Automotive Lighting

COOL BLUE advantages

Question

What is the advantage of OSRAM COOL BLUE lamps?

Answer

Apart from the special visual appeal of a COOL BLUE lamp in the headlight, a look that so many car drivers favour, the halogen headlamp also offers photometric improvements over standard lamps.
However not to the same extent as the lamps in the SILVERSTAR range which provide up to 50% more light, or even better the NIGHT BREAKER PLUS lamps with up to 90% more light on the road.
The daylight colour of the COOL BLUE lamp helps counter fatigue at the wheel.
To achieve a uniform bluish light colour at the front of the vehicle, OSRAM offers various COOL BLUE parking light lamps.
 
A COOL BLUE version is available for:

• Headlight lamps:
  - halogen lamps H1, H3, H4, H7, HB3, HB4
  - gas discharge lamps XENARC COOL BLUE INTENSE D1S,D1R, D2S, D2R
• Auxiliary lamps:
  - H6W, W5W, T4W

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COOL BLUE for auxiliary lights

Question

What is the advantage of OSRAM COOL BLUE lamps in parking lights?

Answer

These lamps have special coatings or fillings so they produce a higher color temperature and therefore the impression of blue light.
COOL BLUE sidelight lamps are a sensible addition to OSRAM XENARC and XENARC COOL BLUE INTENSE (HID gas discharge lamps), as well as COOL BLUE halogen headlight lamps to underline the bluish impression.

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COOL BLUE range

Question

Which lamp types does OSRAM offer in a COOL BLUE version?

Answer

A COOL BLUE version is available for:

• Headlight lamps:
  - halogen lamps H1, H3, H4, H7, HB3, HB4
  - gas discharge lamps XENARC COOL BLUE INTENSE D1S,D1R, D2S, D2R
• Auxiliary lamps:
  - H6W, W5W, T4W

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Inside the car

Question

What is the advantage of OSRAM COOL BLUE lamps inside the car (e.g. for reading lights)?

Answer

COOL BLUE lamps provide brilliant white light that is ideal for reading maps and other interior lighting functions, because they produce a better contrast than ordinary lamps.

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DIADEM

Question

What does DIADEM mean regarding design and service life?

Answer

The DIADEM is an innovative signal lamp with an interference coating in order to produce yellow light.
Due to the interference coating the DIADEM features an opalescent white surface and produces an amber colour only when lit - without the "fried egg effect" that standard yellow signal lamps produce in modern clear-glass headlights.
 
The DIADEM "clearly" supports the cool and stylish look which car designers desire to produce with modern, transparent headlight modules.
 
The DIADEM is interchangeable with other yellow signal lamps (in front and in the back of the car) and it is approved for use throughout Europe.

Besides, the DIADEM offers twice the lifetime of a standard yellow signal lamp.

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Yellow flash

Question

Why does the OSRAM DIADEM flash yellow even though it looks opalescent white?

Answer

By applying several interference layers to the bulb, the light emitted by the filament is refracted and only the yellow component in the light passes through the coating and is therefore visible.

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Additional costs

Question

Does driving with dipped beam at day mean additional costs?

Answer

Costs do rise slightly: on the one hand, this is caused by higher fuel consumption (approx. 1-2% respectively 0,1-0,2 litres of fuel per 100 km). On the other hand, this is a result of higher lamp use and, therefore, a higher rhythm of lamp replacements.

But there is something to bear in mind: This increase in consumption can easily be compensated for by stepping on the accelerator with some more restraint from time to time.

And what about the more frequent lamp replacements?
For daytime running light, OSRAM offers a special range of lamps, ULTRA LIFE, which guarantees - with an increased lamp life - the usual replacement intervals. And, as the first manufacturer, OSRAM even offers a three year guarantee on its ULTRA LIFE headlamps.

And the higher price of an ULTRA LIFE?
Even a minor accident costs easily more than 50 or 100 car lamps. To sum up: ULTRA LIFE lamps are an investment which will always pay.

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Legal requirements in Europe

Question

How do other EU countries deal with the issue of daytime running lights?

