Projector Headlights

By Author: Eric Ferguson
Total Articles: 7
Comment this article

Projector Headlights

Headlights have certainly come a long way since the early days, when they were little more than a pair of kerosene lamps hung from the front of a wagon. Projector headlights represent the latest in automotive lighting technology, and provide greater visibility - meaning greater safety on dark roads - than ever before.

A Short History of Automobile Headlamps

Automobile headlights have been around since the first motorized buggies started to appear on city streets back in the 1880s, but modern electric headlights - from which projector headlights are descended - were not standard equipment until 1908, when the Cadillac company began including them on every new vehicle. Cadillac continued to lead the way in automotive technology by introducing dipping headlights - the first low beam - in 1917.

A true high-beam/lowbeam bulb was invented by the Guide Lamp Company in 1925. In 1927, a foot-operated dimmer was developed, and continued to be in use in most U.S. vehicles for over 60 years (the 1991 Ford F-Series trucks were the last vehicles to utilize foot-operated dimmers). Meanwhile, ...
... Cadillac was back in front with their foglamps in 1939, and the Autronic Eye automatic dimmer in 1954.

U.S. automakers stopped creating stylized headlights in 1940, when the U.S. government issued safety regulations requiring every vehicle to have two (2) 7 round sealed beam headlights. This forced standardization inhibited the creativity of car designers for over forty years.

Meanwhile, European designers were forging ahead with new and novel automotive lighting designs and systems. The first HID lights came out in Europe in the early 1960s, but these would not cross the Atlantic until the 1990s.

Today of course, HID lights are practically standard for all newly manufactured automobiles.

Projector Headlights Come of Age

Projector headlights use a reflector and a condenser lens in order to direct some light in an upward direction so as to aid viewing of reflective road signs at night on dark roads and highways. The principle is not new; Hella, a German company well known for its automotive lighting products and accessories, first introduced the concept in an acetylene lamp nearly one hundred years ago. With the electrification of automotive lighting however, the technology didn't surface again until the 1970s, and wasn't used for projector headlights until the 1980s.

Superior Style, Better Visibility

Projector headlights are not just a stylish modification for your vehicle; they're a big safety improvement for nighttime driving as well. Projector headlights produce a substantially stronger beam than conventional parabolic headlights. Whereas most standard lights lose some luminosity due to what is known as scattering, projector headlights make for a much more focused beam; the design is reminiscent of a slide or digital projector.

With quality projector headlights, you'll be able to drive on those darkened roads at night with greater confidence and in greater safety, knowing that you'll be able to see clearly any and all obstacles and dangers well in advance, with plenty of time to react and avoid mishap.

Eric Ferguson
ericferguson@andysautosport.com
408-263-9207 x106
Andy's Auto Sport
Body Kits Store
Headlights Warehouse