H7 light bulbs: which ones shine better

Rating of the best car lamps in H7 socket based on user reviews

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of good light for a car. The point here is not only the brightness of the lighting: correct light distribution and a color temperature that is comfortable for the eye are more important. Why turn headlights into spotlights if they will shine anywhere but the road? This article should help you avoid making mistakes in choosing lamps.

Lamps from which company to choose

Osram

A trademark with more than a century of history and one of the world's leading manufacturers of lighting equipment. Osram lamps are supplied to most car factories as original spare parts: for example, if you buy original Renault lamps, you will find Osram markings on them.

Lamps are available in both standard power and with increased light output, but in any case you can be sure of purchasing a high-quality and durable product.

Philips

The Dutch concern is known for many things, and to a large extent – for its work in the field of lighting technology, both halogen and gas-discharge.

Few people know, but the currently popular energy-saving lamps were developed by Philips.

In the automotive lighting industry, Philips is one of the main suppliers of lamps and optics to factory conveyors, and a huge range of halogen, xenon and LED lamps is produced for the secondary market.

Bosch

A German giant that produces a huge range of various automotive components - from engine control units to spark plugs.
Its developers also paid attention to automotive lighting. Speaking about Bosch products, it is impossible to say anything more briefly and succinctly than the Germans themselves: “Bosch ist Bosch” (“Bosch is Bosch”).

Narva

The youngest of the manufacturers we mentioned, but this does not make the company’s products of lesser quality. The production of automotive halogen lamps began in 1969, and since then this brand has become one of the most popular due to its good price-quality ratio.

“True German quality” is not just a figure of speech. The truth of this phrase is proven by the popularity of Narva lamps, which does not fall over time.

Rating of the best H7 lamps

We tried, first of all, to take into account real operational characteristics, and only then - user reviews (few of the people who enthusiastically write “It shines like an anti-aircraft searchlight!”) think about what it is like for drivers in the oncoming lane).

Compliance of light distribution in a standard headlight with the standard;
Light distribution (oncoming lane / road / shoulder);
Light beam power (luminous flux);
Real electricity consumption.

The best H7 lamps

OSRAM Night Breaker

Advantages:

Lamps with increased light output fully comply with light distribution standards: the headlight forms a clear “tick” in the curb area and evenly cuts the beam directed towards the oncoming lane;
The promised increase in luminous flux power is observed most of all from the side of the roadside - in the near zone Night Breaker produces illumination of over 30,000 cd, in the far zone - a little more than 16,000 cd. (Is this a lot or a little? For comparison, let’s say that the minimum standard requirement in the far zone is 10100 cd);
The luminous flux also exceeds the standard requirements - 1500 lumens versus 1100 in the standard;
In addition to a powerful light beam, these lamps can also boast of being economical - actual energy consumption is only 50 W, which is not much, considering that the declared 90% increase in illumination is actually present, and where it is safe for drivers in the oncoming lane.

Flaws:

High price;
Relatively low resource, especially with strong shaking.

Most reviews from people who have had experience with Night Breaker confirm the above: driving in the dark becomes noticeably more comfortable, visibility increases compared to most common halogen lamps.

PHILIPS Vision Plus

Advantages:

The famous brand did not disappoint: the lamp forms a clear pattern that fully complies with all the requirements of the standard;
The inscription “+60%” on the packaging is not an advertising gimmick either - the luminous flux of 1450 lm really exceeds the standard, as does the illumination of the roadside - more than 13,000 cd near and more than 27,000 cd at a distance. Of course, this is not much compared to the leader in the rating, but it is worth remembering that to increase the light output of incandescent lamps, you have to increase the temperature of the filament, which means potentially reducing the resource;
The actual power consumption - 49 W - also indicates less heating of the filament (remember that the standard power of H7 lamps is 55 W).

Flaws:

High price;
Sensitivity to high voltage (quick burnout on many French cars).

Most often, users of Vision Plus lamps point to the excellent illumination of the road, but we can also add a good word about the resource: the lamps withstand vibration and shaking, and it is quite difficult to “shake off” the filaments.

