A reflector headlight consists of a bulb encased in a steel bowl. © PowerBulbs 2021. Reflector … The distance the light source and reflector are from the lens determine the intensity and dissipation or concentration of the light. It’s a reflective half-sphere that throws the light from the light source in a specific direction. If you line things up just right with the sunlight and a dry leaf, the magnifying glass lens will concentrate the sunlight to a fine point and the leaf will begin to burn and smoke. Projector headlights are similar to reflector headlights. Projector headlights don’t have darker spots unlike reflector headlights. You’ll have to make that call yourself. Affiliate Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Mechanism-wise, projector headlights work the same as reflector headlights. Reflector headlights have featured as standard on vehicles since the invention of electric headlights. Did you enjoy this article? Xenon HID bulbs can only be used with projector headlights. Aysgarth Drive, [/QUOTE] I's a 2018 Ford Tourneo Courier, using H7 bulbs. In terms of price, a reflector headlight system typically costs less than projector headlights. You’ll probably recognize this, but here is a shot of the distinct barrier that a cutoff shield produces: This image demonstrates the effect of a cutoff shield inside of a projector headlight. On the other hand, the projector headlights are similar to reflector headlights except they have an additional lens. Mirrors are place within the bowl to reflect light out onto the road. West Yorkshire, They contain a bulb in a steel bowl with mirrors to act as reflectors. There are 2 types of headlight housing your vehicle may have which will heavily determine the characteristics of projection of light. These headlamps were launched in luxury cars back in the 1980s and have now trickled down to cheaper cars. 2. Find all your headlight upgrade products here: https://www.Headlightrevolution.comLove all things automotive lighting? In most ways, projector headlights are similar to reflector headlights. The accord reflector has the glare shield removed and is running a 9006 sylvania zxe bulb. Light output is less controlled and the low beam cutoff for oncoming traffic is less distinct. Please let us know via our Facebook page. John has 20+ years experience in the industry and in that time has become an approved partner of Philips and OSRAM. Projector headlights are brighter than reflector headlights, and they are less likely to blind oncoming traffic. Halogen Projectors. Reflector headlight use an even more simple design. This is how projector headlights work. The ebay projector headlights are worthless more often than not due to poor R&D. Found this link with open hood, and decent look on headlights. 159 Posts . “Best” is highly subjective, so here is how we define “best”. However, a halogen … Until recently, all vehicles contained the same style of headlight housing. They were basically a headlight with a reflector behind it and the light would shine off the reflectors … WF2 8UG    Company Number: 04246392    Vat Number: GB 772 8714 95. With this type, known as a sealed-beam headlight, the casing cannot be removed to replace a burnt-out bulb. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 10 of 10 Posts. The headlight bulb goes inside a steel bowl that contains mirrors, just as reflector … Most people that are asking the question “which is better, projector or reflector headlights?” want to know which design accomplishes the job of a headlight the best. LEDs require projector retrofits, here is why. Visibility This meant it was no longer necessary for the lens and the headlight housing to be sealed, and bulbs could be easily removed or replaced. The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross runs projector headlamps, with LEDs! They're cheaper to make. While all HID’s come in a type of projector housing, not all projector headlight housings use HID bulbs. (With Pictures), 6 Brightest Headlights 2021: LED, HID, & Halogen, 3 Best HID Conversion Kits: The Complete Buyers Guide, 4 Best Headlight Sealants (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide), 5 Best Aftermarket Headlight Assembly Brands, 4 Best Clear Coats For Headlights (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide), 6 Best LED Headlights 2021 (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide). »  4 Best Headlight Sealants (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide), »  5 Best Aftermarket Headlight Assembly Brands, »  4 Best Clear Coats For Headlights (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide), »  LED Headlight Bulbs Review: Expert Comparison, »  HID Headlight Reviews: Expert Comparison. If your vehicle doesn’t come equipped with a projector headlight, the aftermarket likely offers a replacement headlight with a projector in it for $200 or $300. Considering all of this, it's clear that projector headlights are better than reflector headlights. They contain a bulb in a steel bowl with mirrors to act as reflectors. 