cevans wrote:
streetKJ wrote:
And newer projector systems have the dome floating on a gyroscope which senses the angle that the cars nose is pointing relative to perfectly horizontal, and adjusts the lamps to aim higher or lower depending on the circumstance. This allows a uniform distance throw no matter if the car is moving uphill or downhill.
Actually, to my knowledge ALL US factory installed systems were required to have a leveling system installed. They don't use a gyroscope(a gyro would keep the lights level to the earth, and the lights need to be level to the ground the car is on at that moment) . Often, the leveling sensors aren't in the headlight at all, but in the wheel well. The lights are manually set to the proper height(of the car, unloaded, relative to the ground) at the factory, and the sensor keeps it that way, mainly dipping the beam to compensate for the difference in angle that weight gives to the car (trunk/backseat lower, front angles upwards).
Many european cars, and I saw a US Murano with it once, have manually adjustable leveling motors, cool!
There are many reflector systems that work very well for HID set ups, like in the toyota prius and earlier Nissan maximas and Acura TLs. But, that cut off is necessary. Having light shining into other drivers doesn't "make you visible sooner" but makes the space behind you blind to oncoming traffic. A misaligned beam destroys someone's night vision, and if there is someone, or debris, on their side of the road, the driver will be greatly disabled in his ability to see that object. Blinding people is dangerous.
This is also why HID systems come with "headlight sprayers" in order to keep the headlight lens clean so light isn't refracted off snow/dirt, etc.
Yeah my fault. I had the Mini Cooper in mind when I wrote that part.
Apparently it uses an air bubble level like the ones carpenters use.
http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/FACTS_FE ... Features-i
(xenon headlamps with powerwash in box 3)
Blinding people is a relative term, as vehicles with projector HID systems still "blind" me when they come down hills and when I'm approaching from afar.
It's really a matter of common sense in aiming your halogen reflectors with an HID system so that you dont totally blind people but dont totally limit the light output you have.
I've been looking at projector systems from other vehicles and considered the systems for the Mini Cooper, Subaru WRX (bugeyes), Mercedes G class, and older Porsches.
Looks like I'll have to retrofit TSX projectors though, as I want more side coverage.