BOSCH Plus 90

Advantages:

The luminous flux is 1500 lumens, the roadside illumination is only slightly inferior to the Osram Night Breaker in the far zone (14,000 cd versus 16,000 cd). Up close, the indicators are identical;
Clear light distribution: the pattern is formed in full compliance with the requirements of the regulations, while the light is distributed more evenly than that of Osram;
Some drop in illumination in the distance is compensated by the fact that the light beam diverges over a greater distance, which is no less important than the illumination itself;
The light is bright white, does not tire the eyes and does not hide unevenness, like shades more blue-shifted;
There are no complaints about energy consumption: the power of 49.5 W meets the requirements with a margin.

Flaws:

High price, even compared to Osram, which has similar characteristics.

Reviews of Bosch Plus 90 lamps indicate not only the light power, but also the decent resource of the product.

OSRAM Original

The same lamps that can be seen in the technical centers of dealers of many brands, but packed not in original boxes, but in Osram’s own blister. Such lamps require, first of all, a resource, and not record performance - and Osram Original copes with these responsibilities perfectly.

Advantages:

A clear light beam without any deviations, all illumination indicators clearly correspond to the standard, and in the near zone of the roadside they even exceed it;
The efficiency of the lamp is at the level of others presented in the rating: Osram Original consumes 6 W less than indicated on the packaging.

Flaws:

Sensitivity to overexertion and shaking.

Most car owners who have used these lamps use words like “they shine as well as stock.” Well, this is not surprising.

PHILIPS X-treme Vision

Advantages:

Good lighting of the area directly in front of the car;
Good UV filtration – less aging of modern polycarbonate headlight lenses.

Flaws:

The luminous flux of 1400 lm is even less than that of Philips Vision Plus lamps that honestly fulfill their stated requirements;
Their roadside lighting is even weaker by 2000 cd in both the near and far zones;
The highest (54 W) power consumption compared to other lamps reviewed.

Many people who bought these lamps confirm the above with their reviews: for such a price they expected to get a much better result.

KOITO Whitebeam III

The products of the Japanese company became famous in Russia not so long ago. Its lamps with increased luminous efficiency have become the most popular - but this is not the case when rave reviews do not conflict with the requirements of GOST and UNECE standards.

Advantages:

Excellent illumination of the area in front of the car - the light flux is focused mainly forward;
Correspondence of energy consumption as declared.

Flaws:

Lighting in the oncoming traffic lane exceeds the limits, and Whitebeam will clearly blind oncoming drivers;
Cars in the same direction ahead will also suffer. Fighting this change in the angle of the headlights is not the best solution: the viewing range will noticeably drop;
Not the best characteristics in terms of real luminous flux and light distribution: 1150 lm of luminous flux and 20,000 candelas at the side of the road, both near and far - hence the reputation of “powerful light”.

Reviews from those who have had experience installing these lamps are polarly divided: some praise the good illumination of the road in front of the car, while others reasonably remind that this comes at the expense of the view of the roadside.

NARVA Long Life

Advantages:

High lamp life;
Full compliance with light distribution standards;
Affordable price and prevalence;
Good lighting of the right side;
Low power consumption: 49 W.

Flaws:

For the most part, the luminous flux is focused in the near zone, the “range” of the lamps is low.

Narva Long Life is a good choice for a city car, the constant low beam lighting of which is dictated not by the dark time of day, but by traffic rules. People who use Narva Long Life lamps speak positively about their service life and affordable price.

HELLA H7 +90%

Advantages:

The illumination provided by this lamp is at the level of the leaders in the rating - Hella was second only to Osram Night Breaker and Bosch Plus 90;
The luminous flux also exceeds the standards with a margin: 1400 lm;
There are no complaints about the shape of the light beam, the illumination of the oncoming lane, or the power consumption;
Affordable (considering the brand name) price.

Flaws:

Low prevalence;
Fragile cardboard packaging - when carrying such a lamp “in reserve”, you should be careful.

