Condoms - Are They Really Necessary?

[Wild Bill]

Sent my gauges back to Autometer, over the winter, for new faces, since mine had formed the infamous cracks. When reinstalling gauges in the panel, I decided to replace all bulbs as well. Unfortunately, all the old little bulb condoms were cracked and unable to be transferred onto the new bulbs.

So, are those bulb condoms really necessary? Is there a heat issue, or some other issue if new bulbs are installed without them?

Thanks!

Bill

[SQ4MN]

You should always use new condoms. I would just as soon use none as to use a used one, especially if you already know its cracked.

[Gila123]

Is this the right place for this conversation,,, just saying ,,, lol ,,, I'm out in the middle of an ocean ,,, give me a break ,,,

[Paul H]

Bill, have you checked into if you can
buy a LED replacements??? Do you
know just what the purpose is why
the condoms are there. Do they defuse
the light or keep water off the bulb???
LED just might be a better way then the
Condoms???

Paul H

[hogv8]

About 10 years ago or so I sent all my gages to Autometer and had them replace the domes lens with flat glass lens and have never had a cracked lens since or fogging .

[Ron Radulski]

Wild Bill, my answer was going to be: It all depends if you want her to get pregnant or not. LOL Good Luck

[Wild Bill]

Thanks all!

Yeah, I simply don't know the purpose of these bulb covers. Also, I do not know if LED replacements are available... good question, though.

Anyone have more input... like, where does me buy bulbs with these "condoms"???

Bill

[502wingman]

Bill,
I think they are just to protect the bulbs from fingerprints (Sweat !!!) when installing them. Sweat (acid !!!) is no good on halogen bulbs. Take them off once the the bulb is seated firmly in the socket.
This advice is for bulbs only

[hogv8]

I know when I bought Mt bike new in 2000 along with the manual was a plastic bag with about 5 or 6 red (condums) and 5 or 6 green (conduwms) I guess to change the color of the gage panel bulbs . However I never used them .

[V8Bikers]

I would check with Autometer. IIRC, a new guage I bought years ago came with a bulb with the condom.