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Re: TSX headlights issue
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CarGuru > Driving > Re: TSX headlights issue 3 May 2005 10:27:52

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Re: TSX headlights issue

Daniel J. Stern 3 May 2005 01:42:01
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, Nate Nagel wrote:
It has xenon lights than can be manually operated during the day, but> > automatically switch on in night service. The xenon lights have a low> > and high beam position.
No, they don't, unless this is a new development.

Well, it was a new development in 1998, when the specific headlamp system
John is complaining about was demonstrated by Valeo at the SAE Congress in
Detroit. It didn't make it onto roadgoing vehicles until Volvo picked it
up about 18 months ago. It's not one of the better bi-function Xenon
systems (projector-based systems work better) but it does behave as John
describes: One HID burner, constantly lit, with movable optics to create
low and high beam from just the one burner.
Every implementation that I'm aware of has HIDs for the low beams and> conventional halogen bulbs for the high beams. Acura's web site does> not explicitly state that the TSX has HID high beams; that is unusual> enough that you'd think they'd mention it.

The TSX hasn't got HID high beams -- the original poster has a TSX; John
S. probably has a Volvo.

Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 19:22:46 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 1 May 2005, Cathy Hui wrote:
I just bought a new 2005 TSX. The xenon headlights of my car have a> very sharp cut off line. That is, when you drive in the dark, you will> see only the area where the Xenon headlights directly spotting at, but> you can see nothing beyond that angle. I feel unsafe to drive this car> in dark since I cannot see anything beyond about 10 degree above> horizontal line. Is this a common issue on TSX? I just wonder if I> should ask the dealer to fix this for me.

That's the way they're supposed to be.

A sharp cutoff on the LEFT side of the the low beam is a very important
safety feature, for it gives the driver real-time seeing distance range
indication that is not present with more primitive headlamp beams that
lack a cutoff. The corollary is that correct vertical aim is far more
crucial on headlamps with sharp cutoffs than with less-focused beams. When
both types are properly aimed, seeing range is NOT longer without a beam
cutoff. It only seems that way because without a cutoff, you are able to
overdrive the low beams without getting any visual feedback that you are
doing so. Few North Americans understand this yet because low beam cutoffs
are rather new to this continent; the rest of the world has had them since
1952. European-type left-side cutoffs are called "VOL" in North America.

Unfortunately, however, Honda (Acura) chose to use a type of cutoff called
"VOR", permitted only in North America, that sharply cuts-off the light on
the RIGHT side of the beam -- immediately above the high-intensity zone.
This does, as you've noticed, sharply limit your seeing range especially
in hilly areas. There's no fix that can be applied except to make
absolutely sure that the headlamps are correctly aimed. Make sure this is
done with an optical beamsetter.

DS
Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 19:27:04 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, John S. wrote:
Ask the dealer to adjust the low beams upward,

The headlamps need to be adjusted PROPERLY, not "upward".
and drive with high beams on.

Illegal and unsafe in traffic.

Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 21:20:20 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, Cat Chow wrote:
I have a 2003 BMW 325i with xenon lights, but I don't see such problem> with my car... Do u know why? Thanks!

Because your BMW's Xenon lights have a VOL, left-side cutoff rather than
the Acura's problematic VOR, right-side cutoff.

DS
Add comment
Steve 2 May 2005 22:23:33 permanent link ]
 John S. wrote:
It goes without saying that in traffic high beams should not be used or> needed. On dark roads xenon lights need all the help they can get and> they are needed.>
Xenon light systems have a couple of unfortunate design limitations.>
1. They have a very sharp cutoff, which results in the road directly> in front of the car being very well lit, but the road beyond being in> almost total darkness. Halogen lights on the other hand have a much> more diffuse light pattern and objects down the road are more easily> seen.

The beampatter cutoff is not a function of whether the light source is
HID (incorrectly called "xenon") or halogen. Good halogen headlamps also
have a good sharp horizontal cutoff.

As Dan pointed out, there are better and best versions of the cutoff
pattern. An "upsweep" to the right is best, and can be had in a number
of halogen light systems as well.


Add comment
Masospaghetti 2 May 2005 22:31:38 permanent link ]
 Steve wrote:> John S. wrote:>
It goes without saying that in traffic high beams should not be used or>> needed. On dark roads xenon lights need all the help they can get and>> they are needed.>>
Xenon light systems have a couple of unfortunate design limitations.>>
1. They have a very sharp cutoff, which results in the road directly>> in front of the car being very well lit, but the road beyond being in>> almost total darkness. Halogen lights on the other hand have a much>> more diffuse light pattern and objects down the road are more easily>> seen. >
The beampatter cutoff is not a function of whether the light source is > HID (incorrectly called "xenon") or halogen. Good halogen headlamps also > have a good sharp horizontal cutoff.