Many motorists in the reviews are surprised that the products of such a well-known brand have an affordable price and at the same time shine at the level of expensive lamps.

Which lamps with H7 socket to buy

There are many worthy representatives of their class on the market. Their difference is mainly in the nuances that should be taken into account when choosing:

Which h7 low beam lamps are the best: rating, how to choose

Every motorist, when getting behind the wheel, must always be very attentive and focused, and especially in the dark.

A good head light will help a person driving to avoid accidents caused by a car parked on the side of the road, a pedestrian crossing the road, or a hole in the road. The H7 lamp will provide it.

It is these bulbs that are especially common at present, suitable for a four-headlight lighting system with separate holders for high and low beam, but are used mainly for low beam. Various companies are involved in the production of H7 lamps.

Some of them produce low-quality products, while others, on the contrary, produce high-quality products. It is very important not to get confused and choose the most suitable H7 low beam lamps from the best ones. The rating of such lamps for cars will be given later, but for now let’s talk about how to choose them.

Choosing H7 lamps

They first appeared on the market in the 90s and gradually became one of the most common. Automotive companies are constantly working to improve devices in order to improve their technical characteristics and increase reliability.

H7 low beam lamps are divided into:

halogen;
LED;
xenon

If you conduct a test, you can identify each type of device with its pros and cons, which would be good to know about when choosing the right product.

Halogen lamps have the optimal combination of price and quality; they shine well without installing any additional equipment. This is the most used option today. Modified types come with xenon effect and extended service life. The disadvantage is the strong heating of the lamps and rapid failure.
LED devices are economical, do not work worse as a result of shock or shaking, and have the longest service life. Disadvantages include the difficulty of adjusting the light beam due to the special design of the lamp and its cost.
Xenon lamps are not afraid of vibrations and have a color temperature as close as possible to daylight. The disadvantages include the high cost and the need to install an additional ignition unit.

When choosing H7 lamps, it is recommended to pay attention to the above advantages and disadvantages in order to avoid disappointment later, and to give preference to lamps with a simple white color, which work great in rain, snow, and fog.

You will learn about low beam lamps with an H7 base, which are the best, thanks to the rating presented according to the version of the Mark.guru portal. It includes products from different manufacturers with normal and increased light output. So, what kind of lamps can be installed in a car and not worry about their proper functioning, we will consider further.

Standard halogen lamps

Let's look at several popular standard devices. Three of their representatives turned out to be the best in the list of H7 halogen lamps.

1. Philips Vision Plus

Produced by a well-known German company. The lamps have the same characteristics as the factory ones. They increase the brightness slightly, shining white at a temperature of 3200 K.

Advantages:

bright light;
high performance;
reasonable cost (within 890 rubles).

Flaws:

the light border is blurred.

Philips Vision Plus prices:

Produced by a South Korean company. The devices are equipped with a transparent bulb, the light is stable and brighter by 30%, and fully corresponds to the glow of standard lamps. The glow temperature is 2900 K.

Advantages:

bright glow;
longer service life;
affordable price (within 550 rubles).

Flaws:

Prices for MTF-Light Longlife Standard + 30%:

The lamp is made in Germany and has one axial filament. Operates at a temperature of 3200 K. The service life is stated by the manufacturer at 250 hours.

Advantages:

bright glow;
reliability;
low cost (varies in the range of 280-410 rubles).

Flaws:

Prices for Osram Original Line:

The list of halogen lamps with increased luminous flux includes three of the most proven representatives.

1. Philips X-Treme Vision + 130%

It is the brightest of those offered today. Shines white (130% brighter) light. This means that the range of the light beam is increased by 130 meters. Glow temperature 3700 K.

Advantages:

high-quality execution;
good luminous flux;
450 hour service life.

Flaws:

Quite a high price (around 1250 rubles), although quite justified.

Prices for Philips X-Treme Vision + 130%:

An improved series of halogen light bulbs from a South Korean manufacturer. Equipped with a 15-meter beam gain and 80% brighter. Glow temperature 4000 K.

Advantages:

made of special glass;
have a rich silver color;
provide good quality lighting;
They are not particularly expensive (around 800 rubles).

