Hey HT! Long time, no see!

So... recently I bought an ITR gauge cluster and it, unfortunately, came with no bulbs. I went out an bought some amber bulbs and re-used the small clear bulbs for the indicator lights from my GSR.

Here's the question: My GSR had blue bulb sleeves over the three main gauge bulbs... What are those sleeves for? Are they there to absorb heat, or is it just to dim the light?

I hooked up the gauges with and without the sleeves and all they seem to do is dim the light a bit, but I would hate to hurt the backs of my gauges because of heat.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

It's there to change the color of the illumination. Without the bulb "condoms" the gauges will appear a dull yellow color. I personally prefer 194NA bulbs (amber colored) with no condoms on them for amber illumination. I put them in my gauge cluster years ago and it looks great.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I bought some 194NA ambers as well... I really like them and I hated how the sleeves dimmed them down so I was hoping they didn't have something to do with heat. haha