Xenon..Silverstar ???

[sski]

I did some searches but didn't really find an answer.

I have seen the word Silverstar and Xenon used interchangeably in another forum.

My understanding is that Xenon bulbs require a ballast to run them (ie/HID). You can't simply install a Xenon bulb and thats it. The Silverstar is simply a halogen manufactured to tighter spec to produce whiter light but it's not Xenon.

Reason I ask is I'm seeing guys in my snowmobile forum talking about installing Xenon headlights in their sleds to light up the trails better at night. I think they are really installing Silverstar halogens, which probably works OK as they don't get as much use as a car so life span is not really an issue. To further complicate the issue for me however the part catalogue from my snowmobile dealer lists replacement halogen bulbs and Xenon bulbs????

[The Other Tom]

Originally posted by sski
I did some searches but didn't really find an answer.

I have seen the word Silverstar and Xenon used interchangeably in another forum.

My understanding is that Xenon bulbs require a ballast to run them (ie/HID). You can't simply install a Xenon bulb and thats it. The Silverstar is simply a halogen manufactured to tighter spec to produce whiter light but it's not Xenon.

Reason I ask is I'm seeing guys in my snowmobile forum talking about installing Xenon headlights in their sleds to light up the trails better at night. I think they are really installing Silverstar halogens, which probably works OK as they don't get as much use as a car so life span is not really an issue. To further complicate the issue for me however the part catalogue from my snowmobile dealer lists replacement halogen bulbs and Xenon bulbs????

You are correct, Silverstars are halogen and Xenons are, well..., Xenons.
Halogens produce light by passing current though a filiment. The filiment gets hot and , viola, light.
Xenons produce light by making an arc and require a ballast, as you stated. At least that's my understanding.
Companies make kits that include bulb and ballast and most are plug and play. I put one in my other car. It works well but does not have the projector lens. I don't know if snowmobiles have projector lens or not.
Maybe your snowmobile had a xenon option and that's why the owners manual shows a bulb for both ?

[sski]

Did some more research. Halogen and Xenon are different types of bulbs (ie/ different gases used). However, I also found out you do not need a ballast to run a Xenon filled bulb. You can simply swap you halogen for Xenon. The Xenon just burns different (brighter, whiter ???). What you are describing, I believe, is a proper HID set up, which may also use Xenon gas but burns different again due to the ballast.

check out www.powerbulbs.com. They have straight swap Xenon bulbs.

Again, anyone smarter than I (which there are many) feel free to set me straight

[N_Jay]

Halogen is a class of gasses, Xenon is a specific halogen gas.

These are still incandescent lamps with a filament, and do not require a ballast.

The HID (high intensity discharge) lamps do not have a filament, they use an electric discharge to ionize the gas to generate light require a ballast.

[sski]

Thanks, I told you there were lots of people smarter than me out there.

[Edtardup6]

yeaaah

regards, Edtardup6

Cleaned up post by colorider

[Adameeer03]

LOL!

[jimmyhauser]

If you put an HID retrofit kit into a housing designed for halogen bulbs, you WILL blind oncoming traffic. Halogen bulbs and true xenon capsules require different optics, different shaped reflectors, and slightly different focus on projectors.

Which is why DOT banned the sale and use of them. Not that it is enforced.