Car lamps marked h4 for better illumination. Autolight - high-brightness auto lamps, what to install

› comparative tests of car lamps

Selecting and testing H4 lamps

If the headlights of a car are appropriately compared to eyes, then the light of the headlights is comparable to the visual acuity of a car and, accordingly, its driver. The range and detail of the view directly depends on the quality of the vehicle's headlight. evening time days.

Considering modern statistics, it can be said without exaggeration that improper head lighting is extremely dangerous. After all, serious accidents at night are a particularly sad chapter in the history of road traffic. Thus, every fifth accident that occurred as a result of technical defects and resulted in damage to human health is explained by defects in the lighting system. Even more impressive are the statistics on fatal accidents. Here, 50% of accidents that cause death occur in the dark. At the same time, now every third car on the road does not have optimal lighting.

What makes up this optimal lighting?

WHAT WE HAVE

Headlights have two components. The first is the design of the headlight itself (reflector and diffuser), the second is the lamp used. But if the headlights of modern, both imported and domestic cars are designed in accordance with all the basic laws of lighting technology and nothing depends on the choice of the car owner, then everyone can choose a lamp on their own. And, I must say, there are plenty of opportunities for choice.

The automotive lamp industry has been around for almost 100 years. Naturally, over such a considerable period, manufacturing companies have accumulated vast experience in the development and manufacture of this product. Despite the fact that the H4 lamp does not change in its essence - the two filaments have not gone away yet - today this device has whole line various modifications with all sorts of features. Each of these models is aimed at a specific buyer and has different characteristics from the others. The composition of the gas filling the flask, electrode holders, lamp spiral, flask coating, etc. - each of these details has big influence to the final result. However, it’s not just the lamps that are different different models, serious differences are also present in lamps from different manufacturers. After all vital importance They also have innovative solutions and high technologies used in the manufacture of lamps: the process of optimizing the pumping of air from the bulbs, the precise dosage of gases and the installation of all parts with micron accuracy. However, these technologies may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

ESSENCE OF THE TEST

In this test, we decided to find out how different lamps of the same type, but produced by different companies, can differ in their characteristics.

For the study, an H4 type lamp with a power of 60/55 W, designed for operating voltage 12 V. At the same time, we tried to consider all the most common modifications of this type of lamp.

WHAT WE MEASURED

The quality of a lamp is determined by three parameters: axial luminous intensity (that is, luminous intensity measured in the direction of the axis of the light fixture), Colorful temperature and geometry (the accuracy of the location of all lamp elements relative to each other).

In this test, to obtain a comparative assessment of the quality of lamps from different companies, measurements of axial luminous intensity and color temperature were carried out. An article in the next issue of the magazine “Consumer” will presumably be devoted to assessing the geometry of devices. Autodela".

HOW WE MEASURED

To measure illumination, the lamp was placed in a circularly symmetrical reflector (headlight without an output optical lens). The desired parameter was measured at the center of the light spot created by the resulting optical device. The measurements were carried out for two lamp power connection modes: low beam and high beam.

Illumination was measured using a TKA-LUX lux meter. All measurements were carried out at a certain (fixed) distance from the lamp, large enough to consider the light beam to be formed. Based on the results obtained, calculations of the axial light intensity were carried out lighting fixture. The unit of measurement is kilocandel (kCd).

Under the same conditions, the color temperature of the radiation of the lamps under study was measured using a colorimeter “LMT - C2200.” The unit of measurement of color temperature is Kelvin (K).

You will find all the data obtained for each device in the tables accompanying the description of the test results.

As the test results of H4 type lamps produced by OSRAM, GENERAL ELECTRIC, PHILIPS, NARVA, HELLA, IPF, ZENON show, the lighting characteristics of these devices differ quite significantly.

STANDARD LAMPS

All car lamp manufacturers produce standard types headlight lamps.

H4 – double-filament lamp. Depending on which filament emits light, the lamp operates in either high or low beam mode.

All H4 lamps designed for installation in conventional car headlights have a power of 60/55 W. More powerful lamps cannot be used. Firstly, they blind drivers of other cars, and secondly, they overload the car’s wiring and contribute to overheating of the headlight and its accelerated aging. H4 lamps, with a power of, for example, 130/100 W, are designed for off-road driving and are installed in special headlights.

Thanks to modern technologies lamp production, all branded standard lamps have a long service life and are characterized by stable operation throughout the entire period of operation.

However, in the group of standard lamps today we can distinguish a separate category of devices. These are standard lamps with an extended service life. The appearance of such models on the market is not just another move by large manufacturers aimed only at increasing sales. The fact is that in order to reduce the number of accidents by 20%, many countries of the European Community have made it mandatory to turn on low beam headlights in daytime. Therefore, the life of conventional lamps is exhausted faster and, in order not to force drivers to change lamps more often, the largest companies have begun producing special lamps for round-the-clock use that last much longer than conventional lamps.