Answer

The European Commission generally supports a uniform solution regarding daytime running lights and has decided that all new cars must be fitted with DRL's as of 2011. Until then there are different rules in the countries.
The following overview offers information on the current status (June 2009, source: ADAC - no responsibility is taken for the correctness and completeness of this information):

All-season compulsory daytime running lights in:
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary*, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania*, Russia*, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden
* on motorways and outside towns

Winter half year compulsory daytime running lights in:
Bulgaria (1. November until 31. March), Croatia (last sunday in October until last sunday in March)

Limited duty of daytime running lights in:
Portugal - only on the IP5 from Vilar Formoso to Aveiro

Recommendation of daytime running lights in:
France, Germany and Switzerland

Prohibition of daytime running lights only in:
Greece (except vehicles with automatic DRL's)

In addition - in some countries like Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain - you have to carry replacement lamps with you. This is also recommended in Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia. Also in that case, spare lamp kits with lamps for fundamental lighting functions are very convenient.

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Lights on at day

Question

Why should I drive with dipped beam at day, too?

Answer

If you drive with your lights on at day, you will increase your own safety and you will lower your risk of accidents considerably. 50% of all people involved in car accidents (even 80% of those who had an accident at a crossroad) state that they did not see the other vehicle at all or that they did not see it in time. Those who use daytime running light are definitely seen better. According to an EU-study, more than one million insurance accidents a year could be avoided across Europe by driving with daytime running lights. That would mean 155,000 fewer people injured and 5,500 fewer road deaths.

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Luminous intensity

Question

Is the luminous intensity of ULTRA LIFE lamps as strong as that of standard lamps?

Answer

To tell you straight out: a longer lamp life will always be at the expense of the luminous intensity (for physical reasons). This fact applies to the ULTRA LIFE lamp range, too, of course. The required light values and the safety criteria are still always strictly adhered to!

There is a simple rule:
If you do a lot of daytime-driving, you will drive with your lights on during the day and use the ULTRA LIFE. If you do a lot of night-time driving, however, the perfect lamps for you to use are the high-performance lamps OSRAM SILVERSTAR +50% and NIGHT BREAKER PLUS +90%.

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Parking lights

Question

Isn't it enough, if I want to be seen better during the day, to drive with the parking lights switched on instead of the dipped beam?

Answer

A very clear no!
Here we are dealing with an important security aspect for all motorists, whose aim it is to be seen as quickly as possible at day by all other road users. The function of the parking light is to make a parked car visible at night to other motorists. Daytime running light, however, is defined in a much more demanding and powerful way in order to guarantee visibility in every situation. The light emitted by parking lights is by far not strong enough to imitate this function; only dipped beam is suitable for this function.

By the way: driving with fog lamps switched on at day and without real impediment of visibility is forbidden in nearly every country of the EU!

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Safety risk

Question

Is there a higher safety-risk for motorcyclists because of more daytime running light?

Answer

Daytime running light has been limited to motorcyclists up to now to give them better protection through better visibility. This is why some voices have been raised who were worried that the introduction of daytime running light would lead to a deterioration of the present situation.
Such thinking assumes that the use of daytime running light by motorcars and trucks diminishes the perception of motorized two-wheeled vehicles and that an early visibility of these vehicles would therefore suffer. Extensive research, carried out in Lower Saxony e.g., has shown that a broad use of daytime running light offers additional safety to all road users. It is a proven fact that a vehicle with light is always caught more quickly by the human eye than a vehicle without light. This means that motorcyclists are now able to see other road users earlier, too, and this is an advantage which can help to avoid many motorcycle-accidents.

What is decisive is: everyone is seen better, no one is seen worse than before. And what is more: it is especially the weak road users (such as pedestrians and users of two-wheeled vehicles) who are able to see dangers (cars) more quickly.

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Abbreviations on the bulb

Question

What do the informations on the bulb mean?

Answer

OSRAM automotive lamps have the following information on them:

• OSRAM or OS indicates the manufacturer, in this case OSRAM.
• 12 or 12V, 24 or 24V indicates the rated voltage according to ECE Regulation 37.
• H1, H4, P21W etc. are the standard international categories for ECE standardized bulbs, e.g. 55W stands for a rated wattage of 55W.
• E1 indicates the country in which the bulb has been tested and approved ("1" for Germany).
• If DOT appears on a bulb it means that it's approved for the US market (necessary only for main headlight bulbs - low and high beam).
• The uppercase "U" indicates a UV-reduced bulb in accordance with ECE requirements (e.g. for use in plastic headlights). All OSRAM halogen automotive bulbs meet these requirements.
• The approval mark issued by the relevant authority (the Federal Road Traffic Office in Flensburg in the case of E1) is also displayed and is either 37R (E1) a 5-digit number or just (E1) a 3-digit number (which may comprise alphanumeric characters).
  Almost all bulbs carry the manufacturer's own code so that the manufacturer can trace the production batches

Because of the size of some light sources it may not always be possible to show all the information. By law, approved bulbs must show the manufacturer, rated voltage, wattage, test marks (e.g. E1) and approval marks.

