H1 or H3, which bulb is better?

[gnehc1]

Just trying to find out which bulb gets a better use. It looks like the H1 bulb is a tad bit smaller than the H3, but i don't know if that's a factor. the reason i'm asking is because they are making projectors that take either h1 or h3 bulbs for the 4th gen accords. I’ve heard that the projectors suck for the 4th gen accords, but my question is in regards to the bulb itself. any info would be appreciated. thanks.

[xplode]

H1 is BY far the better bulb.. H1 is one of the premium output bulbs. size doesnt matter =).. H3 is probably the most pathetic bulb due to the axial filament .

[SoySauceCb7]

www.HIDforum.com

[gnehc1]

thanks for the responses....

[OM617]

H1 and H3 bulbs are intended for different purposes so you shouldn't compare them against each other. H3 are only used as foglight bulbs, so they don't make a good headlight bulb.

[xplode]

Originally posted by OM617
H1 and H3 bulbs are intended for different purposes so you shouldn't compare them against each other. H3 are only used as foglight bulbs, so they don't make a good headlight bulb.

thats like saying a 1156 bulb is Wayy different than a 168 wedge bulb.. They do the same thing.. ones brighter and a larger.. but i get what you said, over all tho the H1 isa better bulb

[accordztech]

correct me if im wrong but the h1 is like 1550 lumens



and the h3 is 1450 lumens

[xplode]

that is correct Ztech. but the problem with the H3 is the axial filament.. its the worst way to have a beam pattern,

[PRIMOCB7]

..speaking of H1 bulbs, this H1 has only one spade end connector




but on my CC2's, my H1 has 2 spades. i want to replace them with H1 hid-like bulbs..but all the bulbs look like the one on the pic.

[Ronald_Type-R]

If I'm not wrong, the H1s normally have the adapter that has 2 prongs instead of one, before they connect to the wiring socket...I think all H1 bulbs have those adapter..Correct me if I'm wrong tho....

Ronald

[deckeda]

For effective foglights, brightness is not the key factor

My response below assumes gnehc1 is interested in effective foglights, not trying to turn foglights or something else that uses the H3 into driving lights for example.

..... its the worst way to have a beam pattern,

Well, not for foglights it isn't. The axial filament is precisely why H3 bulbs are used for foglights. Foglights, to be effective for seeing in foggy conditions, should never project a high vertical beam --- that would only light up the water in the air.

As an exaggerated example, consider what happens when you use highbeams in snow or fog: it makes seeing worse and makes it look as if there is suddenly MORE fog outside.

Very near the ground, there will be less fog hovering --- that's why fogs are mounted low, and also why they spread light horizontally and don't light up hardly any above bumper height.

Once you get a foot or so higher, there's more fog (i.e. water) in the air --- the idea with foglights is actually to try and light the area below where the water in the air is, not to power through it with a bright light (which can't work)