installing dimmer switch?

**amnash** · 11-24-2011, 03:07 AM

how would i go about setting up a dimming switch for my aftermarket gauges? i have 5 gauges total and the LEd in each gauge draws about 100mA there wired in parallel so the total current is about 500mA.
i just need to know what dimmer switch to use

has anyone played around with this? used a dimmer switch out of another car or something.

also, do our cars have a dimmer switch for the oem gauge cluster?

**Pete-R33** · 11-24-2011, 04:21 AM

OK

The one at the bottom of this page should be okay http://www.greenweld.co.uk/acatalog/...eters_254.html

Wire the left contact to the +ve feed of the bulb (from whatever controls it). Wire the middle to the bulb (to where you removed the wire to do the first connection). Wire the remaining terminal to the wire going to the bulb -ve (keeping the wire from whatever controls it still connected).

Not sure that makes much sense.

Okay, call the outputs of the controller A and B.
Call the bulb terminals C and D.
Call the pot terminals E, F (the middle one) and G.

As it is now A goes to C, and B goes to D.

What you want instead is:

A wired to E
F wired to C
B wired to D and to G.

If it works 'backwards' (i.e. when you turn it clockwise the bulb dims) then just swap the wires over on E and G.

**amnash** · 11-24-2011, 01:27 PM

that link doesnt work. is it just a potentiometer for sale?

**amnash** · 11-24-2011, 03:00 PM

i just need to know what the resistance range should be.

**Bossman** · 11-24-2011, 03:07 PM

Can you get variable voltage LED bulbs now? I remember the problem with using LED bulb for the fuel level gauge not lighting up and the reason is because of the variable voltage signal from the tank's level indicator.

**amnash** · 11-24-2011, 03:17 PM

not sure about that, but the LED bulbs in my gauges can dim. i used a machine at work where you can dial in the voltage and going up and down from 0-12v it dims perfectly

**Bossman** · 11-24-2011, 03:33 PM

I know you can dim the new LED lights for home but not the old LED bulbs for cars, perhaps we use the new type of LED for the fuel level gauge after all.

**amnash** · 11-24-2011, 03:37 PM

maybe. i cant tell what bulbs are in my autometer gauges because theyre internal.

**Bossman** · 11-24-2011, 03:54 PM

I believe the "new' type of LED are called SMD, I wonder if these are the ones that are Dimmable by varying the voltage. As far as dimmer switch from other cars I can tell you that older Nissan uses some type of electronic switch and they are wired to the ground side of the circuit.