TEST RESULTS OF STANDARD LAMPS

Of all the lamps that took part in the test, the following models are classified as standard: OSRAM H4 Standard, OSRAM H4 LIGHTday (lamp for round-the-clock use), GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard, PHILIPS H4 Long Life (lamp for round-the-clock use), NARVA H4 Standard.

In mode high beam The best performance was demonstrated by this season's new product - a lamp for round-the-clock use OSRAM H4 LIGHTday. In this indicator, it surpasses not only lamps in its “weight category”, but even some models with increased luminous flux. The GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard lamp also achieves good results in high beam mode.

When switching to low beam, OSRAM H4 LIGHTday remains among the leaders, but this time it is inferior to the other two models. But GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard is ahead of all competitors. As a result, in this mode of operation, which is relevant for urban conditions, best performance were for standard OSRAM and NARVA lamps. They passed the test with the same strength values luminous flux.

I would especially like to highlight the NARVA H4 Standard lamp here - being one of the leaders, it has the most affordable price compared to its competitors. OSRAM H4 Standard also deserves special attention, since it showed the most stable results. This device is a leader in low beam mode, and in high beam it showed, although not the best, but still a decent result.

When measuring light temperature, the OSRAM H4 LIGHTday lamp again showed the highest result in both operating modes. This means that the light from this lamp will be slightly whiter than the rest of the test participants in the standard lamp category. And most yellow light will be available for the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard and PHILIPS H4 Long Life models.

HIGH LUMINUM LAMPS

This family includes lamps that can produce 30%, 50% or even 60% more light than standard fixtures. This result is achieved thanks to the improved internal geometry of the lamp. However, it should be noted that the lamp will not fulfill the declared increase in luminous flux in all situations. How effectively such a device will work largely depends on the design of the headlight itself. Typically, an inscription like “+50%” means that the luminous flux can be increased by up to 50%. With some older headlight designs, efficiency may be slightly less.

In any case, the most important thing is that amplified lamps have the same power as standard samples(60/55 W). Therefore, they do not overheat the headlight itself. You just need to remember that devices of this type require precise adjustment of the headlights, as otherwise they can blind other road users.

The disadvantage of these lamps is their shorter service life compared to even standard models.

This line of car lamps will be especially relevant for motorists with impaired vision and for elderly drivers. According to studies, in order to see the road clearly at 60 years of age, light is required 5 times more than at 30 years of age.

TEST RESULTS OF LAMPS WITH INCREASED LUMINUM FLUX

The following lamps were compared in this category: OSRAM H4 Silverstar (+50%); GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus (+60%); PHILIPS H4 Premium (+30%); PHILIPS H4 Visionplus (+50%); NARVA H4 Range Power; HELLA H4 Light Power (+50%); IPF Super Low Beam.

After switching to low beam, the IPF Super Low Beam has a very powerful luminous flux. However, such a victory cannot be called fair. The fact is that the low beam filament of this lamp has an increased power of 80 W (despite the fact that the power of the high beam filament is the standard 60 W). You should be careful with a lamp that has this feature. Firstly, incorrect adjustment will lead to dazzling of other road users, and secondly, increased power can cause overheating of the wiring and headlights.

In both operating modes, the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus lamp (+60%) also achieves very good results. The stability of this lamp made a very good impression. It is important that its price is not too high compared to many competitors.

The most inexpensive lamp in this category is NARVA H4 Range Power. At the same time, the quality of its work in both modes deserves high praise. As a result, this device demonstrates very good combination price quality.

Of all the lamps in this category, the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus (+60%) has the highest color temperature in both modes. This suggests that its glow is whiter compared to all other lamp samples that have an enhanced luminous flux. NARVA H4 Range Power has the lowest color temperature in low beam.

In conclusion, we note that any lamp in this category has a noticeably greater luminous flux than standard lamps.

ALL-WEATHER LAMPS

Such lamps were not given the name “all-weather” by chance. A special interference coating is applied to their bulb, which gives the light a yellowish tint. This light improves contrast on the illuminated part of the road when driving in bad weather conditions. If ordinary light during rain or fog is intensely reflected from tiny drops of moisture in the air and blinds the driver, then the yellow light of all-weather lamps is reflected much less and does not interfere with the driver. In addition, a car equipped with all-weather lamps is much more visible on the road in bad weather conditions, which also reduces the risk of an accident.

ALL-WEATHER LAMP TEST RESULTS

Of all the test lamps, the following models belong to the all-weather group: PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision; NARVA H4 Azzurro; GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay; IPF H4 Superbeam.

In high beam mode, the best results were demonstrated by the PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision and GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay lamps. At the same time, PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision also has considerable luminous flux when switching to low beam mode. Whereas GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay in this mode has the most modest indicator of all lamps in its category.

