Cygolite: Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q: What’s the difference between, LEDs, HIDs and Halogens?

A: Halogen technology is over 100 years old and probably the most common type of lighting used. It works by sending electricity through a metal filament that reacts to pressurized gas surrounding it, resulting in a bright yellow glow.

Advantages: Good, cheap, and reliable light

Disadvantages:

Not the brightest
The filament weakens over time and bulbs need replacement every 1-3 years; (bulb life ranges from 500-1000 hours)
Excessive energy is lost through heat and not light, so run times are not long

High Intensity Discharge (HID) is similar to halogen lighting but is slightly newer. It works by sending an electrical charge from a ballast through a quartz tube filled with gas and metal. The gas is used as an igniter and the metal halide is vaporized emitting extremely bright light. HID is the brightest lighting in cycling today. The light gives bluish tint and is the same light found on high performance cars.

Advantages:

Super bright light, closest to the color of the sun
More efficient with energy than halogen lights, so longer run times

Disadvantages:

Extremely fragile bulb can break easily
Slow start light needs time to warm up
Not able to do flashing modes

Bulb and ballast combination are very expensive
Bulb and ballast may require replacement every 1-3 years which may cost up to $200

LEDs are the newest lighting technology that first came to commercial use in the 70s. LEDs are semiconductors and we use their electrical properties to manipulate the energy going through them to produce a specific color and amount of light.

Advantages:

LEDs are very compact and extremely shock resistant
Color of LED light is the same as the color of HID light
Extremely long lifespan so LEDs never have to be replaced
Highly efficient with power so run times can be extremely long
LEDs brightness is already as bright as halogen lights
LEDs are quick start, and do not need time to warm up

Disadvantages:

Requires electronics to regulate power input
LEDs are still more expensive than most halogen lights

Q: What is better, LED, HID or halogen?

A: With recent advances in LED technology, LEDs are the best lighting systems available now when comparing them to Halogen and HIDs in regards to brightness, lifespan, durability and versatility. LEDs last much longer than HID and halogens, are more shock resistant and are more versatile when applying dimming and flashing modes, which is impossible to do for HIDs.

Q: How do you compare brightness?

A: Light can be measured by Lux, Lumens and candlepower. For easy reference, CygoLite compares the brightness of the new LED systems to the light output of a halogen bulb since halogen light is most common and is easy to relate to.

Q: Can a lower wattage bulb be replaced with a higher wattage bulb?

A: We do not recommend replacing a lower wattage bulb with a higher wattage bulb. By doing so, you would cause increased heat in the headlight and possibly damage the system.

Q: Are the helmet mount setups available with complete units or do you have to buy the light separate from the helmet mount?

A: The TridenX and Nitro XM are the only lights that come with both helmet and handlebar mounts, the remaining lights come with handlebar mounts only and their optional helmet mount kits are available for purchase.