Projector headlights

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Tue 13 Mar 2007 21:48
Projector headlights - a900ss
Projector headlights (not Xenon's) - What are the benefits/disadvantages?

Would you notice a difference on the road at night between projector and regular?

Thanks
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Tue 13 Mar 2007 23:47
Projector headlights - cardriver
I have noticed a slightly brighter & whiter light than when compared to 'normal' headlamps.
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Wed 14 Mar 2007 00:14
Projector headlights - 659FBE
Horrible chromatic abberation around the light cut off caused by the use of a non compound lens. This is why most astronomical telescopes are reflectors.

Stylistic gimmick.

659.
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Wed 14 Mar 2007 08:04
Projector headlights - Andy P
I had a chuckle when I read that..

First, the reason most astronomical telescopes are reflectors has nothing to do with chromatic abberation - it's because:

1. It's easier to make large mirrors than large lenses
2. A reflector is much shorter due to it's folded design
3. It's lighter

Some of the best "home" telescopes you can buy are refractors - Takahashi for example. Reflectors can suffer from chromatic abberation as well and also have the obstruction of the secondary mirror to cope with.

As for headlights, the projector type are more effective at focussing the light where it's needed that traditional reflector type and have less scatter.
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Wed 14 Mar 2007 09:14
Projector headlights - NowWheels
I may be wrong, but my Almera appears to have those projector-style lights (it's postdates the 2003 facelift). Apart from the harsh ride, the lights are one of the car's few real disappointments: punier than anything I have experienced since I first had a car with halogen lights.

They were replaced last year by the dealer, who recalled the car for that purpose, and I had two explanations for the reason: one person told me it was to stop a leak problem, and another said it as to replace them with more effective lights. Either way, neither old nor new lights appeared to have a leak problem, and if the new ones are more powerful, the gain is only marginal.
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Wed 14 Mar 2007 10:16
Projector headlights - Mad Maxy
Projector headlights: look nice.
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