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Auxiliary lamps

Question

Do auxiliary lamps for the automotive sector have to be standardized?

Answer

In general, replaceable bulbs on the outside of the vehicle must be approved. In addition to the headlights, these include the signal lights such as indicators, brake lights, taillights, fog lights, parking lights, reversing lights and registration plate lights. They are standardized in ECE Regulations 37 and 99 (Economic Commission for Europe). One of the benefits of standardization is that the bulbs can be replaced by the same bulbs from other manufacturers.
Another benefit is that they cannot be confused with other lamps, which means that traffic safety is not impaired.
 
Light sources inside the vehicle do not need to be standardized but in most cases they comply with standard lamp and base specifications.

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B3 and Tc Life span

Question

What do B3 and Tc mean in connection with the service life of bulbs?

Answer

If we consider the service lives of products that are designed to last a certain time, we can see that they all have the same or similar failure characteristics.
If we plot the service lives of the individual bulbs on special logarithmic graph paper, the graph produced is called a "Weibull distribution curve".
 
In a stable production process we obtain a straight line for the service life on which we can read off various life values. For its products in the automotive sector OSRAM specifies a B3 value, which indicates the time at which 3% of the tested bulbs have failed. OSRAM also specifies the Tc value (characteristic Weibull value), which indicates the time at which 63.2% of the bulbs have failed.
 
In former times only the average value was specified (the average life), which in this system would correspond to a B50 value (i.e. the time at which 50% of the bulbs have failed). By specifying both the B3 value and the Tc value it is possible to get an idea of the spread of the product's service life and hence the quality of the product.
 
In America B10 is also given. This value can be calculated from the B3 and Tc values.

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Disposal

Question

How do you dispose of defective car bulbs during production?
Do you dispose of halogen and discharge lamps (as they are hazardous waste) separately?

Answer

Depending on the stage of production we separate genuine glass from metal for recycling. If possible complete bulbs are recycled as a mixture of metal and glass and are processed afterwards, otherwise they are disposed of as industrial waste. Only mercurial discharge lamps have to be disposed of as a supervised waste when they come up as defective goods after the Hg-Refilling (EWC Code 060404- mercurial waste).

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Fault mechanisms

Question

Which fault mechanisms affect the life of miniature incandescent (halogen) bulbs in automotive applications (lamps with small filament diameters)?

Answer

• Vibration and shock
• The ambient temperature in the headlight or luminaire
• The power supply
• Corrosion in socket leading to poor contact between the socket connectors and the bulb
• Other factors, including inadequate quality or poor handling during the production process by the lamp manufacturer, the setmaker or the car manufacturer.

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Lamp life

Question

Is there an incandescent (halogen) bulb that will last forever?

Answer

No.
The laws of physics dictate that there is no such thing as an incandescent (halogen) bulb that can last forever. When current flows through a filament some of the filament inevitably vaporizes. After a while this results in the filament burning out.
 
It is possible to design an incandescent bulb so that it lasts a long time. However, there is always a compromise involved because the luminous efficacy is reduced (i.e. the amount of light that can be generated from a particular input power). The filament can be operated at a lower temperature, or a thicker filament can be used, so that it takes longer for the filament to vaporize and burn out.
 
An important consideration is safety. Bulbs with an extremely long life would not meet current requirements for headlights. Because they would not generate sufficient light output to make a satisfactory beam pattern.

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MSCP

Question

What is MSCP?

Answer

Different information is provided for American automotive bulbs than for European lamps. In the American market, for example, they specify the current that the lamp draws, in amps, rather than the lamp wattage. Likewise, the luminous flux of the lamp is not given in lumen but in MSCP, which stands for "mean spherical candle power".
 
For converting from MSCP to luminous flux, the rule of thumb is average luminous intensity in MSCP * 4 *  = luminous flux in lumen.

