High beam bulbs (non-HID) vs. Low beam bulbs (non-HID)

[HotKgon]

Are high beam halogen (non-HID) bulbs exactly the same as low beam bulbs except for the style of fitting? ie H3B vs H4B.

Thanks.

[dahondr98]

Are high beam halogen (non-HID) bulbs exactly the same as low beam bulbs except for the style of fitting? ie H3B vs H4B.

Thanks.

I’m not sure what you’re asking. There are lots of halogen bulbs, and some are for low beam, some for high beam, and some for both (eg H4, which has two filaments, one for low and one for high). Some, such as the H1 globe, the first halogen bulb that existed, can be used in low beam or high beam headlights which are designed for that bulb, and may also be used in aftermarket H1 type fog and driving lights. For instance, here it's used in a low beam headlight http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=824 , here in a high beam one http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=819 , and here in an aftermarket driving light http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=688 . Any H1 bulb will fit any of those lights, as the globe holder will be for an H1 bulb. But you usually can't fit a halogen bulb in a headlight designed for another globe - for instance, a headlight for an H4 won't take an H1 bulb - it's a completely different shape and size.

In most cases, you need to use the type of bulb the headlight was designed for. In rare cases, bulbs can be “adapted” to fit in the holders for other types of bulbs – the H9 and H11 bulbs, which are fairly recent bulbs, are like that, with fairly minor physical differences.

[curtis265]

You have an FD meaning that the high beams and low beam bulbs are DIFFERENT - theyre even in different segments of your headlight.

HB3 and HB4 is merely the shape of the connectors and fittings.

You mentioned HID's before. HID's take time to charge, so there would be no point in getting HID's for your high beams :)

[NightKids]

I’m not sure what you’re asking. There are lots of halogen bulbs, and some are for low beam, some for high beam, and some for both (eg H4, which has two filaments, one for low and one for high). Some, such as the H1 globe, the first halogen bulb that existed, can be used in low beam or high beam headlights which are designed for that bulb, and may also be used in aftermarket H1 type fog and driving lights. For instance, here it's used in a low beam headlight http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=824 , here in a high beam one http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=819 , and here in an aftermarket driving light http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=688 . Any H1 bulb will fit any of those lights, as the globe holder will be for an H1 bulb. But you usually can't fit a halogen bulb in a headlight designed for another globe - for instance, a headlight for an H4 won't take an H1 bulb - it's a completely different shape and size.

In most cases, you need to use the type of bulb the headlight was designed for. In rare cases, bulbs can be “adapted” to fit in the holders for other types of bulbs – the H9 and H11 bulbs, which are fairly recent bulbs, are like that, with fairly minor physical differences.

Listen to this guy, his the headlights expert