Are Xenon Krypton Lights illegal in California?

Question

I bought "8500K H.I.D Xenon Krypton Headlights" a few days ago and i was wondering, is it illegal to use it or what? Ive heard something about illegal lights becaus they are a bit strong, any clues? I live in Glendale, California. The package does say D.O.T. Apporved thou.

Answer 1

8,500 k lights are not legal in the US period.  They aren't a bit strong, they actually emit less usable light!  8,500 k are not DOT approved, not matter what the package says.  The higher the temperature the more useless the bulb.  Don't believe me?  Think of a black light, the highest temperature standard bulb you can buy.  Put that in your headlamp and you see nothing on the road, absolutely nothing.

A 5,000 k bulb emits approx 3,200 lumens

An 8,000 k bulb emits approx 2,550 lumens

You have upgraded the appearance of your lights, you have downgraded your visibility, making your vehicle less safe.  Sorry, but you aren't alone, a lot of people think higher temperature means more light.

Answer 2

`YES..THEY Are././/

be responsible.......ya wanna fire??  go green i say!

Answer 3

If you want the correct answer just contact your local department of motor vehicles and ask them, good luck.

Answer 4

I checked the DMV Handbook and CVC and found no citations prohibiting the use of HID lighting systems.  However there is a rule about aiming your lights.

Upper and Lower Beam

24407.   Multiple-beam road lighting equipment shall be designed and aimed as follows:

(a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(b) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead. On a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

Amended Ch. 547, Stats. 1963. Effective September 20, 1963.

Those are minimum projection distances, however you can over do it and blind oncoming drivers.  I suggest that you adjust them to the minimum distance then see how they work.  After all they are so much brighter than what you are used to, you may not want to point them any higher.