Xenon is not an incorrect term for HIDs - although halogens can be had
with xenon gas, HIDs are filled with xenon as well.
As Dan pointed out, there are better and best versions of the cutoff > pattern. An "upsweep" to the right is best, and can be had in a number > of halogen light systems as well.>
Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 23:31:58 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, Masospaghetti wrote:
Xenon is not an incorrect term for HIDs - although halogens can be had> with xenon gas, HIDs are filled with xenon as well.

It actually is. The completely correct term is "MH", for Metal Halide. MH
lamps are a type of HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamp. The automotive
HIDs have Xenon in them (like a camera flash) only so that there's an arc
with SOME minimal amount of light immediately upon hitting the switch.
Otherwise, HID automotive headlamps would have a minutes-long warmup time
like the overhead HID lights in a gymnasium. It's the vapourised metallic
salts (metal halides) that cause the electrical arc to produce a large
quantity of usable light. After the first 45 seconds of operation, the
Xenon in an automotive HID lamp is irrelevant.

Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 23:36:54 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, John S. wrote:
I have no training in headlight design, so I can't tell whether one> design of xenon light is technically better than another. I can only> report on what I and others see (or don't see) while driving.

OK, fair enough. What I was reacting negatively to was your repetition, in
places almost verbatim, of Consumer Distorts magazine's "educational"
article on headlamps, which got most facts wrong and made nonsensical and
contradictory recommendations.
The implementation of xenon lights on many cars for sale in the U.S.> leaves a lot to be desired.

The implementation of *LIGHTS* on many cars for sale in the US leaves a
lot to be desired.
Whether driving with high or low beam, xenon lights exhibit extreme> contrast between lighted and darkened areas

Some of them certainly do.
the reach or distance that xenon lights either light up or at least> outline objects is far shorter than with halogen lights

No, this is still not correct.
There may very well be technical solutions available that could result> in improved roadway lighting with xenon lighting systems. Those> solutions do not appear to be used in the cars I've used or read about.

Well, reading about headlamps is fine -- I recommend it! -- but consider
the source of your information carefully. There's a great deal of
information out there, and as is the case with most highly technical
subjects simplified for American readers who are presumed to be too stupid
to comprehend much beyond the 3rd-grade level, most of the
popularly-available­ info is wrong. As far as cars you've driven,
observation is terrific, but problematic. The human visual system is
highly subjective and a very poor meta-judge. That is, we seldom see as
well OR as poorly as we think.


DS
Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 2 May 2005 23:43:45 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, Steve wrote:
1. They have a very sharp cutoff
The beampatter cutoff is not a function of whether the light source is> HID (incorrectly called "xenon") or halogen. Good halogen headlamps also> have a good sharp horizontal cutoff. As Dan pointed out, there are> better and best versions of the cutoff pattern. An "upsweep" to the> right is best, and can be had in a number of halogen light systems as> well.

That's not *quite* what I said. The US "VOR" cutoff, which puts a sharp
light/dark cutoff line at the horizon from the top-center of the beam
pattern rightward, really isn't "better" than anything, and is pretty much
worse than everything, for it geometrically limits in-lane seeing
distance, makes problems for overhead sign visibility and frequently
causes excessive glare. "VOL", on the other hand, which has a sharp
light/dark cutoff line 0.4° below the horizon from the top-center of the
beam pattern leftward, is quite a good foundation for an effective low
beam pattern. It controls glare and provides realtime visual indication of
seeing range while offering significantly less limitation on in-lane
seeing distance and making it easier to light up overhead signs.

As far as the shape of the cutoff to the right of center is concerned,
yes, a 15° upsweep works well, but so does an upstepped horizontal. It all
depends on the placement of the RH cutoff. European headlamps that have an
RH horizontal cutoff (not a VOR, no such thing outside North America)
place it slightly *above* the horizon while the left-side cutoff remains
below the horizon. This system works very well, too. And the Koreans have
been experimenting very successfully in the North American market with a
combination of the two cutoff forms that steps up and *then* upsweeps.

