Dash Light Dimmer

[d00dz]

Hey guys,

I would like to put in new bulbs for the dash. And also would like to add in a dash light dimmer. So that I can adjust the brightness of the light. Just want to know what wires I need to attach a potenmeter (sp?) to?

Or let me know what switch/module I can make/solder etc.. to make one.

Thanks

[mad082]

go to dick smith or somewhere like that to get a dimmer. it is the same thing that you would use for a front/rear speaker fader. generally they have 4 (2 in, 2 out) wires on them. you will only need to use 2 (1 in, 1 out) of them. also you will need to find out which wire is the light wire on the back of the dash.

easiest way is with a test light or multimeter. LED test light recommended over bulb test light, but multimeter is best. to find out take the dash out, but leave it plugged in. the switch on the lights and remove 1 plug at a time to narrow down which plug contains the wire. even after you find it check all the others to make sure it isn't multi feed. then it is time to find the wire in the plug. then once you have the wire then add in the dimmer switch. you will probably need to add some wire so that you can positition the switch where you want.

[fr0st]

Its called a potensiometer (or pot... dse guys will know what you mean). You'd need a fairly beefy one, 2 watts atleast I'd say and about 500 ohms.

They only have 3 terminals. Its basically two variable resistors, where the middle pin in the common between them and the two outer pins are there inputs. As you turn the knob one resistor will increase resistance and the other will decrease.

You only need to use one of them so the wires need to go between the middle pin and one of the outside pins. Snips either the lights 12v or ground wire and connect them to the pot and that should be it.

[SECURITY]

my 33 has a stadard dash light dimmer... are you sure its connected or just undiscovered?

here is where mine is located.. check if yours works.

[cogs]

hey security thats weird my dash light dimmer is in a different spot..

[cowie165]

Are you R33 guys sure they are factory and not fitted as part of R33 compliance?

[Al]

R33 never came with dash dimmers, all are required to be fitted with a dimmer for compliance, that's why they look so cheap and shit.

[SECURITY]

ahh ok.. well thats good to know.

so that means doodz is meant to have one anyway.

[wrxhoon]

Under the old system you had to have a dimmer in the dash so compliancers put them in and they look very cheap.

I have seen a 33 GTR with a factory dimmer , the only one i have seen .

[Keeper]

hmm reading this has got us pondering, we are replacing the damaged wiring from the car-steal shit

at the moment the clock and the dash doesn't work for lights, are these linked for the dimmer reasons? where can i find a feed to the instrument cluster so i can feed off the park lights at least, the c**ts made a real mess of the loom and im not sure i can find where they were connected originally

[Keeper]

actually all i need is the wiring layout of the instrument cluster, anyone know where i can find?

[Kinks]

I'd be interested in the wiring diagram too.

That said, I just chucked 5W wedge globes in there and adjusted to the new brightness level