Dimmer/Rheostat behavior?

[re_guderian]

Not sure if thie is how everyone's dash light rheostat/dimmer works or not? It seems to reach max brightness about halfway through it's revoultion (which is just over a half turn of the wheel). The rest of the wheel movement provides no increase in brightness.

I thought I'd switch it out with another identical dash trim piece that had the rheostat in it, with the same results. So I'm 2/2. Test trim piece was from a '99.

Figuring there might be something simple, I took the rheostat apart, and it's a tiny circuit board with a 6 pin chip, a resistor and a few other parts on it. Not as simple as I would have hoped.

Anyway, does your dimmer behave in the same manner - reaching full brightness way before maxing out knob travel?

 

[Travis351]

Yes...been like that since I got it.

 

[Skidoo]

To expand on behavior.
When I installed my Air Locker found out wiring for lights in switches are not setup to wire into dash light circuit. Attached Air Locker harness wire for switch light to dash light wire and switch lights got brighter when dash lights dimmed.

The dash light wire is a variable resistance to ground so dash light bulbs have the other leg wired to 12V. The Air Locker switches have the other leg to ground, so modified it so they are now to 12V.

 

[NMuzj100]

I think what you are seeing is connected to the dome light switch at "full on". So it's half dash variable dimmer and half dome light on-off.

 

[Skidoo]

On my 2000 LC the dash light control only controls dash lights, does not have position to turn on dome lights.

 

[re_guderian]

On my 2000 LC the dash light control only controls dash lights, does not have position to turn on dome lights.

True, no "detent" to act is if it would flip on interior lights as in other cars. Smooth rolling, just no effect on dash light brightness.

 

[sonk76]

To expand on behavior.
When I installed my Air Locker found out wiring for lights in switches are not setup to wire into dash light circuit. Attached Air Locker harness wire for switch light to dash light wire and switch lights got brighter when dash lights dimmed.

The dash light wire is a variable resistance to ground so dash light bulbs have the other leg wired to 12V. The Air Locker switches have the other leg to ground, so modified it so they are now to 12V.

Sorry to bring up old thread, but wanted to know where did you find a connector/cable to tap into that worked with the dimmer? I'm trying to hook up my ARB switches, and would like to have the lighting work with the dimmer (as it sounds like you have done.)

 

[Skidoo]

Tapped into lights for rear vent window switches above mirror control. They are on dash dimmer circuit, so real close to where I mounted locker switches.