Dash lamps

[Curtis]

Well not so fast. I just did some more testing. I have some sockets that have a ground wire on them and those are the ones I used. Most of the stock sockets do not. So the problem is that the sockets have to be insulated from the grounding of the dash or the ground feeds back through the gauges and negates the dimmer. Since my dash is powder coated I just stuck a couple gauges in there, hooked a ground wire to it and it works fine since the powder coat acts as insulation.

This of course raises issues for me or the necessary grounding for the GVR, hi,lo and horn. Looks like I'll have to add some ground wires or scrap off some powder coat. No scraping.

So the dimmer is a solution but not without some work. As to the gauges, what I will probably do is put some electrical tape around them where they contact the dash and where the retainer clip on the back contacts the dash..

Putting some of the stuff in my dash I revisited this. As noted it works perfectly in my powder coated dash. Just to make sure that the gauges cannot wear through and then ground I will add tape to the dash and gauges. I won't have to worry about the other items mentioned since they will ground through the steering column.

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[Habitat.pat]

I made a dimmer for the LEDs using a cheap motor speed controller from Amazon, a resistor and a transistor. I tried it out & it works fine but my dash is totally out of the car and connections are done with jumper wires. As soon as I can get something useful I will shoot a video & post it. (I'll post the video here when I can if videos can be posted here, can they?) If they can't be posted I'll send the video to anyone who sends me an email address requesting it. There are two problems I found is that the potentiometer shaft is smaller than the original one. I haven't decided exactly how to attach the original knob, probably adhesive to start with and the dimmer needs a ground connection. Since I made my own wring harness I just added a ground to it.

Keep well.

Peace,
Pat

[Linda]

Just make your video super simple, Pat. Don’t assume we, I, know anything lol. Step by step

Linda

[Habitat.pat]

OK, I couldn't figure out how to link a video, so here is a series of stills.

I used a motor speed controller I found on Amazon. Really cheap, 2 for $6.12).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088P ... UTF8&psc=1

Since this cotroller requires the load to be in the negative lead I had to add a transistor to make it work. I used a TIP32C, also on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TB ... UTF8&psc=1

This is the controller board with mods & connections. Note that it requires a ground connection to operate.

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Lights dim. LED on right & standard dash light on left.

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Lights bright

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This is for the flat dash cars. If the shaft is extended it should work for late cars also.

This will also work with the incandescent bulbs so if your dimmer is bad & you don't want to convert to LEDs, this will work for you also.

There are three things that make this not just plug and play.
It requires a ground
The mounting is smaller than factory, but works
The shaft is slightly smaller in diameter that factory but will work.

If anyone wants further information as to how to build this dimmer, just ask. If there is enough interest I can make some up but it probably won't be for a couple weeks.

Peace,
Pat

[Curtis]

Can't tell from the photos how you did the mods. Photos, schematic, and a write up would be nice.

I'm curious to see if this one works once the bulbs are in the gauges and the dash is grounded. The one I have won't work under that condition. Might be able to find a controller with the correct size shaft.

[Habitat.pat]

I sent Curtis a pm with my design. If he thinks it should be posted, I will. Curtis?

Peace,
Pat

[Habitat.pat]

Can't tell from the photos how you did the mods. Photos, schematic, and a write up would be nice.

I'm curious to see if this one works once the bulbs are in the gauges and the dash is grounded. The one I have won't work under that condition. Might be able to find a controller with the correct size shaft.

Curtis, you asked me to let you know if my setup worked once the dash was in and everything was mounted. Yes, they worked like a champ. I can do a write up if there is any desire for it.

Peace,
Pat

[Curtis]

I bought a different one from the one above that works and doesn't care about the ground.

[Habitat.pat]

[23yrRebuild]

I bought a different one from the one above that works and doesn't care about the ground.

Curtis,...any further info about the dimmer you found, that doesn't care about the ground ?
Thanks, Mike

[Curtis]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303592376250?h ... SwmaBe-YfD

[23yrRebuild]

Thanks for sharing, Curtis. Will this work with the flat dash & OEM knob, and no grounding of gauges, or other grounding issues ?

[23yrRebuild]

Looking at their schematic, it looks like there still needs the gauge housings to be insulated from the dash (of course ! ), and a dedicated ground, as you've previously described. Do I have that right ?
Mike

[Curtis]

Looking at their schematic, it looks like there still needs the gauge housings to be insulated from the dash (of course ! ), and a dedicated ground, as you've previously described. Do I have that right ?
Mike

Nope, fully tested. I did have to run a ground from gauge to gauge because of the powder coat. I modified the shaft slightly and the stock knob went on.

[23yrRebuild]

I have a stock, un-powder coated dash, instrument lighting is grounded through housings contacting through the metal dash face. Are you saying I just need to connect that dimmer's ground wire to the dash, or any other thing that's grounded to the dash, no additional ground pigtail required ?
Sorry,...I must have woke up denser than usual...just trying to understand .
Mike