DS
Add comment
Nate Nagel 3 May 2005 00:13:08 permanent link ]
 John S. wrote:
" the reach or distance that xenon lights either light up or at least> outline objects is far shorter than with halogen lights">
"No, this is still not correct">
It may not be the way they work in the textbook, but in-fact that> is how they do work as implemented in the car's I've driven. Objects> down the road that would at least be outlined by the diffuse highbeam> lighting offered by halogen lights are simply not visible with> xenon-type lights.>

that's because you're comparing apples to oranges. I'm not aware of any
current vehicles that use HID high beams.

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast­.net/~njnagel
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Steve 3 May 2005 00:20:38 permanent link ]
 John S. wrote:> I have no training in headlight design, so I can't tell whether one> design of xenon light is technically better than another. I can only> report on what I and others see (or don't see) while driving. The> implementation of xenon lights on many cars for sale in the U.S. leaves> a lot to be desired.

The implementation of both HID and halogen headlamps on many cars for
sale in the US leaves a lot to be desired.
Whether driving with high or low beam, xenon> lights exhibit extreme contrast between lighted and darkened areas and> the reach or distance that xenon lights either light up or at least> outline objects is far shorter than with halogen lights on cars sold in> the U.S.

That is true of SOME HID implementations. Not all.
That sharp cutoff or line of demarkation between light and> dark can obscure road conditions on hilly or twisty roads.

That is true of SOME horizontal cutoff implementations for both HID and
halogen light sources. It is not a characteristic of the HID light source.
There may very well be technical solutions available that could result> in improved roadway lighting with xenon lighting systems. Those> solutions do not appear to be used in the cars I've used or read about.

Keep reading (but not Consumer Retards), keep testing different headlamp
packages. Many of them are exceedingly good now.

Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 3 May 2005 00:31:28 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, John S. wrote:
" the reach or distance that xenon lights either light up or at least> outline objects is far shorter than with halogen lights">
"No, this is still not correct">
It may not be the way they work in the textbook,

It's not the way they work in the real world.
but in-fact that is how they do work as implemented in the car's I've> driven.

Here again, all kinds of problems. You're relying on your subjective
judgements -- which, as is the case with all of us, are usually wrong --
for whatever few HID-equipped cars you might've happened to drive, and
generalizing those impressions to HID headlamps as a group.
Objects down the road that would at least be outlined by the diffuse> highbeam lighting offered by halogen lights are simply not visible with> xenon-type lights.

None of this makes any sense. The "diffuse highbeam lighting offered by
halogen lights" means LESS seeing distance, not more.

DS
Add comment
Steve 3 May 2005 00:32:11 permanent link ]
 Masospaghetti wrote:
The beampatter cutoff is not a function of whether the light source is >> HID (incorrectly called "xenon") or halogen. Good halogen headlamps >> also have a good sharp horizontal cutoff.>
Xenon is not an incorrect term for HIDs - although halogens can be had > with xenon gas, HIDs are filled with xenon as well.


Yes, it IS incorrect, or at the very least so imprecise as to be
meaningless. The fill gas in an HID capsule is a soup of gases tailored
to get the minimum required initial light output, reach the correct
specrtral content when warmed up, and last a reasonable life without
overheating or damaging the electrodes. Xenon is only one component gas
in the mixture. Its not the same as a camera flash tube. HID is an
unambiguous term.

Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 3 May 2005 00:32:37 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, Nate Nagel wrote:
I'm not aware of any current vehicles that use HID high beams.

There are many from Volvo, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Acura, etc.
Add comment
Daniel J. Stern 3 May 2005 00:35:35 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 2 May 2005, John S. wrote:
Nate said: "that's because you're comparing apples to oranges. I'm> not aware of any current vehicles that use HID high beams.">
The car has halogen DRL that operate only in daylight by a light> sensor.>
It has xenon lights than can be manually operated during the day, but> automatically switch on in night service. The xenon lights have a low> and high beam position.

BiXenons. Probably on a Volvo, if you're talking about halogen DRLs.

Congratulations, you've just discovered that there's such a thing as bad
HID headlamps. The reflector-based BiXenons as a group aren't stellar --
projector-based systems work better -- and for the North American market,
the high beam optics are defocused *and* the auxiliary halogen long-range
high beams are disabled.

Good headlamps are good.
Bad headlamps are bad.

And that's completely irrespective of what kind of technology is used to
make the light.