Flaws:

Prices for MTF-Light Argentum + 80%:

Decent lamps, manufactured by a reliable company. Excellent value for money. Color temperature 3500 K.

Advantages:

reliability;
good light output;
reasonable cost (within 700 rubles).

Flaws:

short service life;
may slightly dazzle oncoming and passing vehicles.

Prices for Osram Night Breaker Unlimited:

Halogen devices with extended service life are presented by two manufacturers.

1. Philips Long Life

If previously you had to frequently change low beam lamps, then with the installation of a device from this manufacturer you can simply forget about their existence for several years. They will last a long time and do their main function perfectly.

Advantages:

the service life increased by 4 times will be 3 years (100 thousand km);
powerful luminous flux;
justified cost (varies in the range of 549-700 rubles).

Flaws:

shines in a yellowish color, although this was done specifically to increase its service life.

Prices for Philips Long Life:

German quality lamp with extended service life and three-year warranty. Color temperature 3200 K.

Advantages:

excellent brightness (1550 lm);
service life for 2000 hours;
3 year warranty;
reasonable cost (within 1000 rubles).

Flaws:

it is very difficult to use the guarantee;
lives only 2 years on average instead of the stated three years.

Prices for Osram Ultra Life:

The list of halogen lamps with xenon effect includes 3 manufacturers.

1. MTF-Light Palladium

This Korean-made lamp was loved by Russian car owners for a number of its interesting advantages:

glow temperature 5500 K;
creating the effect of expensive xenon;
affordable price (950 rubles).

Flaws:

slightly blind motorists in oncoming traffic.

Prices for MTF-Light Palladium:

Lamps with xenon effect will help when you get tired of yellow halogen lamps. This model shines with a stylish white light with a slight bluish tint.

Advantages:

visual xenon effect;
the package contains two Philips W5W gift light bulbs;
justified cost (varies in the range of 1099-1650 rubles).

Flaws:

The brightness could be increased.

Philips CrystalVision prices:

It has visually improved comfort, and is close in color to the original xenon. Color temperature 4200 K.

Advantages:

brightness is 20% more;
luminous flux reaches 1500 lm;
shines in white-blue color;
reasonable cost (varies in the range of 590-990 rubles).

Flaws:

poor lighting on a wet road.

Prices for Osram Cool Blue Intense:

Xenon N7 has two manufacturers that have proven themselves best on the Russian market.

1. MTF-Light with Philips H7 bulb

The South Korean manufacturer has improved the characteristics of the H7 by using a special Philips bulb in this model. Glow temperature 4300 K.

Advantages:

good, up to 3200 lm, brightness;
excellent road lighting.

Flaws:

high cost (within 1940 rubles).

Prices for MTF-Light with Philips H7 bulb:

The lamp is an acceptable solution at an adequate cost. Presented in two color shades: milky white (temperature 4300 K) and bluish (temperatures 5000 and 6000 K).

Advantages:

excellent brightness;
good temperature selection;
affordable price (within 950 rubles).

Flaws:

The product is not produced in South Korea, as stated, but at Sho-Me factories in China.

Prices for MaxLux H7:

We have compiled a rating of the best manufacturers of lamps with H7 socket. It should help people who are just planning to purchase low beam lamps for their car to make the right choice of product from all the variety on the market.

This rating is subjective and is not an advertisement.

Source: https://marka.guru/avto-i-mototovary/zapchasti/samye-luchshie-lampy-blizhnego-sveta-h7.html

17 best car lamps in H7 socket

Any car enthusiast knows how important it is to see the road well at night or in conditions of rain, snow, or fog. To make driving comfortable, confident and safe, headlights must illuminate the road with high quality. Therefore, the issue of choosing the best H7 lamps is quite acute.

It is known that car lamps are divided into halogen, xenon and LED. halogen lamps are the most affordable and widespread. Their common disadvantage is high heating and high operating temperature, which leads to faster aging and burnout of the lamp.

