car. When one bulb burns out, be sure to replace the pair. Thanks to this, we will avoid the need to replace the second light bulb after a few days.

Another important issue in terms of the durability of light sources is the voltage in the mains. Laboratory tests of light bulbs are carried out at a voltage of 13,2V and their durability is calculated under such conditions. At the same time, the correct voltage in the vehicle's on-board network ranges from 13,8-14,4 V. An increase in voltage by 5% reduces the life of the light bulb by half. In such a situation, it may turn out that, under normal operating conditions, the light bulb will never reach the life declared by the manufacturer.

Since we are talking about durability, it is worth paying attention to the parameters that manufacturers use to determine this factor. In lighting catalogs, we can find the markings B3 and Tc. The first tells about the time after which 3% of the bulbs of this model burn out. In the second case, we get more reliable information - after what time, measured during working hours, 63,2% of the light bulbs burn out. Among the popular types of lamps, the least durable are H7 lamps with an average Tc of 450-550 hours. For comparison, for H4 lamps, this value fluctuates around 900 hours.

When replacing headlight bulbs, it is important not to touch the surface of the bulb with your fingers. In this case, some dirt and grease will remain, which, under the influence of high temperature, can lead to tarnishing of the glass, deterioration of the light properties and, as a result, to faster burning of the light source. It is best if, when replacing, we hold the light bulb by the bayonet, and if this is not possible, then the glass through a clean paper towel. During assembly, be sure to carefully check the electrical connections in the reflector socket. Light bulbs do not like power surges in the installation. Any disturbance in the flow of current, for example, by a poorly pressed electric cube, can lead to a faster burnout of the bulb.

Remember to replace only when the light is off! In this way, you will avoid the risk of a short circuit, and in the case of xenon headlights, an electric shock. Regardless of the type of bulbs used in our vehicle, it is imperative to have a spare kit with you, which must include at least one bulb of each type. And let's try to control the state of lighting - preferably once every few days.