The highest luminous flux in low beam for its category is japanese lamp IPF H4 Superbeam. But when switching to high beam, for some reason this device shows more than modest results.

For all-weather lamps, color temperature is an important parameter. These lamps must shine yellow light, which means the color temperature should be relatively low. The yellowest of the entire test is GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay. But the IPF H4 Superbeam light is even whiter than standard lamps.

IMPROVED VISUAL COMFORT LAMPS

These lamps are designed for those drivers who prefer bright light white. The light from headlights with these lamps is similar to the light from headlights with xenon lamps. This light is as close as possible to daylight and is less tiring for the eyes. At the same time, it helps the driver concentrate, which is especially important during long night trips. In addition, the light of such lamps differs from the light of most traffic cars and thereby makes your car more visible.

The blue-white light of lamps of this group is achieved not by applying a bluish coating to the bulb (as happens with the cheapest samples), but by using special technologies, different for different manufacturers. The glow of such lamps is not inferior in brightness to standard models.

The only disadvantage of devices of this type is that their increased color temperature may not be very convenient when driving in bad weather. The point is that it's bright White light in this case, it is reflected from drops of rain or fog and blinds the driver of the car.

But thanks bright light, emitted by lamps for improved visual comfort, are very clearly visible while driving road signs. The fact is that the light of such lamps is reflected better from the surface of the signs than in other cases.

IMPROVED VISUAL COMFORT LAMP TEST RESULTS

Of all the lamps presented in the test, the following lamps fall into this category: PHILIPS H4 Blue Vision; NARVA H4 Range Power Blue; OSRAM H4 Cool Blue; XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite; GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue; IPF Gran Bluez Bulb; IPF White Max Neo Bulb.

The highest luminous flux in high beam mode was demonstrated by the OSRAM H4 Cool Blue lamp. And the XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite lamp showed record low illumination in the same mode. Here, however, it should be noted that this is also one of the cheapest lamps in this category. Probably, such a pricing policy of the manufacturer and such a low value of the luminous flux are interrelated.

The GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue and NARVA H4 Range Power Blue lamps showed good results in this operating mode. They are followed by PHILIPS H4 Blue Vision.

Among lamps with standard power in low beam mode best value showed NARVA H4 Range Power Blue. It is followed with approximately the same result by OSRAM H4 Cool Blue and GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue. The fact that OSRAM showed the best value in high beam also characterizes this lamp very well.

The record low value of luminous flux in low beam again belongs to XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite, which, we recall, is the cheapest lamp in this category.

IPF Gran Bluez Bulb has the highest color temperature. No wonder the manufacturer claims that the color of the light emitted by it is completely similar to the color xenon headlights. Another IPF lamp also has a very high color temperature. The White Max Neo Bulb model from this company will also shine with white light. It is interesting that the manufacturing company announces that such a lamp is suitable for all-weather use, although usually white light, for example, in rainy weather, is inconvenient for the driver.

OSRAM H4 Cool Blue has a slightly lower, but still very high color temperature.

HIGH POWER LAMPS

In addition to H4 headlight lamps with a standard power of 60/55 W, models with increased power are available on store shelves. Moreover, such lamps often have a low price. As a result, some car enthusiasts use such devices to get “more light” at minimal cost.

Even without touching on the issue of the quality of these products, it can be argued that such a practice will not lead to positive results. Firstly, all the lamps increased power designed for off-road use, as they always blind other road users. This is primarily due to the different geometric dimensions of the lamp spirals. Due to the mismatch between the geometry of the lamp and the design of the headlight, the entire optical system does not work correctly. Secondly, the consequence of using such lamps is overheating of the car's electrical wiring and accelerated aging of the headlight.

The vast majority of modern cars are equipped with halogen lamps from the factory. Their characteristics may be different, but the operating principle is the same for them.

These lamps are well suited for safe movement, providing a powerful beam of light for long distance. Of course, in terms of luminous intensity they cannot be compared with xenon competitors, but if installed, the owner may violate administrative legislation.

That's why halogen lamps are the most popular niche among car lighting fixtures.

Poor lighting can lead to many related problems. At night, oncoming traffic may not notice a car with poor lighting. The driver of such a car does not see most of the road obstacles and runs the risk of getting into a traffic accident.

Over time, with solid mileage and long-term use standard lamps headlights lose their properties or completely fail. Therefore, drivers are faced with the pressing question of which lamps to choose for replacement.

Based on economic considerations and compliance with legislation, most often their choice falls on halogen lamps. But what halogen lamps for h7 cars look like and how effective they are is indicated in this

It is h4 lamps that are easiest to maintain, and the h index and its size indicate the base; in this case, it is h4. This type is the most common on the market.