Xenon lamps are modern lamps with high luminous efficiency. They are practically insensitive to vibration. The disadvantages of xenon are their higher cost and the need to install special ignition units.

LED lamps are considered the best according to a number of criteria - they are environmentally friendly, economical and have a long service life. The disadvantage is that when installing them in a regular, classic headlight, it is difficult to correctly adjust the beam of light.

Due to their high cost and difficulty of adjustment, LED lamps have failed to become popular among motorists. But in the near future we will definitely see a ready-made standard headlight consisting entirely of LEDs.

Well, in this article we will present the best halogen and xenon lamps in the H7 base that are common on the Russian market.

Model	Average price for 1 piece, rub.	a brief description of	Our rating
Standard H7 lamps
Philips Vision	800	Almost identical to factory lamps. Slight increase in brightness by 30%. Color white, color temperature 3200K.	9.9 out of 10
Mtf-Light Longlife Standard+30%	550	Standard H7 lamp with 30% increased brightness. Glow temperature 2900K. The thread has been improved to increase service life.	9.9 out of 10
Osram Original Line	1000	Standard H7 lamp with color temperature 3200K.	9.8 out of 10
The best H7 lamps with increased luminous flux
Philips X-Treme Vision +130%	1050	The brightest of all H7 halogen lamps at the moment. Brightness increase 130%. White color with a temperature of 3700K.	10 of 10
Philips X-Treme Vision	1000	Increase brightness by 100%. The beam is 35 meters longer than a regular H7 lamp. Color temperature 3500K.	9.8 out of 10
Mtf-Light Argentum+80%	820	Brightness increased by 80%. The beam is 15 m longer.	9.7 out of 10
Osram Night Breaker Unlimited	700	90% more light. Glow temperature 3500K	9.6 out of 10
KOITO H7 White Beam III	1200	Bright H7 lamp with color temperature 4200K	9.5 out of 10
Best H7 Bulbs with Long Lifespan
Philips Long Life	900	Service life - 3 years or 100 thousand kilometers. Color – 3100K	9.9 out of 10
Osram Ultra Life	1000	Specified service life is 2000 hours. Glow – 3200K with a brightness of 1550 lm.	9.7 out of 10
The best H7 lamps with xenon effect
Mtf-Light Palladium	950	Double layer coating. Blue color with a temperature of 5500K	9.8 out of 10
Philips CrystalVision	1050	Effect of standard xenon. Temperature 4300K	9.7 out of 10
Osram Cool Blue Intense	650	The color of the glow is close to the original xenon and is 4100K.	9.6 out of 10
MTF-Light with Philips bulb	1750	Soft white color with a temperature of 4300K. Phillips flasks are used, which improves xenon performance. Brightness reaches 3200 lm	9.9 out of 10
MTF-Light H7	800	The service life of this H7 lamp is about 2 thousand hours. Heating time 5 seconds. Wide range of color temperatures: 4300, 5000, 6000.	9.8 out of 10
Sho-Me H7	450	Inexpensive but high-quality xenon lamp H7 from a Chinese manufacturer with a power of 35 W. Temperature: 3000, 4300, 5000, 6000. According to the manufacturer, service life is more than 2000 hours.	9.6 out of 10
Maxlux H7	950	H7 lamp from South Korean manufacturer. Standard choice of color temperatures.	9.5 out of 10

The best H7 halogen lamps

Best Standard H7 Bulbs

Philips Vision

Source: http://www.expertcen.ru/article/rating/luchshie-lampy-h7.html

The best H7 low beam bulbs

The quality of roadway lighting (roadway and shoulder) is the main requirement for ensuring safe driving of a vehicle.

The sooner the driver notices an obstacle on the vehicle’s path, the more time he has to make a decision and the less likely he is to get into an emergency situation.

To avoid troubles with driving in the dark, you should carefully select low beam bulbs. Today we will figure out which H7 low beam lamps are the best.

Let's do a little analysis of the characteristics of H7 low beam lamps. Our rating includes products from various manufacturers, with different light indicators: both with normal light output and with increased light output. We will not go into an in-depth study of the issue, but will touch on the main indicators that are understandable to any car enthusiast.