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More light on the road

Question

How can I legally get more light on the road?

Answer

The simplest and most cost-effective way is to replace standard halogen headlight bulbs by the corresponding SILVERSTAR or even better the NIGHT BREAKER PLUS version. OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER PLUS headlamps provide up to 90% more light on the road and an up to 35m longer beam (compared to standard bulbs). 

Another way is to replace the complete headlight with a new headlight system designed for OSRAM XENARC HID (gas discharge lamps). This option offers maximum light for every driver. Ask your dealer whether your car can be fitted with these headlights.

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Nominal voltage and statutory test voltage

Question

What is the difference between nominal voltage and the statutory test voltage?

Answer

The nominal voltage, also known as the rated voltage, is the value that has to be stamped on the lamp in accordance with the provisions of ECE R37; in this case 12V or 24V.
 
The test voltage, which is also defined in ECE R37, is the voltage for which the lamp is designed and at which all the values prescribed by the relevant standards have to be met.
 
For example, the test voltage is 13.2V for headlight lamps, 13.5V for auxiliary lamps and 28.0V for lamps in 24 Volt systems.

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Recycling

Question

Do OSRAM automotive lamps have to be recycled?

Answer

Conventional automotive lamps such as those for indicators, brake lights, tail lights and interior lights, do not contain any substances that will harm the environment, so no special waste disposal measures need to be taken. The same applies to halogen headlight bulbs.
 
HID (gas discharge lamps) and miniature fluorescent lamps (e.g. in busses, dashboard lighting) contain mercury (about one thousandth of a gram per lamp), so they have to be taken for recycling.
 
In the case of "electronic light" the electronic components such as control gears have to be disposed off as electronic waste.
 
In Germany, OSRAM takes part in the Dual System. The packaging for OSRAM products is therefore labelled with the "Grüner Punkt" (Green Dot) symbol. These products are disposed of in Dual System containers.

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UV Filter

Question

Why do headlight bulbs have to have reduced UV emission?

Answer

More and more headlights are now being manufactured with plastic components to save on weight and cost.
Especially, almost all the clear headlight covers on new cars these days are made of plastic.
The effect of UV radiation from light sources or from the sun on transparent plastics is well documented; over a lengthy period of time the plastic turns yellow and brittle, and this process is speeded up by high material temperatures.
OSRAM UV-Filter bulbs comply with the statutory regulations of ECE Standard R37 (except off-road lamps) with regard to UV thresholds and can therefore be used without restriction in plastic headlights.
This property is indicated on the packaging by the "UV FILTER" symbol. On the bulb itself you will see the letter "U".
 
All OSRAM halogen headlight bulbs are UV-Filter lamps.

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NIGHT BREAKER PLUS Advantages

Question

What does it mean: Up to 90% more light, up to 10% whiter light and PLUS extra lifetime?

Answer

With the NIGHT BREAKER PLUS range OSRAM offers the probably brightest approved halogen headlight lamp the world has ever seen: Compared to standard lamps, they shine up to 90% more light on the road. I.e. particularly in the "safety-zone" between 50m - 75m ahead of the vehicle, the luminance is nearly twice as high in comparison to standard lamps. These benefits are achieved with a new developed high-performance filament and the two blue coating rings for a whiter, glare-reduced light.

Nearly 50% of all fatal traffic accidents happen at night. Inadequate lighting is one of the most common causes of nighttime accidents, often also involving pedestrians and cyclists who are not recognized in time. Many of these accidents could be avoided. NIGHT BREAKER PLUS headlamps - with their better road illumination and the up to 35m longer beam - offer a much better view ahead, improved reaction times and maximum safety for all weather conditions.

Other benefits are the relieved eye strain with the 10% whiter light for comfortable, stress-free driving at night, and the striking design with the partial blue coating and the silver caps (H4, H7, H11).

In addition, NIGHT BREAKER PLUS have up to 50% more lifetime compared to the first generation of NIGHT BREAKER headlamps. This was achieved by a new filament design and an optimized share of prime gas filling. And on top, the high quality, gold plated contacts (H4, H7) provide superior conductivity.

Of course, NIGHT BREAKER PLUS lamps are fully ECE approved (E1) without restrictions for use on roads throughout Europe.