Most often, car owners pay attention to the following manufacturers:

This type of halogen lamps is simple both in its design and in the installation method. It is the same for most cars. But you can see what 12 volt LED bulbs for cars look like and where exactly they are used

On video - halogen lamps for cars h4 increased brightness:

Comparison of h4 5000k and 6000k

The index 5000 or 6000k is indicated in Kelvin and indicates the color temperature of the lamp. The more given value the higher the shade of blue in the light.

The maximum value of 6000k means a distinct blue color in the light. As usual, manufacturers install lamps with a color temperature of 4300k in cars. This value is normally perceived by the eyes of oncoming drivers and allows you to cover a large area.

A higher value can have a detrimental effect on the retina of the driver’s eyes, although when illuminated, lamps of 5000 and even more so 6000k provide more saturated light and, accordingly, illuminate a larger space road surface and roadsides.

All well-known manufacturers (Osram, Philips, Koito) have lamps with an index of 5000k or 6000k in their arsenal. The cost of such lamps is on average 15-20% more expensive.

Carrying out work to replace “consumables”

In order to replace such a lamp you must:

In the engine compartment with reverse side Remove the boot (protection) from the headlight unit. Typically this part is attached to plugs and latches;
Then you should bend the antennae of the failed lamp and pull it out;
After this, insert the new part in the same way and put the protective casing (boot) in its original place.
It is also necessary to follow safety rules when choosing a quality lamp. There are a huge number of counterfeit products on the market. To avoid purchasing counterfeit products, you need to study protection methods. The manufacturers' official website provides comprehensive information about this.

On video - halogen lamps for cars h4 white light:

Typically, lamp manufacturers try to protect their products with branded seals, designs or engravings. If the offered price is significantly lower and there are no protective equipment in front of the consumer, it is an obvious fake that will not work for even ten hours.

Every car owner knows perfectly well how important it is to have a good view of the road at night or in poor visibility conditions. To make driving a car comfortable, safe and confident, headlights must illuminate the road surface well. Therefore, the choice of lamps should be approached very responsibly. Often, many modern cars have headlights installed. Which ones are better, let’s try to find out based on the ratings.

Car specifications and description

Element H7 is a single filament lamp. It is designed for installation in four-headlight headlight optics in cars that have a separate system of reflectors for high and low beam. However, in the vast majority of cases, these lamps are installed only in the low beam. Products of this type are characterized by the presence of a flange. But the distance from the flange to the spiral is constant and fixed. This is done so that the filament point is always present in focus.

Modern industry offers a wide variety of lamps with H7 socket in different modifications. All of them are manufactured using their own technologies, have certain parameters, which characterize light as well as power. Although the standard power for light bulbs of this type is 55 W. Models with higher performance can also be found on sale. But it is recommended to use them only in off-road conditions. In an ordinary car, which is intended for city driving, the use of such bulbs will only lead to failure of the on-board electrics due to overloads.

There are three types of lamps on the automotive market. These are halogen models, xenon and modern LED products. Let's try, based on the data obtained in the tests, to determine best light bulbs H7.

BOSCH Plus 90

In 2009, the company showed the whole world New Product from a line of halogen products with increased light output characteristics. Lamps from this series are truly the brightest from this brand. Light output characteristics are 90% higher than standard lamps.

Due to the innovations used by the manufacturer, the product creates a longer and wider light cone. At the same time, the road is illuminated 50% more efficiently. If you install this lamp in the headlight, the driver will have more time to make a decision. After all, with such optics he will notice the obstacle much earlier.

The light generated by bulbs from this series is white when compared with standard models. The company applied innovative solutions. The flask is filled with xenon, the design of the spiral is optimized, the flask coating is partially blue. The light is close in temperature to daylight. This strains your eyes much less and allows you to move more comfortably.

As a result of tests carried out by experts, the light bulb from this series was able to show the best results in terms of brightness - 1500 lm. As for the illumination indicators on the right side of the road, everything here is also much better than that of other representatives. In general, this lamp showed good results, and its characteristics exceeded the requirements several times. In addition, the product is completely safe for all surrounding drivers.

HELLA H7+90%

This manufacturer is a subsidiary of Philips. Trademark intended for selling products in the budget segment under it. Don’t think that just because it’s on a budget means it’s necessarily bad. This is wrong. Hella are very good H7 bulbs. Which ones are better to choose for a Priora? Definitely theirs, especially since the price allows it.

In the test, this lamp performed as an average representative. The luminous flux is 1400 lm. Roadside illumination indicators right side are among the best and even higher than those of analogues from Bosch.

This halogen bulb turned out to be one of those that has a good price-quality ratio. It is offered at affordable price(a thousand rubles per set), while being able to provide quality lighting road surface and right shoulder. The product is not safe for oncoming drivers. These are reliable and affordable H7 light bulbs. Which ones are better to choose? Motorists say that Hella is a very good option.