For clarity of the data presented, it should be noted that according to GOST of the Russian Federation and European road safety standards, the following indicators of luminous flux standards for car headlights have been established:

lower limit 1350 lm;
upper 1650 lm.

So, let's begin. The first number will be the products that are currently leading in terms of key indicators.

OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER unlimited

A lamp that meets all necessary standards provides high-quality illumination of all necessary areas of the road

Country of origin: Germany. This lamp emits a powerful light stream of 1500 lm . The spectral color approaches natural daylight and does not tire the driver's eyes.

The beam range of the lamp is 10 meters longer than a conventional halogen lamp, which increases the likelihood of safe driving. The approximate amount of electrical power consumption is 50.4 W.

It is necessary to note one small drawback of this lamp: the indicators for glare of passing and oncoming traffic are slightly overestimated.

BOSCH Plus 90

One of the most worthy representatives of this series of automobile lamps

The halogen lamp from Bosch has proven itself well in all respects. Luminous flux – 1490 lm, high-quality light close to daylight, the human eye reacts well to it .

The lamp provides excellent illumination of the right side of the road (side of the road), both in the near and far zones.

As for the blinding of car drivers driving in the oncoming lane, all indicators are normal, and the same result is for passing traffic.

HELLA H7 +90%

Hella is a budget version of Philips products, practically in no way inferior to its famous relatives

The company that produces these headlights is a subsidiary of Philips, and the brand speaks for itself. This light source has excellent performance; the average luminous flux is fixed at 1400 lm .

According to all regulatory requirements, it meets European standards and at the same time has an advantage in the price-quality category. Any driver will be satisfied with the lighting performance of the road section.

A headlight equipped with a H7 +90 Hella lamp does not pose a risk of blinding for drivers of passing and oncoming traffic.

PHILIPS Vision Plus +60%

60% better illumination of the road, does not transmit UV radiation, reasonable price

Philips products, as always, turned out to be excellent. The luminous flux of the lamp is 1450 lm, this is a pretty good indicator . Everything is fine with the road illumination zones. The Philips Vision +60% lamp does not cause problematic glare to oncoming drivers. Electricity consumption is approximately 54 W.

The lamp was created using new technology and is designed for high-quality bright illumination of the road

The indicators indicated by the manufacturer, indicating a 100% superiority of the luminous flux of Philips X-treme Vision lamps +100% over conventional lamps, turned out to be somewhat exaggerated.

In fact, the luminous flux is 1400 lm, which is almost the same as the budget versions of Philips H7 lamps . Almost all other indicators of this product were normal, but lower than expected.

The only data that exceeded the permissible requirements was the indicator at point 0 (zone III) - blinding of the driver of the car in front through the rear view mirror.

OSRAM SILVERSTAR 2.0

The lamp illuminates the road 65% brighter, the range of the light beam has been increased by 20 meters, an excellent light source with an extended warranty period

The German manufacturer of these lamps established a 3-year warranty on the product, that is, they wanted to emphasize its quality. As for the light characteristics, they are really impressive - the light flux is 1490 lm, which is almost at the level of OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER unlimited .

But I would like the lighting in the near and far zones of the right side of the road to be stronger. Although these indicators are within the acceptable limits, as, indeed, is the indicator of blinding of the driver of passing and oncoming traffic. The advantages of the lamp include the fact that the light beam from it is 20 meters longer in comparison with standard products.

VALEO +50% Light

The light source fully meets all the parameters declared by the manufacturer. Brightness increased by 50%, beam length by 15%

Valeo manufacturers claim that the lamp emits brighter light, allowing better illumination of the roadway and roadside. The low beam lamp showed an average light flux of 1400 lm .

The digital data obtained when checking the glare indicators of the driver of an oncoming car and the driver of the vehicle driving ahead are normal.

You can note a slight increase in the power of current consumption, which is associated with an increase in the brightness of the light source.

