tictakman

iTrader: (7)

Im installing some Greddy Peak Hold gauges and need to wire in the dimmer. there is only one dimmer wire that comes from the gauges.

Ive searched here and from what ive read everyone uses the cig lighter light or the ash tray light. There are two wires at each of these locations. i checked volts and there is a constant which i dont want and there is one that decreases in volts (if i can rem right). anyway, if i were to use this wire the gauges would dim while all the other lights in the car would get brighter, basically the opposite.

Can anyone tell me how to wire this one dimmer wire from my gauge to my other dimming lights?

Also, how in the hell do i pop out the stock dimmer switch?

Zak

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

Maybe tonight?

ForcedFed

You are correct, mazda's dimmer is negative while most of the aftermarket guages are positive. I have been going over this for some time on how to hook it up, and will try some things this weekend unless someone here answers this before then for both of us. The dimmer switch kinda just gently pulls out with a thing flat head if you want to, just be careful because the two plastic sides that hold it in can snap off. just gently go from the top and the bottom.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

Thanks man

damn, thats what i was thinking. i tried to pull that switch the way you speak of but no luck, ill pull a bit harder i guess.

i was thinking about using a dimmer from autozone but i dont know if i want to deal with another dimmer.. we will see

Z

7syawedis

iTrader: (1)

since, my greddys at least, are green and dont really match the stock lighting i didnt worry about it.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

hmm, i was thinking about that earlier. how is visibility without the lighting though?

Z

ForcedFed

well I I drive at night with my dimmer all the way down. My Boost gauge is a negative trigger so that dims correctly, and my water temp I added isn't hooked up and they are right next to each other. While I am driving I can't see the water temp at all at night unless there is decent road lighting, while I can see just enough of all of my gauges with the dimmer set to its lowest level. I have been so lazy, and this post is finally giving me a reason to figure it out. I have a spare dimmer switch that I bought off someone on the forum a few days ago, and if you want I can take a pic so you can see the tabs that hold it in. Just let me know.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

Ya man that would be great if u could take a pic of it. i dont want to break anything... Ill try mess with it this weekend if i can pull that switch sunday.

Z

ForcedFed

Here are the pics so you can see the tabs on the dimmer. I will let you know how the hooking up the negative dimmer goes.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

How many wires come out of the back of the switch? my old 240sx i think had the same issue with the negative dimmer and i was able to splice a wire in the back to make it work. have u used a volt meter on it by chance?


Z

ForcedFed

That is my spare dimmer switch, but there are 3 wires into the back of it. When I get in there in a little bit today I will let you know the color and the voltage of each wire. I am pretty sure there is one 12V witch, one ground, and the negative dummer that starts around 11V and dips to 1V. Do not quote me on that I havnt taken my dimmer out in a long time.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

well i was able to pull out that dimmer. you are correct on the three wires, one is ground, other goes from 10 to 0, then the last goes from like 8 to 12... im not really sure what to do now.

this sucks

Z

ForcedFed

Haha, yeah I started going into it last night. I am waiting on a friend to see if their is a positive dimmer wire anywhere in the car. If there is not then another option is to get another dimmer switch specifically for the gauges. I know some gauges come with the ability to hook up a positive or negative dimmer, unfortunately the one I have doesnt give me that option.

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

cool, lemme know. it would be nice if there was!

Z

ForcedFed

I am still looking, or else I may be able to make something that converts the negative dimmer to a positive one so you can run the gauges dimmer off it. I am suprised no one else has said anything, I guess everyone just keeps the light to full brightness at night?

tictakman

iTrader: (7)

u know i was thinking the same thing; being able to switch the neg to a positive. im not sure if there is something that you could get at radio shack but ill look further into it. some suggested a Mosfet. not sure what it is though...

Z

ForcedFed

for 5 bucks you can get a standard dimmer, you would just have to dim it manually. I am working on makeing something that will do it automatically with some cheap parts.

ForcedFed

Looks like I finally found something that will help us out. It takes some parts from radioshack and some soldering, but if it works I will let you know. If I have time tomorrow I will try it, otherwise it will be saturday. Keep your fingers crossed.

ForcedFed

Pm'd you on how to do it.