Know your lights: CCFL, LED & Plasma Halo Headlights

Car dealers, mechanics, garage owners and those who deal with automotive lighting accessories are bombarded with questions regarding the types of halo headlight available, and the differences in them. This article answers some of those questions in a simple way and can help you to make the right decision regarding the one that is perfect for your vehicle.

Each of these lights discussed below are available in a wide range of colors. Choose the technology that best suits your budget and model of your car so that you do not need to replace them within a year.

CCFL Headlights Halo

CCFL stands for Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lights. The cheapest option and the largest variety available, probably because these have been available in the market the longest.

The main advantage of CCFLs are there uniform glow of light. The CCFL Halo Headlights are made up of rings that contains a small fluorescent tube. These emit a smooth glow of light that is favored by most of the car owners. They are made to last for 50,000 hours of continuous use.

The main disadvantage of the CCFL is, however, its lack of brightness, as seen in Plasma or LED Headlights Halos. They just fit to be used in darkness or night use.

LED Headlight Halos

LED or Light Emitting Diode Headlight Halos are rings that are fitted with multiple LED bulbs. The main advantages of this type of light are:

1. Their durability- they can last as many as 60,000 hours of continuous use.

2. Their brightness- unlike CCFL, the LED headlight halos emit light that is so bright that it is equally effective during day as well as night.

3. Their color-shift option- LED headlight halos can be created with multiple color bulbs within one ring. This Color-shift Led Lighting allows the driver to switch from one color to another whenever he wants to. With dual or triple color shift LED lighting, you can stick to a color that is legal, as per rad regulations and then shift to the other two colors of your choice to highlight the look of your vehicle.

4. Their customized control- LED headlight halos are the only type that allows the use of wireless control or remote control of lights. They can also be customized to be controlled by sound.This unique color-shift feature in LED lighting makes it a hot favorite in automotive lighting industry.

The only noted disadvantage of LED headlight halos are that the individual LED lights are visible within the rings. They lack the fluidness or uniformity of CCFL or Plasma lights.

PLASMA HEADLIGHT HALOS

The latest innovation in the car lighting accessory market is the Plasma Lights. It is a great combination of both CCFL and LED lights. They offer the fluidity of CCFL with the brightness of LED.

The advantages of Plasma Headlight Halos are their brightness that makes them visible during the day as well as night, and their durability. Plasma lights last up to 100,000 hours of continuous use.

The shortfalls of this car light, is that is does not allow color shift and have yet not been made to suit all types and makes of cars.

Justin is an aftermarket automotive designer and makes use of Led headlight halos and color-shift Led lighting in his projects. As a blogger he also writes about different styling options available to customers.