30 Aug 2019. Projector headlights … The even beam, the ability for it to handle a HID bulb, and it’s appearance, all contribute to making the projector headlight design superior to that of the reflector headlight bulb. Projector vs Reflector Headlights. All Rights Reserved. Manufacturers often use reflector headlights simply because they're less expensive. A … H1H3H4H7H11HB3HB4HIR2H8H15 (715)H9 (709)H13H16HB3 / HB4H6W (433c/434)H8/H11/H16C5WW5W (501)P21W (382)P21/5W (380)PR21/5W (380R)PY21W (581)T4W (233)WY5W (501A)W21WW21/5WP13WW16WPS19WPSX24WH27, H7 (499)9003 (HB2/H4)H11H1 (448)HB3/HB49005 (HB3)9006 (HB4)H8/H11/H16HIR2H16W5WPY21W (581)P21/5W (380)P21W (382)C5WW16WW21/5W (580)W21WWY21W (582)WY5W (501a)T4W (233). They have many advantages: When searching for the best headlights, most drivers want the brightest headlights possible without creating problems for other drivers. Because projector headlights are directed downwards towards the road, they don't shine in other drivers' eyes. The housing still contains a metal bowl with reflective mirrors, although in this case, the metal bowl is much deeper. The base and mid XLTs get halogen headlights. Projector and reflector headlights have their own sets of pros and cons. https://bestheadlightbulbs.com › projector-vs-reflector-headlights Design-wise, they also take up less space and come in a more compact style. IDENTIFY HOUSING TYPE. They're brighter. The pros listing of the projector headlights … There must be some logic behind all of this madness right? There are a few advantages to this style that make them popular even today: Projector headlights are a newer invention in the world of headlight technology. Projector headlights work similarly to traditional reflector headlights, with one key difference. If your car is equipped with reflector headlights, it is … When the high beams are engages, the solenoid drops the cutoff shield out of the way allowing all of the light the pass through, giving you full light output, or in other words, your high beams. A disturbing trend has become to stuff LEDs into halogen reflectors thinking it is a plug and play replacement when it is about the offensive equivalent of putting an HID bulb in there for oncoming drivers. Many new vehicles continue to be made with reflector headlights. This helps to direct the light down towards the road. But yeah, reflector … They're less likely to blind other drivers. GT Ultra 120 9003 (HB2/H4) (Twin) – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! 3. If you’re planning to install the headlights … Attempting to upgrade projector headlights is fine in my book. Projector headlight use a very simple design. Mirrors are here in the same frame or bowl to reflect the light properly onto your road. Thanks to the shield, projector headlights have a very sharp cutoff. Installation The solenoid controls the high and low beams. You can't just slap a convex lens in front of a chromed reflector bowl and say here it is! The difference is that they use an elliptical-shaped reflector … In other words, which design provides the best experience for both the driver and oncoming traffic? The projector is running an osram h11 bulb and has a custom curved shield. The even beam, the ability for it to handle a HID bulb, and it’s appearance, all contribute to making the projector headlight design superior to that of the reflector headlight … Projector headlights are significantly brighter than reflector headlights. Distinct cutoff of low beams, which keeps oncoming traffic from being blinded. It's also worth mentioning that projector headlights allow drivers to use xenon HID bulbs instead of the older halogen bulbs. One of the most significant features of headlights is their capacity to show you what’s there lying ahead... 2. Discussion Starter • #1 • Oct 6, 2017. Reflector: Like classic reflector headlights, projector headlights actually include a component called a reflector. Do you have any further information that we've missed? Even distribution of light with little to no “hot spots” or intense and weak spots. HID Projectors. At it’s most basic form, there are three parts: The reflector portion is similar to what you see in a flashlight. These projector headlights are similar to the reflector headlights as there is the same type of steel-bowled mirrors used as reflectors. Recommended to you based on your activity and what's popular • Feedback They were first used on a large scale in the 1980s in some luxury vehicles. Standard on XLT 302A and Lariat. One should not confuse projector headlights with HID headlights. However, a projector headlight also has a lens that acts as a magnifying glass, increasing the brightness of the light beam. Well there are 3 main types of headlights. Which leads me to the next component of the headlight, which is the solenoid. Today, there are two types of headlights - projector and reflector. Although in the past projector headlights … Now let’s move on to … It’s a matter of opinion. Most like it or prefer it, but there are some that don’t. Projector headlights give off a more even light. Here is a cross section of that design: It’s clear that the projector headlight is superior, for low beams especially. 428. Automotive. An easy way to wrap your head around this is to compare this to a handheld magnifying glass. Projector headlights are newer, but not every new car has projector headlights. Halogen Reflectors were the most common type of headlights. If you’ve ever been 9 years old, you know that when you take a magnifying glass outside on a sunny day you can have some fun. Projector headlights are similar to reflector headlights. In older reflector headlights, the shape of the light beam was determined by the lens in the front of the headlight. John Conboy is the founder of PowerBulbs.com, a UK based automotive lighting specialist, which ships bulbs worldwide. It’s clear that the projector headlight is superior, for low beams especially. They just don’t control light well enough. Aysgarth House, Reflector vs Projector Headlights STEDI FAQs November 10, 2020 23:15; Updated; Follow. Simple design. Wakefield, OSRAM Night Breaker Unlimited 9003 (HB2/H4) (Twin). … If the magnifying glass is held too closely, or too far away, the light spreads and the leaf doesn’t burn. On the top, you can see what appears to be a small rounded bulb inside the projector … With that in mind, we analyzed each headlight design in detail. 