Do xenons wear out?

Xenon is the car dream of many drivers. And it is not surprising, because in terms of lighting parameters they are far ahead of standard halogen lamps. They emit brighter light, are more pleasing to the eye, provide better visual contrast, and at the same time consume half as much energy. What is their lifespan compared to these benefits? Xenons wear out?

What will you learn from this post?

• How long do xenons last?
• How does the wear of xenon “light bulbs” manifest itself?
• Why do xenons change color?
• How much does it cost to replace used xenon?

Shortly speaking

Yes, xenons wear out. Their operating time is estimated at about 2500 hours, which corresponds to about 70-150 thousand mileage. km or 4-5 years of operation. Unlike halogen bulbs, which burn out without warning, xenon bulbs fade over time and the light emitted turns purple.

Xenon - device and work

Believe it or not, xenon light technology is nearly 30 years old. The first machine on which it was used was German BMW 7 Series since 1991. Since then, xenon lamps have gradually become more and more popular, although they have never surpassed halogen lamps in this respect. Mainly because of the price - the cost of their production and operation is many times higher than the cost of halogens.

This is due to the design of this type of lighting. Xenons do not have a standard filament (therefore they are called not incandescent lamps, but lamps, arc tubes or gas-discharge torches). The light source inside them light arcwhich occurs as a result of an electrical discharge between electrodes placed in a flask filled with xenon. For its production you need a high one, up to 30 thousand. volt starting voltage. They are generated by a transducer that is an integral part of xenon lighting.

In addition to the converter, the xenon lamps also include self-leveling system, automatically selects the appropriate angle of incidence of the light, and sprinklerswhich clean the headlights of dirt that can distract the light beam. Xenon emits a very bright light, similar to the color of daylight, so all these additional mechanisms are necessary to prevent blinding other drivers.

How long do xenons last?

Xenon lamps outperform halogen lamps not only in terms of lighting or energy saving, but also in terms of durability. They are much more durable, although, of course, they also wear out. The service life of xenon is estimated at about 2000-2500 hours., standard halogen lamps - about 350-550 hours. It is assumed that the set of arcing tubes must withstand from 70 to 150 thousand km of run or 4-5 years of operation... Some manufacturers offer xenon with an even longer service life. An example is Osram's Xenarc Ultra Life lamp, which comes with a 10-year warranty and is expected to last 300 miles!

Xenon strength is determined by two parameters: B3 and Tc. They give average values. The first tells about the time after which 3% of the bulbs from the tested pool burned out, the second - when 63,2% of the bulbs stopped shining.

Xenon replacement - how much does it cost?

How do you know if xenons can be replaced? Xenon bulbs, unlike incandescent bulbs, which burn out without warning, over time, they just begin to glow dimly, changing the color of the beam from blue-white to purple or pink... With use, the lens, reflectors and the entire lamp shade also fade. In extreme cases, black burn spots may appear on the headlights.

Unfortunately, the cost of new xenon lamps is high. One strand of a trusted brand like Osram or Philips, costs about PLN 250-400 (and you need to remember that xenons, like halogens, need to be replaced in pairs). Converter - 800. The price of a full reflector is often. even exceeds PLN 4. And labor should be added to this amount - xenon lamps have such a complex design that it is better to entrust their replacement to professionals.

However, there is another solution: regeneration of xenon lampswhich cuts costs by almost half. As part of it, the most worn-out elements are updated - reflectors are covered with a new reflective layer, and lenses and lampshades are ground and polished to restore their transparency.

Is it almost time to replace the arc tubes with new ones? At avtotachki.com you will find the best brands of xenon lamps, including the Xenon Whitevision GEN2 from Philips, considered the best xenon lamps on the market and emitting an intense white light similar to LEDs.

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