Osram Night Breaker Unlimited

The manufacturer claims that these halogen lamps can form a light beam with a range of up to 40 meters or more when compared with standard products. In this case, the color temperature will be higher than on the same standard options. The driver will be able to detect an obstacle in advance and respond to it in time. The manufacturer uses a special patented coating in this series. It reduces glare from reflected light.

In tests, this lamp performed well. Its luminous flux is one of the highest and amounts to 1500 lm. Indicators for the level of illumination of the right side of the road are also excellent. Many people use these H7 bulbs. Which is better - Osram or Hella? Experts assure that models from the first series are also a good choice.

Osram SilverStar 2nd generation

The manufacturer indicates that this bulb can generate 60% more light compared to standard ones. As for the luminous flux, it is longer by as much as 20 meters. At the same time, the manufacturer indicates a service life that has doubled when compared with previous models.

It is stated that the use of these lamps will make driving safer. These lamps are an ideal product for headlights with colorless lenses. But in real tests this model showed very mixed results. With one of the strongest luminous fluxes of 1490 lm, the illumination level of the right side of the road turned out to be weak. According to experts and figures, this lamp does not significantly exceed the performance of standard halogen products.

H7 xenon bulbs: which ones are better?

As for xenon, the choice is small. There is only one representative who occupies a place in the ranking. This is MTF Light H7. There are other companies, but they often offer frankly low-quality products.

This model meets all requirements better than all others. There is a high color temperature here, the light is as close to natural as possible. This lamp produces a fairly high brightness - 2800 lm. Even with increased brightness they are not capable of such a result. In addition, the service life is pleasing. The manufacturer claims that the product can operate up to 20,000 hours. But this is five times more compared to halogen solutions. And finally, another advantage of this model is the price of 900 rubles per set.

LED H7 bulbs: which ones are better

Nowadays, LED optics is one of the most promising areas in automotive technology. This is due to the high durability and protection of the lamp from vibrations and shocks. Also, diode products are capable of producing a high-quality light beam with high temperature glow and brightness.

ClearLight H7

This model meets all modern requirements for LED optics. The lamp is quite powerful - the brightness ranges from 2800 or 4300 lm, depending on the model and modification. The service life of this product is also amazing - up to 30,000 hours are stated. The model is very economical. Consumption is only 30 W.

DLED H7 9.5W

This is an example of what car lamp there shouldn't be. It, of course, produces light of 4500 K, its price is about 3 thousand rubles. But the power is only 9.5 W. This makes the device economical, but there is no benefit. The brightness of this model is only 990 lm. It is too little. Experts do not recommend purchasing these H7 bulbs. Which ones are better for Priora? Certainly not these.

It’s not enough to buy and install one LED lamp into the connector - the headlight optics must be designed for these lamps. In standard Priora optics, such products will do more harm to the owner than good.

Another rating

The best H7 light bulbs among standard ones are models from the Phillips Vision series. Among the models with increased light flow, we can highlight Phillips Extreme Vision products. The best models in terms of service life are products from the Long Life series and models from Osram - the Ultra Life series. Among xenon products, MTF Light products are considered better.

About choosing lamps

When choosing, the consumer always wants to buy the most best model. It is recommended to take into account the factors that are among the most important. These are brightness, light comfort, lamp durability, price.

Not worth purchasing inexpensive models, especially if the product is of dubious quality. Your safety while driving depends on which lamp is installed in the headlight. Choosing suitable lamp, it is necessary to focus on the reputation of a particular brand. However, sometimes you come across specimens that shine better than models from a well-known manufacturer. As for the service life of the H7 bulb - which ones shine better, those have a shorter service life. And vice versa, if it is a lamp with an extended service life, then its brightness is reduced. The best lamp- this is a standard solution, especially if it is installed on a domestic car.

› Selecting and testing H4 lamps

HOW WE MEASURED
To measure illumination, the lamp was placed in a circularly symmetrical reflector (headlight without an output optical lens). The desired parameter was measured at the center of the light spot created by the resulting optical device. The measurements were carried out for two lamp power connection modes: low beam and high beam.
Illumination was measured using a TKA-LUX lux meter. All measurements were carried out at a certain (fixed) distance from the lamp, large enough to consider the light beam to be formed. Based on the results obtained, calculations were made of the axial luminous intensity of the lighting device. The unit of measurement is kilocandel (kCd).
Under the same conditions, the color temperature of the radiation of the lamps under study was measured using a colorimeter “LMT - C2200.” The unit of measurement of color temperature is Kelvin (K).
You will find all the data obtained for each device in the tables accompanying the description of the test results.
As the test results of H4 type lamps produced by OSRAM, GENERAL ELECTRIC, PHILIPS, NARVA, HELLA, IPF, ZENON show, the lighting characteristics of these devices differ quite significantly.