5 Best Fog Lights 2021 (Reviews + Ultimate Buying Guide), 4 Best Headlights for Night Driving 2021 (Reviews + Buying Guide), HID vs LED Headlights: Which is Better? Reflector vs projector. The question as to which headlight housing design, projector vs reflector, is superior is a question that comes up a lot. Some kind of justification for using one or the other. Ford calls these the “LED Reflector”, I refer to them as the Quad-beam style lights. The cutoff that you see above is for the low beams. In this article, we'll examine the differences between these two types of headlights and discuss which is better. Even these headlamps carry a bulb in a steel enclosure with mirrors that act as reflectors. They're smaller. Both types of headlight … A reflector headlight just like the projector headlights, come with the bulb in a steel frame. 1: Working of Reflector Headlight. The lens is used to throw the light in a very precise and even manner. Let us explain. Later then some car manufacturers create a projector for replacement of the reflector to improve the headlight appearance and the spotlight ability. Chinese Opt7 7000 lumen LEDs vs … April 8th, 2014, 12:04 AM. Projector headlights are growing in popularity, and for good reasons. Projector. It consists of a light source (headlight bulb) that is situated in the middle of the reflector cup. Larry Ficks. Projector vs reflector headlights, which is best? Halogen Reflectors. The beam often has intense and weak spots in the beam. Up until recently, all Toyota vehicles had reflector headlights, but with the emergence of projector headlights, that’s no longer the case. Some even use both in one headlight. HID bulbs are too bright when used in … In the 1980s, improvements in technology led to reflector headlights that used mirrors inside the headlight housing itself to guide the beams. The headlight manufacturers tune the headlights so that you get an exceptional experience. Ecommerce Solution by StatementSecured by Instant SSL, PowerBulbs, Network Brands Ltd, However, a projector headlight also has a lens that … Projector headlights are deeper, taking up more space within the vehicle. Projector vs reflector headlights has always been a big discussion between car owners but at the end of the day, you still get the same amount of light output from both methods. on Projector vs Reflector Headlights: Which is Best? The lens bends, spreads or concentrates the light. Reflector headlights can have darker spots. Reflector vs. Projector-beam lights. Because of the distinct cutoff, projectors can handle a brighter headlight bulb, namely. I was playing around with some leftover 6thgen accord reflectors and a unidentified halogen projector. Since then, projector headlights have become popular on all types of vehicles. Reflector Vs. Projector Headlights: Exploring their Pros and Cons. Reflector vs Projector Headlights, which is best? Without the cutoff shield, you’d get a more round light output shape, similar to a flashlight. In order to pick a winner, we first needed to define what “best” means. As a general rule, don’t attempt to upgrade reflector headlights. Here is a comparison between the projector and reflector headlights. On car lots today all over the world you’ll find new vehicles equipped with both reflector headlights, and projector headlights. And the winner is… Projector headlights. The light output looks different than that of a reflector headlight. Projector Headlights vs Reflector: Head to Head Comparison 1. Most reflector headlights use a. Projector Vs. Reflector Headlights: Which Is Best? LEDs are better for reflector headlights. It consists of a light source that is situated in the middle of the reflector cup. T ... Projector style headlights focus the beam better, so brighter lights can be used without … One disadvantage of reflector … Less expensive to manufacture. Currently I have the Qtech gen 1 LED reflector headlights… 1. Because the light output is a less controlled, high output light sources are not used with this design. In essence, the conventional reflector headlights use a very simplistic design. We’re going to settle this once and for all. Reflector headlights are the old style found on cars made in the early 2000s or before. To ensure that the light produced by these types of headlights is angled properly, there is also a cutoff shield. Xenon HID bulbs can only be used with projector headlights. HID bulbs are too bright when used in reflector headlights, where the light they emit can blind other drivers. With this lens, the lights come from the projector headlight bulb can be guided through and hit toward the road more focus, hence the lens … The cutoff shield creates a distinct light barrier so that the light coming out of the headlight is concentrated out and down, and keeps the light from exiting out and up, which would blind oncoming traffic. Pros & Cons of Reflector Headlights. The reflector dissipates the light that is available evenly, but not all beams are directed properly and can be reflected too far up or down and be not visible to the driver. 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For oncoming traffic accord reflectors and a unidentified halogen projector - projector and reflector headlights, and they are likely... Less than projector headlights have become popular on all types of headlights - projector and reflector driver and traffic! Controlled and the low beam cutoff for oncoming traffic is less controlled and the leaf doesn ’ t.!