Types of Bulbs
To understand exactly what an H7 bulb is, you’ll need to know a little about car bulbs in general. There are two basic categories of bulbs for vehicles.
First, some bulbs are used for the big, important functions. These bulbs can be headlights or tail lights, but they might also be used in other parts of your vehicle.
Of course, these are going to be your brighter bulbs, as they are responsible for making you able to see and be seen. H7 bulbs fall into this category and are most commonly used as headlights.
The second type of bulbs are those that may be used for signal lights or daytime running lights. In some cases, you might use an H7 bulb for these purposes, too, but this is unlikely.
Fittings
So, what exactly does “H7” refer to? H7 is a kind of bulb fitting. Different vehicles require different types of bulb fittings. H7 bulbs, for example, have a two-pronged plug. Other kinds of headlight bulbs have three prongs.
Because of the different number of prongs, bulb fittings are not interchangeable. If your car requires H7 bulbs, you can’t switch them out for a bulb with three prongs.
Filaments
Another way in which bulbs differ from one another is in the number of filaments. Filaments are tiny wires that, in a traditional halogen bulb, conduct electricity and get hot enough to produce light. Halogen headlight bulbs have either one or two filaments.
H7 bulbs are single-filament bulbs. Look closely at an H7 bulb, and you’ll see that there is only one wire inside.
Clearly, this makes the 9003 (HB2/H4) bulb superior to most other headlight bulbs in terms of convenience. It also helps you save money, as you’ll purchase fewer bulbs and save yourself the hassle of replacing both main and dipped beam headlights.
Halogen v LED
If you’ve done any research into the best car bulbs, or even if you’ve just purchased bulbs online before, you’ve likely seen the terms halogen, xenon, and LED. These are different types of bulbs commonly used as headlights in vehicles.
Halogen bulbs are the standard bulb found in most cars. They are the least expensive, making them easier to replace and a great choice for value. While some prefer pricier xenon bulbs, modern halogen bulbs are quite bright as well.
Xenon bulbs are a newer technology. These bulbs are filled with xenon gas, which creates a brighter light. Xenon bulbs also tend to have a cooler colour temperature, meaning they appear bluer than the yellow glow of a halogen bulb.
LED bulbs are also new to the scene. LED bulbs are longer-lasting since they don’t rely on filaments that eventually burn out. They also produce a whiter light than halogen bulbs, which makes them a popular choice for drivers who are aiming for style.
H7 bulbs are available in both halogen and LED styles. However, LED H7 bulbs are not street-legal when used as headlight bulbs. LED bulbs don’t illuminate enough of the road to operate safely as headlight bulbs.
When to use H7 bulbs
If you’re shopping for new headlight bulbs, you don’t have much choice when it comes to the bulb fitting. The type of bulb needed is determined by your vehicle. Many cars use H7 bulbs as headlights, most notably a variety of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes vehicles.
You can find the right bulb fitting for your vehicle using the bulb finder on our home page. If your vehicle requires H7 bulbs, check out our selection of halogen H7 bulbs, perfect for headlights. For a stylish, but likely not street-legal look, we also offer LED H7 bulbs. Learn more about the brightest H7 bulbs available.
Ready to upgrade and replace your car bulbs to the brightest and bestest bulbs on the market?Here are some of our H7 bulb top picks!
Philips RacingVision GT200 H7
- Awarded Auto Express' Best Buy
- 200% Brightness
- 80 metres light distance
- Road legal and ECE-certified
OSRAM Nighter Breaker 200 H7
- 4.5 Auto Express maximum brightness test
- 200% more brightness
- 150 metres projection
- Road legal
Shop OSRAM Night Breaker 200 H7
Ring Xenon200 H7
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- Auto Express Recommended
- Up to 200% brightness
- Wide, bright projection
- 3,700 kelvin colour temperature
Shop car headlight bulbs at PowerBulbs.
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