PHILIPS Vision +30%

High-quality, affordable lamps, the main thing is to be able to use this lighting device correctly

The average luminous flux indicators are recorded within 1350 lm . All other indicators fell within the framework of European standards. The main condition for installing this light emitter, as well as any similar lamp, is the correct adjustment of the car's headlights in order to avoid blinding the driver of oncoming traffic.

KOITO Whitebeam III

This lamp greatly dazzles the driver of the car in front.

The Japanese know how to surprise.

Despite the fact that the average luminous flux of the Kyoto WhiteBeam III lamp was not up to par, only 1150 lm (the norm is 1350), the roadside lighting, especially the far zone, exceeds all expected limits and goes far beyond the standards . Another indicator – zone III (dazzle of the driver through the rearview mirror of a vehicle driving in front) – is several times higher than the permissible parameters.

When purchasing a lamp, carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations. Sometimes the packaging contains special marks, for example:

HID class Excellent Blue White Buld lamp – the manufacturer indicates that this light source cannot be used on public roads, as it exceeds many standards;
The Narva Range Power White lamp, although manufactured in Germany, is not recommended for use in Europe, since some parameters do not meet the safety requirements for light characteristics.

When choosing lamps used in car headlights to provide low beam, you should base your choice not only on the brand. The main attention should be paid to the light indicators of the device, since it is this data that will ensure your safe driving on the night road. Remember also about the comfort of other road users.

Source: http://motorltd.ru/avtomobilnye-lampy-blizhnego-sveta-h7-luch-sveta-v-temnom-carstve-dorogi/

Which low beam lamps h7 and h4 are the best?

Publication date: June 10, 2016.

Often, even in the daytime, visibility on the road can be very poor, which is why you may not notice an approaching car.

In connection with this, traffic regulations have been changed and today low beams must be turned on while driving on all vehicles, regardless of the time of day.

And these are not just wishes addressed to drivers, but a current regulation, non-compliance with which may result in a fine of 500 rubles (more details in Article 12.20 “On violation of the rules for the use of external lighting devices”).

Such requirements and reasonable meaning lead any car enthusiast to the question: “Which low beam lamps are best to use?” To answer this, you must first understand the differences between these lighting devices.

How do lamps with different markings differ from each other?

Today, lamps with one or two incandescent filaments (spirals) are produced. The latter allow you to use lighting elements for both near and far illumination; to do this, you just need to switch from one light to another. Single-strand analogues are more difficult to use. In more detail, there is the following classification:

H1 - used for high beam headlights and sometimes for fog lights (designed for a four-headlight system).
Lamps in the H2 base are used for low and high beams, as well as fog lights. This type of lighting elements is practically not found today.
H3 – only for fog lights.
H4 automobile lamps are used in traditional European two-headlight systems for high and low beam.
H7 automobile lamps are also used for high and low beam in four-headlight systems.

The last two types are used most often. If we talk about their differences, then H7 are single-filament lighting elements, and H4 have two spirals, but are inferior in the characteristics of the new model. This is especially true for the service life (for the H7 it is twice as long). And, of course, like all the lamps described above, each type has its own base design.

Since H4 and H7 lamps are most often used for low beam, let's talk about them in more detail.

The best lamps in the H4 base

If we talk about which H4 low beam lamps are the best, then we should rely primarily on the glow power. If you do not leave the city, it is better to take 60 W bulbs, and for country trips 130 W.

Important! Lamps with a power of more than 60 W are prohibited from being used in urban areas.

As for the choice between halogen and LED lamps, it’s worth saying right away that although LED lighting elements are more economical, they are not suitable for headlights designed for H4 halogens.

Firstly, in order for an LED bulb to be comparable in light output to a halogen lamp, its size will be much larger, and if you use a compact model, then you will get very little light output from it - a vicious circle.

Secondly, if you install LED analogues in headlights for H4 halogens, their beam will be out of focus, the light will become blurry, because of this, in turn, the illumination of the roadway will significantly deteriorate.

Thirdly, a large number of LEDs will result in the semiconductors not being cooled.

Healthy! Automakers are developing special diode headlights, but have not yet been able to solve the cooling system issues for such elements.

