I like the idea of the "blurple" dash bulbs in jettas and golfs, but the LEDs that they use are not sold on the open market (at least not w/o the whole cluster), so I was searching all over and reading about blue LEDs and blue bulbs and I found a LOT of info.

Most of what I found talked about bulbs blowing, hotspots in the clusters, dim spots, and other discouraging info.
I have tried tons of different 194 bulbs in my old vehicles and determined that NO blue 194s hold their color, and that 194-based LEDs have too many problems.

I looked into red 194s, an idea tried by several on this board w/ good results: deep color, long lasting, and cheap.

So my question: What if one were to put the stock blue "condoms" over red 194 bulbs? Would the color be purple, or even a deeper red? Art 101 says yes, but I though I would ask, b/c I cannot imagine that I am the first person to think of this idea.

Has anyone tried it before? Results?

 

no i have not tried this before..

 

I don't think it would work. The red bulb wouldn't emit any blue light, which is the only color that will pass through the blue condom. It won't mix the colors- the condom will just reflect the red light around inside the condom and you'll barely get any light output outside the condom at all.

I'm PRETTY sure that this is what would happen. But you can feel free to try it out. Let us know!

P.S. I have had blue 194 LED bulbs from autodynamic.com since April, and have had no problems whatsoever from them. They are the single-LED type, so some might consider them a little dim, but they have no hotspots and I think they get the job done nicely.

Doug

 

go for it

 

stock blue condoms are not actually blue. They are just tints and just make the stock bulbs more white. if you put them in the red bulb, the color is going to be still red or ugly purple and the light is gonna be less bright.
And NO blue 194 bulbs hold the color is not really true. have you tried prolorg blue(don't know how to spell)? I had them for over a year, and they are still blue. I have also heard from many people that they last very long. Well, they are from japan and they are at least $10 a pair. The only thing I don't like about blue bulds or LEDs (even the 4 LEDs) is that they are not bright enough. So I switch to reverse indiglo!

 

oh god there has to be a more technical term other than condom for this lol