Headlight bulb "cover"

[sooperxtool]

Sorry if this should be in a different section but I wanted it to get some attention...

So can someone possibly tell me what the purpose of the little bulb "cover" is in some headlights and why others don't have them?

Ex:

VS

 

[shane96ranger]

The only purpose I can think of is to hide the bulb from plain view. [SHRUGS]

 

[sooperxtool]

I couldn't really think of a plus or minus either... I can't really imagine it has a significant difference one way or the other?

 

[shane96ranger]

I couldn't really think of a plus or minus either... I can't really imagine it has a significant difference one way or the other?

I don't think it would make much difference. Every bulb I've ever used was painted on the end anyway.

 

[adsm08]

It has to do with bulb and housing design.

The center piece reflects the light backwards into the actual reflector surface. A single narrow beam of light looks cool but illuminates nothing and blinds on-coming drivers. A well dispersed beam illuminates much with far fewer lumens (unit of measure for light).

Check out this video from Mythbusters, it demonstrates the principle pretty well.

 

[sooperxtool]

Huh.... good to know! Thanks for the insight!

 

[gribly]

You reminded me of this morning at 6am on my way to work - some dude in a newer car has his high beams on in a hilly area just at daybreak. I lost complete vision momentarily and pondered the legality of what would happen if I crashed and who would be at fault as I smashed the brakes. I had two purple spots in my vision afterwards. I don't think it was an aftermarket HID kit, I think they were just early factory ones. I wish I could get away with smashing out the headlights on every car I see in parking lots with HID headlights, they are dangerous to oncoming traffic and if you need that much light, you shouldn't be allowed to legally drive at night because you are a danger to other drivers yourself. Shoot - I never even use my high beams in my '91 with stock lighting!

I probably get too heated about this subject, and I rant about it on here several times a year, but I do feel very strongly against people needing bright headlights. I'm about to put some serious, serious foglights on the roof of my Mazda to give them a double dose back of their medicine. Plus, I do a lot of night wheeling.