STANDARD LAMPS
All car lamp manufacturers produce standard types of headlight lamps.
H4 – double-filament lamp. Depending on which filament emits light, the lamp operates in either high or low beam mode.
All H4 lamps designed for installation in conventional car headlights have a power of 60/55 W. More powerful lamps cannot be used. Firstly, they blind drivers of other cars, and secondly, they overload the car’s wiring and contribute to overheating of the headlight and its accelerated aging. H4 lamps, with a power of, for example, 130/100 W, are designed for off-road driving and are installed in special headlights.
Thanks to modern lamp production technologies, all branded standard lamps have a long service life and are characterized by stable operation throughout the entire period of operation.
However, in the group of standard lamps today we can distinguish a separate category of devices. These are standard lamps with an extended service life. The appearance of such models on the market is not just another move by large manufacturers aimed only at increasing sales. The fact is that in order to reduce the number of accidents by 20%, many countries of the European Community have made it mandatory to turn on low beam headlights during the daytime. Therefore, the life of conventional lamps is exhausted faster and, in order not to force drivers to change lamps more often, the largest companies have begun producing special lamps for round-the-clock use that last much longer than conventional lamps.

TEST RESULTS OF STANDARD LAMPS
Of all the lamps that took part in the test, the following models are classified as standard: OSRAM H4 Standard, OSRAM H4 LIGHT@DAY (lamp for round-the-clock use), GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard, PHILIPS H4 Long Life (lamp for round-the-clock use), NARVA H4 Standard.
In high beam mode, the best performance was demonstrated by this season's new product - the lamp for round-the-clock use OSRAM H4 LIGHT@DAY. In this indicator, it surpasses not only lamps in its “weight category”, but even some models with increased luminous flux. The GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard lamp also achieves good results in high beam mode.
When switching to low beam, OSRAM H4 LIGHT@DAY remains among the leaders, but this time it is inferior to the other two models. But GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard is ahead of all competitors. As a result, in this operating mode, which is relevant for urban conditions, the best performance was achieved by standard OSRAM and NARVA lamps. They passed the test with the same luminous flux values.
I would especially like to highlight the NARVA H4 Standard lamp here - being one of the leaders, it has the most affordable price compared to its competitors. The OSRAM H4 Standard model also deserves special attention, as it showed the most stable results. This device is a leader in low beam mode, and in high beam it showed, although not the best, but still a decent result.
When measuring light temperature, the OSRAM H4 LIGHT@DAY lamp again showed the highest result in both operating modes. This means that the light from this lamp will be slightly whiter than the rest of the test participants in the standard lamp category. And the most yellow light will be on the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Standard and PHILIPS H4 Long Life models.

HIGH LUMINUM LAMPS
This family includes lamps that can produce 30%, 50% or even 60% more light than standard fixtures. This result is achieved thanks to the improved internal geometry of the lamp. However, it should be noted that the lamp will not fulfill the declared increase in luminous flux in all situations. How effectively such a device will work largely depends on the design of the headlight itself. Typically, an inscription like “+50%” means that the luminous flux can be increased by up to 50%. With some older headlight designs, efficiency may be slightly less.
In any case, the most important thing is that the amplified lamps have the same power as the standard samples (60/55 W). Therefore, they do not overheat the headlight itself. You just need to remember that devices of this type require precise adjustment of the headlights, as otherwise they can blind other road users.
The disadvantage of these lamps is their shorter service life compared to even standard models.
This line of car lamps will be especially relevant for motorists with impaired vision and for elderly drivers. According to studies, in order to see the road clearly at 60 years of age, light is required 5 times more than at 30 years of age.

TEST RESULTS OF LAMPS WITH INCREASED LUMINUM FLUX
The following lamps were compared in this category: OSRAM H4 Silverstar (+50%); GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus (+60%); PHILIPS H4 Premium (+30%); PHILIPS H4 Visionplus (+50%); NARVA H4 Range Power; HELLA H4 Light Power (+50%); IPF Super Low Beam.
After switching to low beam, the IPF Super Low Beam has a very powerful luminous flux. However, such a victory cannot be called fair. The fact is that the low beam filament of this lamp has an increased power of 80 W (despite the fact that the power of the high beam filament is the standard 60 W). You should be careful with a lamp that has this feature. Firstly, incorrect adjustment will lead to dazzling of other road users, and secondly, increased power can cause overheating of the wiring and headlights.

Among devices with standard power in this part of the test, the distribution of lamps produced by PHILIPS was quite interesting: one of the models – PHILIPS H4 Premium (+30%) – turned out to be the strongest in high beam mode, and the other – PHILIPS H4 VisionPlus (+50%) – is in the lead after switching to low-speed (here, of course, competitors who obviously have greater power are not taken into account). In this case, preference should probably be given to PHILIPS H4 VisionPlus (+50%). Firstly, the low beam mode is used much more often than the high beam mode, and secondly, this lamp, being a leader in the low beam mode, also demonstrates a very good performance when switching to high beam. Its only drawback is the rather high price compared to many competitors. However, apparently, it is justified by the high quality of the product.
In both operating modes, the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus lamp (+60%) also achieves very good results. The stability of this lamp made a very good impression. It is important that its price is not too high compared to many competitors.
The most inexpensive lamp in this category is NARVA H4 Range Power. At the same time, the quality of its work in both modes deserves high praise. As a result, this device demonstrates a very good price/quality ratio.
Of all the lamps in this category, the GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Megalight Plus (+60%) has the highest color temperature in both modes. This suggests that its glow is whiter compared to all other lamp samples that have an enhanced luminous flux. NARVA H4 Range Power has the lowest color temperature in low beam.
In conclusion, we note that any lamp in this category has a noticeably greater luminous flux than standard lamps.

