Mustang Club of Maryland

A quick lesson in Automotive Lighting

Frequently Asked Questions
What's all this about 4500K, 7000K, 8500K?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions regarding automotive halogen lighting. The "K" rating, or Kelvin rating simply indicates the color output of the light on the Kelvin color temperature scale. It has nothing to do with the brightness (luminosity) of the bulb. It is simply a measurement of the color output the bulb will produce. Generally, outputs between 5500K-8500K will produce pure white color similar to the output of High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon lighting.

The bulbs are supposed to look white....why is their glass blue?
Xenon Halogen bulbs are optically dyed with a UV filter, which filters out the yellow light that the halogen gas mixture produces. The UV filter has a blue tint, which is why many of the Xenon Halogen upgrade bulbs appear blue or purple.

What should I do if I touch the bulb?
NEVER Touch a halogen bulb glass surface with your skin. The oils from your skin, when on the glass, will cause the bulb to overheat, resulting in shorter life. If you do touch the bulb, remove these oils with alcohol and a soft cloth. Remember that halogen lights are under pressure, and anything under pressure has potential to explode if not handled properly.

Will the higher wattage bulbs melt my wiring, housings, or run down my alternator?
If installed correctly and your wiring is not defective, even the higher wattage upgrade halogen bulbs will not damage your vehicle. The additional 35-40 watts from the higher wattage draws less than 3 amps of power. As a reference, your brake use approximately 70 watts (6 amps) and a cigarette lighter draws nearly 220 watts (18 amps). In a poorly ventilated enclosure, the bulb will typically fail before damage is done to the housing. If this happens, the standard wattage is necessary and will provide a normal operating lifespan. If you have changed your OEM headlight housing to an aftermarket plastic housing we recommend standard wattage bulbs.

How many Amps will my new bulbs draw?
AMPS = (Bulb Wattage Draw x 2) / Battery voltage output (12)

Why did my bulb blow up in my headlight housing?
A voltage surge can result due to the great demand on electrical systems of many new vehicles. You can prevent voltage surges by starting the engine before turning on headlights or auxiliary lamps, and turning off the lamps before turning off the ignition.

Are these lights legal?
Many of the bulbs we sell are marked DOT/SAE approved. These lights are legal for use on all public highways in the USA. Many aftermarket upgrade bulbs are available, but not certified with DOT/SAE approval. This doesn't necessarily mean they do not meet the DOT requirements, it simply means the manufacturer probably hasn't gone through the process of certifying the products with the Department of Transportation. If you are concerned about a particular product, we recommend checking with local DMV or law enforcement.

Safe Driving Tips
• Don't wait for your headlights to dim and burn out before your replace them. Halogen headlights dim over time, so replacing them at regularly scheduled maintenance intervals will ensure the best lighting performance.
• Replace your headlights in pairs to avoid uneven illumination, which can diminish driving visibility.
• Consider replacing standard halogen headlights with high performance Halogen-Xenon upgrade bulbs. Upgrade bulbs produce brighter, whiter light that improves your visibility at night (and looks cool at the same time!).

Halogen Bulb Installation Tips
• When installing halogen bulbs, handle them with extreme care. Remember that they are under pressure and anything under pressure has the potential to explode if handled improperly. NEVER Touch the glass directly with your fingers, as the oils from your skin will cause the bulb to overheat, resulting in shorter life. For best results, gently push it into the socket while holding the base of the bulb. In the event that you do accidently touch the glass, clean it immediately with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

• Turn on your headlights/fog light bulbs AFTER you start your vehicle. The engine ignition can cause minor voltage spikes to your vehicle's electrical system. It's a good idea to get in the habit of turning on the headlights after you've started your vehicle to ensure they are not negatively affected by this.

Installation of products such as the Pivot™ Raizin or Sun Automobile™ Voltage Stabilizer can also help minimize this effect.

Mustang Light Bulb Identification
The 893 Series Bulbs are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. They are found stock in 1994-2004 Mustang GT fog lights and 1994-2001 Cobra fog lights.

The 9004 Series Bulbs, also known as HB1 Series Bulbs, are dual filament bulbs featuring both high and low beam filaments in one halogen gas filled glass tube. These popular bulbs were featured in many cars including factory Mustang Headlights from 1986-1993. They are also found in many Fox Body headlight upgrade kits.

The 9005 Series Bulbs, also known as HB3 Series Bulbs, are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. They are uniquely identified by their 90 degree bent elbow connector. These Mustang bulbs are featured in 1994-2004 Mustang projector upgrade kits.

The 9006 Series Bulbs, also known as HB4 Series Bulbs, are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. They are uniquely identified by their 90 degree bent elbow connector. These bulbs are featured in some 1994-2004 Mustang projector upgrade kits.

The 9007 Series Bulbs, also known as HB5 Series Bulbs, are dual filament bulbs featuring both high and low beam filaments in one halogen gas filled glass tube. These popular bulbs are featured in many cars including factory Mustang Headlights from 1994-2004. They are also found in many 94-04 and Fox Body headlight upgrade kits.

The H1 Series Bulbs are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. They are found in many 1994-2004 Mustang projector headlight upgrade kits.

The H3 Series Bulbs are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. Their unique feature is a cloth insulated wire coming off of the back of the bulb. They are found factory in 1986-1993 Mustang fog lights and are featured in many of our 1986-2004 Mustang projector headlight upgrade kits.

The H10 Series Bulbs, also known as 9145 Series Bulbs, are a single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. They are uniquely identified by their 90 degree bent elbow connector. These bulbs are featured factory on the 2003-2004 Cobra Fog Lights and on the new 2005+ Mustang GT fog lights and 2005+ fog light upgrade kits.

The H11 Series Bulbs are single filament bulb sealed in a halogen gas filled glass tube. These brawny bulbs are the latest development in 90 degree halogen bulb technology. They are featured factory on the new 2005+ Mustang V6 optional fog lights.

The H13 Series Bulbs, also known as 9008 Series Bulbs, are dual filament bulbs featuring both high and low beam filaments in one halogen gas filled glass tube. These brawny bulbs are the latest development in halogen bulb technology. They are featured factory on the new 2005+ Mustang headlights.

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