Now that I've read all the posts about "can I override the dimmer switch, etc", I have come up with something for you techies to figure out.

I have wired the clock to use the dimmer switch, but the clock is only a 2 mode display (Bright/Dim). Any setting between the 2 causes the display to flicker. So here is what I am now proposing...

How do we change/wire up our cars to work like the following?

There would be a relay used (or something else), and it would function as follows.

1) If your lights are off, +12v is applied to the clock (turning the clock to full brightness)

2) If the lights are on, the relay would monitor the voltage of the dimmer switch. I am assuming that there is either +12v or 0v when the lights are off completely. (I have not verified exact voltage, as my multimeter is broke)

3) If the lights are on, and the dimmer switch is set to "full bright" position, the relay would cut the 12v supply to the clock (turning the clock to full brightness).

4) If the lights are on, and the dimmer switch is set to anything other than "full bright", then +12v would be passed through to the clock (dimming the clock).

So in essence, the factory voltage would always be passed through the relay to the clock, except in the case of the dimmer switch being in the "full bright" position.

You design it, (test it if you want), I will implement it, and document it for the forum/site/mods/custommaxima.com/etc.

 

you guys really want a brighter clock?

 

how about this, remove the clock assembly and cut te red wire witht he blue tracer, now it's bright all the time.

 

But as you can see.... I Don't want it bright all the time. Only when the headlights/parking lights are on, and the switch is up full time. Otherwise, I'd leave my car the way it is (bright all the time).

 

it will just not get dim when the headlights are on with this method. it's easy and the clock will just not change brightness level.s

 

I made a post about this in the fourth gen forum not to long ago, but didn't get any responses. I was thinking of using a switch to bypass the dimmer so the clock and radio would not 'know' the headlights where on. Or rewire so the dimmer does not activate with the parking lights, only with headlights, I like to drive with my parking lights and fogs on during the day and particularly in bad whether. I find the white SE gauges kind of hard to see at dusk with the illumination on.

 

If you really want to do this it would be along the lines of

1 12vdc relay
1 diode
1 npn transistor probly npn2222 npn3904
a couple of resistors

+ 12vdc

|------
_|_ @ relay
diode /\ @
r1 vb b |------
dimmer in -/\/\/------|< c
| e | npn transistor
> |
r2 < |
| |
gnd

then choose r1 and r2
so that after you adjust the dimmer where you want it, it will provide a voltage value (measure this with a volt meter) so that Vb=0.7v (tranitor on, relay on). When Vd (dimmer voltage in, is a value where Vb (base voltage of transistor) is less than 0.7v transistor off, relay off)

then vb = (r2 /(r1+r2) ) * Vd
becomes

0.7v = ( r2/(r1+r2) ) * Vd
remeber you will measure the value of Vd when you put the dimmer to the position you want it to trigger at.
so you know
Vb
you will know Vd
then pick a nice value for either r1 or r2 and solve the equation for the missing one (start with values of 1Kohm a real world resistor value)

Hope this help

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