ALL-WEATHER LAMPS
Such lamps were not given the name “all-weather” by chance. A special interference coating is applied to their bulb, which gives the light a yellowish tint. This light improves contrast on the illuminated part of the road when driving in bad weather conditions. If ordinary light during rain or fog is intensely reflected from tiny drops of moisture in the air and blinds the driver, then the yellow light of all-weather lamps is reflected much less and does not interfere with the driver. In addition, a car equipped with all-weather lamps is much more visible on the road in bad weather conditions, which also reduces the risk of an accident.

ALL-WEATHER LAMP TEST RESULTS
Of all the test lamps, the following models belong to the all-weather group: PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision; NARVA H4 Azzurro; GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay; IPF H4 Superbeam.
In high beam mode, the best results were demonstrated by the PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision and GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay lamps. At the same time, PHILIPS H4 Weather Vision also has considerable luminous flux when switching to low beam mode. Whereas GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay in this mode has the most modest indicator of all lamps in its category.
The Japanese IPF H4 Superbeam lamp has the highest luminous flux in its category in low beam. But when switching to high beam, for some reason this device shows more than modest results.
For all-weather lamps, color temperature is an important parameter. These lamps should emit yellow light, which means the color temperature should be relatively low. The yellowest of the entire test is GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 AllDay. But the IPF H4 Superbeam light is even whiter than standard lamps.

IMPROVED VISUAL COMFORT LAMPS
These lamps are designed for those drivers who prefer bright white light. The light from headlights with these bulbs is similar to that of headlights with xenon bulbs. This light is as close as possible to daylight and is less tiring for the eyes. At the same time, it helps the driver concentrate, which is especially important during long night trips. In addition, the light of such lamps differs from the light of most traffic cars and thereby makes your car more visible.
The blue-white light of the lamps of this group is achieved not by applying a bluish coating to the bulb (as happens with the cheapest samples), but by using special technologies that differ for different manufacturers. The glow of such lamps is not inferior in brightness to standard models.
The only disadvantage of devices of this type is that their increased color temperature may not be very convenient when driving in bad weather. The fact is that the bright white light in this case is reflected from drops of rain or fog and blinds the driver of the car.
But thanks to the bright light emitted by the improved visual comfort lamps, road signs are very clearly visible while driving. The fact is that the light of such lamps is reflected better from the surface of the signs than in other cases.

IMPROVED VISUAL COMFORT LAMP TEST RESULTS
Of all the lamps presented in the test, the following lamps fall into this category: PHILIPS H4 Blue Vision; NARVA H4 Range Power Blue; OSRAM H4 Cool Blue; XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite; GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue; IPF Gran Bluez Bulb; IPF White Max Neo Bulb.
The highest luminous flux in high beam mode was demonstrated by the OSRAM H4 Cool Blue lamp. And the XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite lamp showed record low illumination in the same mode. Here, however, it should be noted that this is also one of the cheapest lamps in this category. Probably, such a pricing policy of the manufacturer and such a low value of the luminous flux are interrelated.

The GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue and NARVA H4 Range Power Blue lamps showed good results in this operating mode. They are followed by PHILIPS H4 Blue Vision.
Among lamps with standard power in low beam mode, the best value was shown by NARVA H4 Range Power Blue. It is followed with approximately the same result by OSRAM H4 Cool Blue and GENERAL ELECTRIC H4 Superblue. The fact that OSRAM showed the best value in high beam also characterizes this lamp very well.
The record low value of luminous flux in low beam again belongs to XENOBRITE H4 Superwhite, which, we recall, is the cheapest lamp in this category.

IPF Gran Bluez Bulb has the highest color temperature. No wonder the manufacturer claims that the color of the light emitted by it is completely similar to the color of xenon headlights. Another IPF lamp also has a very high color temperature. The White Max Neo Bulb model from this company will also shine with white light. It is interesting that the manufacturing company announces that such a lamp is suitable for all-weather use, although usually white light, for example, in rainy weather, is inconvenient for the driver.
OSRAM H4 Cool Blue has a slightly lower, but still very high color temperature.