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NIGHT BREAKER PLUS Service life

Question

There is a pictogram on the packaging: "Standard lamp = full clock" and "NIGHT BREAKER PLUS = 35-40 minutes". What does it mean?

Answer

These symbols stand for the service life of the lamps. However, that does not mean that NIGHT BREAKER PLUS lamps have only a bit more than half the service life of a standard lamp. Just like the service life of a battery depends on the electrical appliance to be operated, the service life of headlamps depends e.g. on the quality of the power supply in the different cars. Therefore, no absolute values can be specified for the life span of these products. The clock symbols however, point to a shortened service life compared to standard lamps.

The "standard" life span is a compromise the car manufacturer has to make for the basic equipment of a vehicle in order to meet different customer needs:

• Thus, there are customers who are mainly driving in the daytime, with their lights switched on. These drivers prefer a long lamp life to a high light output. Especially for this application, OSRAM offers the ULTRA LIFE lamp family with up to three times the service life of standard lamps (and OSRAM is the first manufacturer who even offers a three year guarantee for ULTRA LIFE headlamps).
• On the other hand, there are customers for whom the optimum road illumination at night is most important. The clear majority of drivers look for lamps that increase safety. Light intensity is mentioned as the most significant purchasing criterion by 41% of the people surveyed (GfK 2002 - German market survey). For these drivers who accept a shorter service life in favour of their safety, OSRAM offers the NIGHT BREAKER PLUS headlamps with up to 90% more light on the road (compared to standard lamps).
• In addition, NIGHT BREAKER PLUS have up to 50% more lifetime compared to the first generation of NIGHT BREAKER headlamps. This was achieved by a new filament design and an optimized share of prime gas filling. And on top, the high quality, gold plated contacts (H4, H7) provide superior conductivity.

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NIGHT BREAKER PLUS, SILVERSTAR or COOL BLUE

Question

Which is better, NIGHT BREAKER PLUS or SILVERSTAR or COOL BLUE?

Answer

This all depends on personal requirements and preferences. Safety-conscious drivers who are looking for maximum performance and as much light as possible on the road ahead tend to choose OSRAM SILVERSTAR lamps with up to 50% more light than a standard lamp - or even better the NIGHT BREAKER PLUS range of headlight lamps.
NIGHT BREAKER PLUS are the best possible choice at present for halogen headlights, because they offer the highest light output with up to 90% more light on the road an an up to 35m longer beam.
 
Drivers who prefer good performance, high visibility and something a little different tend to choose lamps from the OSRAM COOL BLUE range.
The idea is that you are safer in a car that is noticed.

Of course, all these product ranges are fully ECE approved without restrictions for use on roads throughout Europe.

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SILVERSTAR

Question

Which are the outstanding features of SILVERSTAR headlight lamps?

Answer

OSRAM has consequently improved the successful technology of the SUPER lamps. Thanks to their specially developed filament SILVERSTAR headlight lamps illuminate the road with an up to 50% brighter light in the crucial zone 50m - 75m in front of the car than a corresponding standard lamp. The up to 20m longer beam offers even more safety; although in the mean time the illumination with OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER PLUS lamps is even brighter (up to 90% more light on the road).

More and more car manufacturers are upgrading their cars with complex shape headlights featuring clear unstructured lenses. Car owners can improve the looks of their cars by equipping these headlights with silver-capped SILVERSTAR (completed by OSRAM DIADEM indicator lamps) that are colour-matched to the reflector, instead of the usual black-capped lamps.  

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100W lamps

Question

Does the OSRAM range include "high-wattage" headlight lamps such as the H4 100 W?

Answer

Although OSRAM supplies all its standard halogen headlight lamps in high-wattage versions, they are not approved for use on public roads. They may be used only in off-road vehicles such as rally cars. Using them on public roads many cause the authorities to withdraw the licence for the vehicle and therefore its insurance coverage.

Drivers who want a little more light in their headlights should look for the OSRAM SILVERSTAR or even better NIGHT BREAKER PLUS headlamps. These lamps still comply with legal requirements, but offer up to 90% higher luminance on the road and an up to 35m longer beam (compared to standard lamps).

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Light and service life

Question

How was it technically possible to combine 100% more light with a 100% extended service life, all in one lamp?

