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Where 2 buy a dimmer switch?? by wickedjester
Started on: 07-01-2013 11:15 PM
Replies: 14 (368 views)
Last post by: 85 SE VIN 9 on 07-03-2013 11:31 PM
wickedjester
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Report this Post07-01-2013 11:15 PM Click Here to See the Profile for wickedjesterSend a Private Message to wickedjesterEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I have been looking everywhere for the dimmer roller thats right under the headlight switch but cant find one. Anyone know where to buy one of these?
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theogre
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Report this Post07-01-2013 11:42 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
First See my Cave, Dash Dimmer
Could be transistor is bad, not dimmer wheel.

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PaulJK
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Report this Post07-02-2013 05:18 AM Click Here to See the Profile for PaulJKSend a Private Message to PaulJKEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
pm sent
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wickedjester
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Report this Post07-02-2013 06:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for wickedjesterSend a Private Message to wickedjesterEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks for the info. I traced it back to the dimmer controller, when i took it apart the board that the contacts slide on was all burned up so i guess the next question is, is it ok to just bypass this until i can get one or is that a bad idea?
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theogre
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Report this Post07-02-2013 10:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Dimmer wheel burned? likely transistor is bad too.

Both are available new... Wells, BWD, ACDelco
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fierogt28
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Report this Post07-02-2013 11:41 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fierogt28Send a Private Message to fierogt28Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
BTW, get AC Delco...
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92wastheyear
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Report this Post07-02-2013 11:53 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 92wastheyearSend a Private Message to 92wastheyearEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Dimmer wheel burned? likely transistor is bad too.

Both are available new... Wells, BWD, ACDelco


Both sold separately I assume.


BTW Not to hijack the thread. My dimmer switch, which should adjust the dash lights, doesn't. Does that sound like a bad resistor, to you guys? Not a big priority, because the dash light are bright enough at this point but still I would like to get them going sometime

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theogre
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Report this Post07-03-2013 01:06 AM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 92wastheyear:
Both sold separately I assume.

BTW Not to hijack the thread. My dimmer switch, which should adjust the dash lights, doesn't. Does that sound like a bad resistor, to you guys? Not a big priority, because the dash light are bright enough at this point but still I would like to get them going sometime

yes.

sounds like someone bypassed the transistor because wheel or transistor has problems
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92wastheyear
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Report this Post07-03-2013 01:32 AM Click Here to See the Profile for 92wastheyearSend a Private Message to 92wastheyearEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by theogre:

yes.

sounds like someone bypassed the transistor because wheel or transistor has problems


For what it is worth, the wheel still works to turn on the dome lights...is that still consistent with the transistor being bypassed?
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theogre
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Report this Post07-03-2013 03:36 AM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 92wastheyear:
For what it is worth, the wheel still works to turn on the dome lights...is that still consistent with the transistor being bypassed?

Yes. That is normal. Dome light is a different circuit and uses B & C terminals on the wheel.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 07-03-2013).]

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92wastheyear
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Report this Post07-03-2013 10:37 AM Click Here to See the Profile for 92wastheyearSend a Private Message to 92wastheyearEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Yes. That is normal. Dome light is a different circuit and uses B & C terminals on the wheel.



Thank you sir! You and your site have been a hell of resource as I re-acquaint my self with these cool little cars

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wickedjester
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Report this Post07-03-2013 03:56 PM Click Here to See the Profile for wickedjesterSend a Private Message to wickedjesterEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Every place ive contacted about the dimmer wheel has said its discontinued thats y I was thinking of just bypassing it by soldering in a resister at the brightness I like
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92wastheyear
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Report this Post07-03-2013 04:43 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 92wastheyearSend a Private Message to 92wastheyearEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by wickedjester:

Every place ive contacted about the dimmer wheel has said its discontinued thats y I was thinking of just bypassing it by soldering in a resister at the brightness I like


Do you not have the wheel at all?

Here is one on ebay

[This message has been edited by 92wastheyear (edited 07-03-2013).]

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theogre
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Report this Post07-03-2013 05:51 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
You can use any "normal" resistor with a transistor...
W/o a transistor, the resistor must pass more power and need watts.

Technically, the SM, Haynes, etc, cave included, miss a "small" detail...

The dial has two resistors and only one of them is used to dim the lights. The second resistor, the black area in the middle of the printed circuit, goes to the ground on B terminal. The ground means the dial is using a "voltage divider" set up and the circuit is a bit more complicated than we all think.

Can you use normal fix or variable resistors to control the transistor without the OE part? Yes most definitely but how you do it does take more time. First just Google or Wiki: Voltage divider

I didn't know until last year when I made this picture. I'll update the cave article very soon with the more accurate schematic.
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85 SE VIN 9
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Report this Post07-03-2013 11:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 85 SE VIN 9Send a Private Message to 85 SE VIN 9Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
http://www.summitracing.com...el/fiero?prefilter=1

http://www.autozone.com/aut...er-Switch/_/N-9cio4?

I see the Summit Racing link won't work right now on my computer, but that one actually looks right. The autozone one at the link above doesn't look right, but if you look at autozone you will probably find one that does. It was an "also viewed." I knew I had come across them a number of times. I'm sure they are out there. I think JC Whitney has them, but I often have trouble with their site and especially links to it.

[This message has been edited by 85 SE VIN 9 (edited 07-04-2013).]

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