How to get the most life expectancy out of halogen and other types of automotive headlight bulbs! Also, some important battery maintenance tips!

     All halogen bulbs used in vehicles with DC voltage systems are not dimmable, which means they should not be on when there are voltage drops below their normal voltage rating.  A high percentage of vehicles equipped with a fuel-type engine and a starter motor use the 12-volt DC electrical system, so in this article I’ll be discussing 12V bulbs used with the 12VDC systems as an example.

     The following are the first choice, most important guidelines to know when it comes to your automotive halogen headlights.  Use these same guidelines, when applicable, for any halogen auxiliary road-illumination lights you may have on your vehicle, also.

      1) Some vehicles built after a certain year have a circuit where the headlights automatically go on as soon as you turn the ignition key one notch forward towards the "ignition on" and starter motor activation position.  If your vehicle has an option where you can manually control the headlights, then choose the "automatic circuit off" position or "manual circuit on" position.  If your vehicle doesn't have a manual control for your headlights, and you can't prevent them from being turned on automatically before starting the engine, then discuss this with an auto mechanic and find out if you have any options, within your budget, to add a manual control circuit option, which should be similar to a standard headlight switch.

    2) THE MOST IMPORTANT SITUATION TO AVOID WITH AN INSTALLED HALOGEN BULB:  If your headlamp systems allows, do not crank the engine with the headlights on!  Activating the starter motor once or a few times with the headlights on can already reduce the life of the bulb.  Halogen bulbs can burn out much sooner than expected, when this condition is repeated even just occasionally.

   3) Before installing a bulb or replacement bulb, be sure the clear section of the bulb is completely clean.  Any residue on the glass (or quartz) section, especially oil, such as oil from your skin can significantly reduce the life of the bulb or make it burn out or explode when the clear section reaches it’s highest usage temperature.  Always wear full-protection safety goggles, or at least good quality safety glasses with side shields when handling any light bulb even when it is completely cool.

     If bulb needs to be cleaned, it is best, if you have some, to use clean, powder-free nitrile, disposable gloves whenever you are installing a bulb or removing a bulb in still-usable condition.

     To clean gloves, if necessary, use isopropyl alcohol (in the same manner as you would wash your hands.) and dry with clean, unused paper towels or any completely clean knitted towel, or simply wash gloves with soap and rinse thoroughly with water, then dry with a clean towel.  

     To clean a halogen single or dual-filament bulb's clear / transparent section, hold the bulb by the metal base / terminal area, and wipe the entire section thoroughly with a paper towel which is moderately wet with isopropyl alcohol, then dry with a clean paper towel.  If left to evaporate, without drying with a towel, then there should be no residue left over.  It is best, however, to wipe the bulb dry promptly after the wet-cleaning.  Using standard, easily-found "70% isopropyl alcohol" is the most common practice.  When cleaning a bulb, be sure to avoid, as much as possible, rubbing the dark, non-transparent section found on many dual-filament and some single-filament halogen bulbs.  Some of this high-temperature coating can be easily-removed when rubbed with any cleaning solution, especially isopropyl alcohol.

     4) Be sure your charging system is in top condition so as to avoid insufficient voltage to the headlight circuit.  Be sure all headlight terminals / connectors , and battery terminals are clean.  Some vehicles have factory-installed relays within the headlight circuit.  Be sure those terminals are clean, also. There should be no corrosion buildup, oil, grease or dirt outside or between any terminal connection inner surface.

    For some excellent battery maintenance tips, refer to the article: "Vehicle battery maintenance"!