Therefore, in order to achieve the best performance, it is recommended to use high-brightness H4 halogen lamps for cars from trusted manufacturers.

As for H7 lamps, they also have their own characteristics.

The best lamps in the H7 base

If we talk about which H7 low beam lamps are better, then today there are many modifications of lighting elements of this type.

Models may differ in production technology, varieties, light and many other parameters. Only the standard power remains unchanged, which is 55 watts.

However, today you can also find high-brightness halogen lamps for cars H7 on sale.

Important! High power lamps are recommended for use only in off-road conditions or on closed tracks. If you install such a lamp in a regular car, the power supply system will quickly overload and fail.

If you use h7 diode lamps for low beam instead of halogen ones, then the problems will be the same as in the first case: overheating and the need to use special optics, since without this it is impossible to adjust the light beam.

However, LED lighting is advancing and developing by leaps and bounds, so the moment is not far off when it will be possible to use this type of lamp for low beam.

This is not surprising because in the future the H7 low beam LED lamp is much more convenient and profitable to use.

Excellent light, durability and resistance to vibrations and shocks - all this characterizes lighting elements of this type.

As for manufacturers of low beam lamps, it is best to buy products from trusted companies that have proven themselves in this industry.

The best manufacturers and models of H4 and H7 halogen lamps

If we talk about the best brands, then according to testing the following models performed best:

Koito. A Japanese company specializing in lighting technology, which produces halogen low and high beam lamps adapted for Russian conditions. Koito Whitebeam III H7 lamps (2 pieces) now cost about 1,800 rubles, and the same model for the H4 base will cost a little less - 1,500 rubles.
Osram. Although competitors are trying to prove that the lamps from this manufacturer blind drivers in oncoming traffic, there is no official evidence or tests confirming this. On the contrary, Osram products are distinguished by quality and reliability. Car enthusiasts noted Osram SilverStar lamps as the best on the market, costing 550 rubles for the H7 base and 770 rubles for the H4.
Philips. The eminent corporation repeats Osram's developments and produces lamps with the same light beam characteristics. However, Philips halogens also inspire confidence in quality. A Philips Visio Plus +60% lamp with an H4 base costs 550 rubles, and for an H7 about 1,200 rubles for two jokes.
Bosch. The Hungarian manufacturer has been famous for its quality for many years now. Good luminous flux, providing the necessary illumination of both the roadside and near, as well as distant zones. A Bosch Plus 90 H7 lamp (2 pieces) will cost about 1,400 rubles, and a similar Bosch Plus 90 H4 lamp will cost 1,200 rubles.

When talking about the best low beam lamps, we did not touch on the topic of xenon, and there are several reasons for this.

A few words about xenon

Halogen and LED lamps do not yet reach the power of modern xenon lighting elements, so why not use more durable (up to 2500 hours) lamps?

Of course, xenon has one undeniable advantage. Such lamps convert only 7% of energy into heat, and halogens convert only 40%. This means that almost all of the electrical energy expended is converted into a powerful luminous flux. But, alas, this is only one side of the coin. In fact, the use of such lamps is unprofitable for several reasons:

The cost of xenon is several times higher than halogen and LED lamps. This is due to the fact that such lighting will require additional equipment (the minimum kit includes a lamp and an ignition unit, the full kit includes optics, a headlight, and much more). Lamps of this type themselves cost about 10,000 rubles.
Not all xenon can be used in the Russian Federation; more precisely, only the one that was installed at the car manufacturer’s plant can be used. You can easily get a fine for “handicraft” Chinese analogues, and when you undergo maintenance, you will have to get rid of the prohibited lighting.
Xenon units use quite a lot of energy from the generator, and accordingly, fuel consumption increases.

In custody

To summarize, we can say that so far halogen lamps for low beam remain the most convenient and inexpensive. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer and power characteristics. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the official tests that manufacturers usually provide to customers on their websites.

Source: https://avto-moto-shtuchki.ru/zapchasti/79-h7-lampa-blizhnego-sveta.html