HIGH POWER LAMPS
In addition to H4 headlight lamps with a standard power of 60/55 W, models with increased power are available on store shelves. Moreover, such lamps often have a low price. As a result, some car enthusiasts use such devices to get “more light” at minimal cost.

Even without touching on the issue of the quality of these products, it can be argued that such a practice will not lead to positive results. Firstly, all high power lamps are designed for off-road use, as they always blind other road users. This is primarily due to the different geometric dimensions of the lamp spirals. Due to the mismatch between the geometry of the lamp and the design of the headlight, the entire optical system does not work correctly. Secondly, the consequence of using such lamps is overheating of the car's electrical wiring and accelerated aging of the headlight.
And yet we wondered: do these lamps really give more light, and also whether it is possible to buy a cheap high-power lamp and, as a result, get increased brightness lighting.

HIGH POWER LAMP TEST RESULTS
Two samples of ZENON Power Gold and ZENON Plasma were selected for testing.
In high beam mode, both lamps showed a very low luminous flux value. The result of ZENON Plasma was especially depressing. Moreover, this lamp showed a record low value even when switching to low beam. Thus, in terms of this parameter the device does not withstand any criticism at all.
The luminous flux of the ZENON Power Gold lamp in low beam mode, on the contrary, turned out to be excessively high. Interestingly, this value was not very different from the luminous intensity in the high beam mode of the same lamp. This feature only indicates the low quality of the product. Because too of great importance luminous intensity when the low beam is turned on, such a lamp will be simply dangerous.
In the diagram and table, we deliberately placed these two lamps next to the standard Osram lamp. After such a comparison, it becomes clear that even a standard lamp loses very little, or even outperforms high-power lamps. At the same time, Osram H4 Standard is completely “legal”, that is, it will not dazzle other road users, harm the headlight elements and overload the car’s wiring.
In conclusion, we note once again that all famous companies produce high-power lamps. Such lamps are often really capable of providing much more light. But such devices are designed only for use during “off-road” driving and cannot be used on a regular highway.

And so... we continue.

A couple of days ago, unexpectedly, in the morning the left light bulb burned out.
Having got to work and waiting for dawn, I went to explore a store with auto lighting.
I encountered the same problem. There are a lot of manufacturers of light bulbs on the market and, according to the seller, they are all good. (Well, it’s like asking: “Is your bread fresh?” The answer is clear to everyone.)
After searching the Internet I found a very good article with visual material.

I hope this material will be useful to someone.

Koito VWhite – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Increased light output. Clear cut-off line. Protection against glare from oncoming and passing traffic.

FLAWS

OVERALL RATING

Koito VWhite headlight bulbs in H4 socket showed good test results and deserve the attention of car enthusiasts.

Koito WhiteBeam III– headlight lamp H4, test

ADVANTAGES

Increased light output. Increased brightness in the roadside area. Protection against glare from oncoming and passing traffic.

FLAWS

All inscriptions on the label are in Japanese.

OVERALL RATING

Koito White Beam III headlight bulbs in H4 socket showed good test results and deserve the attention of car enthusiasts.

MTF Light Titanium – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Interference coating of the bulb.

FLAWS

The lamp does not comply with the requirements of UNECE Regulations No. 37-03 and UNECE Regulations No. 112-00. Does not form the correct cut-off line.

OVERALL RATING

We do not recommend using MTF Light Titanium headlight bulbs in an H4 socket in a car: if you install them, passing inspection will be problematic...

MTF Light Argentum - H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Good illumination of the near area of the roadside.

FLAWS

The lamp does not comply with the requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 112-00. Dazzles oncoming drivers.

OVERALL RATING

MTF Light Argentum headlight lamps in H4 socket do not comply with the requirements of the European UNECE regulations. We recommend looking for the best option.

Osram Cool Blue Intense – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

FLAWS

During the test, one of the lamps burned out.

OVERALL RATING

Osram Cool Blue Intense headlight bulbs in H4 socket are a good choice if they do not burn out after the first turn on.

Osram Night Breaker Plus – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Good illumination of the far roadside area.

FLAWS

Blinds oncoming drivers. Does not comply with the requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 112-00.

OVERALL RATING

If it were not for the unfortunate mistake of blinding other road users, then the Osram Night Breaker Plus headlight lamps in the H4 base could be recommended for purchase.

Philips Crystal Vision – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Good lighting of the roadside area.

FLAWS

Low overall luminous flux.

OVERALL RATING

Philips Crystal Vision headlight lamps in H4 base are a good choice, even taking into account the fact that the actual luminous flux values are underestimated.

Philips X-treme Vision – H4 headlight lamp, test

ADVANTAGES

Good lighting of the roadside area.

FLAWS

Dazzles oncoming drivers. Does not comply with the requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 112-00.

OVERALL RATING

Philips X-treme Vision headlight bulbs in the H4 base provide good illumination of the roadside, but we cannot recommend them due to non-compliance with safety requirements.