Answer

OSRAM single-coil technology is the secret of the TRUCKSTAR range. Up to now, physical limitations have meant that 24 Volt lamps were always equipped with a double coil. Double-coil lamps have major disadvantages when it comes to homogenous light density and even heat distribution throughout the coil. This leads to significant reductions in light distribution and service life.
 
After intensive research and development, OSRAM is proud to become the first manufacturer in the world to offer single-coil technology for both 12V (car segment) and 24V lamps. This breakthrough has effectively done away with the disadvantages of conventional lamps in terms of service life and light distribution. It represents a quantum leap in light technology and operating life. The result is a significant increase in safety and improved efficiency by TRUCKSTAR for the trucking industry and its drivers.

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Universal use

Question

Can the OSRAM TRUCKSTAR lamps be used universally, and are they ECE approved?

Answer

Yes, of course all products of the TRUCKSTAR range fully meet ECE R37 requirements, and have been approved for all uses. So you can replace your 24V standard lamps now with the appropriate TRUCKSTAR bulb of the same category, and immediately enjoy the improved light and extended service life.

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Hazards

Question

Which hazardous materials do these lamps contain?

Answer

HID (Xenon-lamps) contain less than one milligram of mercury and traces of thallium. Due to the very low quantities involved there is no risk to health or to environment even if several lamps break. Because of the high fill pressure, for the disposal the instructions for handling on the enclosed leaflet are to be followed.

With the XENARC D3 HID headlight system OSRAM is the world's first supplier of an entirely mercury-free HID system comprised of lamp and control gear.

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Retrofit

Question

My dealer said a retrofit with Xenon HID is not possible for my car, although there are a lot of cars with xenon lamps on the road which didn't have HID from the start. Is it possible that I replace the existing headlights by a xenon version myself?

Answer

It is not possible to replace a halogen headlight with a Xenon HID-system by yourself.

HID like OSRAM XENARC are approved for use in special xenon headlights only. In Europe, such headlights must be fitted with automatic levelling and cleaning systems.

To enable drivers to upgrade to xenon light, some car manufacturers offer headlight conversion kits which are installed by their garages. Current road traffic regulations demand that these kits be approved by the appropriate local authorities.
 
Some car manufacturers have not yet decided, whether they should offer this. The reason is, that this is a very complex and expensive integration that must be adapted to the total electrical system of the car. Further, you may have to change many parameters of the car electronic system. Finally, a large number of tests are necessary - to avoid abuse of the xenon light there are many regulations.

But on the other hand, nobody would like the airbag to open when he turns on the lights.

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XENARC advantages

Question

What is the advantage of a XENARC lighting system compared to halogen headlights?

Answer

OSRAM XENARC lamps generate twice as much light as modern halogen H7 lamps and require less energy to do so. The light efficiency is 300% higher than conventional halogen lights, and as 50% of all accidents occur in conditions of poor visibility this noticeable improvement in roadway illumination reduces traffic risks. Potential hazards can be recognized earlier, the driver is able to respond more rapidly to unexpected situations.

Since XENARC lamps operate in the range of 4100° K (XENARC COOL BLUE INTENSE even up to 5ooo° K), in comparison to 3200° K (halogen light), the colour temperature of the light is much closer to that of natural daylight; it is whiter and perceived as being brighter, contrast is intensified. Xenon light can help drivers see hazards on both sides of the road and the good visibility helps maintain the driver's concentration, which contributes to greater safety.

The failure risk with XENARC is extremely low. These lamps are engineered for the lifetime of the vehicle.

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XENARC technology

Question

What is the difference between OSRAM XENARC and halogen lamps? 

Answer

OSRAM XENARC lamps are gas discharge lamps. In contrast to halogen lights, they have no wire filament. Light is created by means of an arc, in the form of a controlled plasma discharge between two electrodes: the gas discharge tube is filled with xenon gas, metal halide salts and other substances. The discharge arc is initiated by a pulse of high voltage. The arc of ionized xenon gas heats the tube to such a high temperature that the metal salts vaporize. This metal vapor enables the light to quickly achieve its full potential both in lumens and colour temperature.

The arc tube is surrounded by an outer glass jacket that filters out the ultraviolet part of the light spectrum. The system also consists of an electronic igniter and an electronic ballast unit. These electronic devices have been specifically designed to meet the environmental conditions within a vehicle. Also in contrast to halogen lamps XENARC lamps are always coupled to the control gear that starts and regulates the normal operation of the discharge arc.

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