DS
Add comment
Nate Nagel 3 May 2005 00:35:48 permanent link ]
 John S. wrote:
Nate said: "that's because you're comparing apples to oranges. I'm> not aware of any current vehicles that use HID high beams.">
The car has halogen DRL that operate only in daylight by a light> sensor.>

Which apparently uses the high beam filament then.
It has xenon lights than can be manually operated during the day, but> automatically switch on in night service. The xenon lights have a low> and high beam position.>

No, they don't, unless this is a new development. Every implementation
that I'm aware of has HIDs for the low beams and conventional halogen
bulbs for the high beams. Acura's web site does not explicitly state
that the TSX has HID high beams; that is unusual enough that you'd think
they'd mention it.

You indicate that it is an apples to oranges comparison to compare> halogen to xenon systems. So what would you compare the performance of> xenon lights to, if not other lights. They are all supposed to light> the road and objects on it.

The fact that the *incandescent halogen* high beams suck on a car with
HID low beams is not a reflection of the goodness or badness or anything
at all about the HIDs.

nate


--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast­.net/~njnagel
Add comment
Nate Nagel 3 May 2005 02:06:50 permanent link ]
 Daniel J. Stern wrote:
On Mon, 2 May 2005, Nate Nagel wrote:>
It has xenon lights than can be manually operated during the day, but>>>automatically­ switch on in night service. The xenon lights have a low>>>and high beam position.>
No, they don't, unless this is a new development.>
Well, it was a new development in 1998, when the specific headlamp system> John is complaining about was demonstrated by Valeo at the SAE Congress in> Detroit. It didn't make it onto roadgoing vehicles until Volvo picked it> up about 18 months ago. It's not one of the better bi-function Xenon> systems (projector-based systems work better) but it does behave as John> describes: One HID burner, constantly lit, with movable optics to create> low and high beam from just the one burner.

A apologize then... I thought that that kind of setup was still in the
developmental/not ready for prime time stage.

Or maybe, based on the comments in this thread, it *is* but is being
installed on roadgoing vehicles anyway :/
Every implementation that I'm aware of has HIDs for the low beams and>>conventional halogen bulbs for the high beams. Acura's web site does>>not explicitly state that the TSX has HID high beams; that is unusual>>enough that you'd think they'd mention it.>
The TSX hasn't got HID high beams -- the original poster has a TSX; John> S. probably has a Volvo.>

OK that would explain the other part of the corn fusion...

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast­.net/~njnagel
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Ashton Crusher 3 May 2005 10:23:02 permanent link ]
 On 2 May 2005 09:48:13 -0700, "Cat Chow" <catchow1@gmail.com­> wrote:
I have a 2003 BMW 325i with xenon lights, but I don't see such problem>with my car... Do u know why? Thanks!

My Brother in law has had a couple BMW's with that light pattern.
It's kinda cool at first but then you realize that you can't see squat
above the cuttoff, even with the upswing of the cuttoff on the right
side which helps illuminate the roadside signs. Seems like a dumb
design to me and I suspect is still manages to glare into oncoming
traffics eyeballs bases on what I've seen of oncoming BMWs.
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Ashton Crusher 3 May 2005 10:27:52 permanent link ]
 On Mon, 02 May 2005 16:35:48 -0400, Nate Nagel <njnagel@flycast.ne­t>
wrote:
John S. wrote:>
Nate said: "that's because you're comparing apples to oranges. I'm>> not aware of any current vehicles that use HID high beams.">>
The car has halogen DRL that operate only in daylight by a light>> sensor.>>
Which apparently uses the high beam filament then.>
It has xenon lights than can be manually operated during the day, but>> automatically switch on in night service. The xenon lights have a low>> and high beam position.>>
No, they don't, unless this is a new development. Every implementation >that I'm aware of has HIDs for the low beams and conventional halogen >bulbs for the high beams. Acura's web site does not explicitly state >that the TSX has HID high beams; that is unusual enough that you'd think >they'd mention it.>

Any idea why that is? I thought the whole point of the HID was to
give lots and lots of light when you really need it, which would be at
high speed when you can use your high beams. So it seems completely
backwards to me - why put $1000 worth of lighting into the low beams
when any old halogen setup will do for in town, don't blind the
oncoming driver situations.


You indicate that it is an apples to oranges comparison to compare>> halogen to xenon systems. So what would you compare the performance of>> xenon lights to, if not other lights. They are all supposed to light>> the road and objects on it.>
The fact that the *incandescent halogen* high beams suck on a car with >HID low beams is not a reflection of the goodness or badness or anything >at all about the HIDs.>
nate

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CarGuru > Driving > Re: TSX headlights issue 3 May 2005 10:27:52

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