HID Colour......

[Kevin1626]

Folks,
I'm just about to get an order through with Les and have got some feedback from him on the colours of the 4300K, 5000K and 6000K bulbs he offers with his kits. Just wondering what other folk use.

Would appreciate any positive feedback and comments

Cheers

 

[Schtum]

How white do you want your light to be? Daylight is c. 5800K because the surface of the sun is c. 6000 deg C.

I have a 6000K HID in dip beam and with a Philips Xtreme Vision halogen bulb in main beam, the difference in colour temperatures is bearable - (although switching on main beam is a bit like holding a candle to the sun).

 

[Kevin1626]

Thanks Schtum.

Would appreciate any other comments/ feedback.

Cheers

 

[IanPorter]

I've got 4300k in mine

I went for them as they are a bit whiter than the 6000k

 

[Schtum]

I've got 4300k in mine

I went for them as they are a bit whiter than the 6000k

I think we must have a different sense of colour. 4300K are colder and appear more yellow than 6000K which are about as white as it gets without beginning to appear blue.

 

[David Nimrod]

4300K are colder and appear more yellow than 6000K...

Contradictory... you mean 'warmer'.

The higher the number the 'colder' or bluer the light...

 

[Schtum]

Contradictory... you mean 'warmer'.

The higher the number the 'colder' or bluer the light...

No I don't. I meaner cooler in terms of colour temperature, ie the surface temperature of the light emitting medium. The commonly held view of warmer and colder colours is actually the obverse of the physical reality.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

There's been a lot of discussion on this over on ADVrider, apparently you get more light output from 4300k than you do from 6000k. I had 5000k originally and my current set up everything is 4300k. They look plenty white enough, but you don't get that 'blue' tint you get from the higher temps.

 

[rin_sun]

I like the 8000K bulbs, yes they are a little more blue, but they have a nice ultra violet effect on the white lines and signage.

The other big advantage that I like is that my lights do not becoame lost in a sea of bright white lights when filtering.

 

[David Nimrod]

The color temperature of a light source is the temperature of an ideal black-body radiator that radiates light of comparable hue to that of the light source. Color temperature is conventionally stated in the unit of absolute temperature, the kelvin, having the unit symbol K.

Color temperatures over 5,000K are called cool colors (blueish white), while lower color temperatures (2,700–3,000 K) are called warm colors (yellowish white through red).

 

[Kevin1626]

Thanks guys. The comments, feedback and help is appreciated.

Now I need to contact Les

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I use 5000k in dip and 6000k in main beam. This was one of Les' recommendations. They're bloody brilliant (pun intended) but the main beam "build time" can put some people off.

 

[Packer]

Your eyes work better with the lower numbers, 4,300 is the spec which provides the most light that you can see.

Anything higher is for effect.

 

[stevie Allen]

ive got the 6000k in dipped and main beam, the only noticeable difference is i have a fuller light when both are on
white van man hates me
then i put the ff50s on with the same 6000k bulbs on and it turns night into day , and im peeling paint on cars in traffic, so dont do it that much , because they should have a warning ticket of obnoxious B when they are on in close up traffic
but they cant say they didnt see me

 

[gipsymagpie]

The change colour too

If you have both main beam and dipped on the same colour temperature you'll see the dipped change colour over time (due to more use than the main) so don't be too focused on getting the same colour so they match.

Worth getting an LED replacement for the sidelight though, otherwise it looks a bit odd next to the HID. Make sure its one of the SMD type (see here)

 

[The Sea Dog]

Your eyes work better with the lower numbers, 4,300 is the spec which provides the most light that you can see.

Anything higher is for effect.

Absolutely correct, given equivalent wattage, the highest lumen output (visible light) is at this range, above this while looking 'whiter' actually produces less light. Also bear in mind the temp range output of the burner will increase as it ages reducing the lumen output.

Personally with the mileage I do in the dark my main priority is seeing where I'm going, not how funky my light appears to others.

 

[Kevin1626]

Thanks guys !!

Absolutely correct, given equivalent wattage, the highest lumen output (visible light) is at this range, above this while looking 'whiter' actually produces less light. Also bear in mind the temp range output of the burner will increase as it ages reducing the lumen output.

Personally with the mileage I do in the dark my main priority is seeing where I'm going, not how funky my light appears to others.

My thread dates back to October last year, but haven't forgotten about getting my lights sorted. Funds tight, but will need to contact Les soon. Appreciate all the feedback folk have given.