12V power adjustment

[-Nemesis-]

I'm not sure what they're called, but what i'm after is something to regulate/adjust the output of a 12v source.

Basically I've installed two aftermarket Sliptfire gauges on my steering columm. The backlight on these gauges at night is way too bright, they well out do the factory dash gauges even when they are set on their brightest.

Anyways, just like the turn dial in a car which adjusts the output of your dash lights; Can you buy these simple devices to do the same thing with the 12v source supplying the Splitfire's light globes?

If so, what are they called and are they dear?

Cheers.

[-Scott-]

Simplest thing would be a resistor in-line with the globes. The correct resistance and power rating will need to be calculated, or use some trial and error. Do you know the wattage rating of the gauge globes?

Alternatively, try to identify the output of the existing rheostat knob, and see if you can connect the gauge lights to that. May not be possible, depending on how the dash lights are regulated, and how the gauge lights are wired.

Option 3. A member here (Drop Bear?) posted a DIY thread on using LEDs to replace gauge lights. Search is your friend.

Good luck,

Scott

[TWISTY]

Hey Bryan,

I recently bought the same gauge....did yours come with little coloured socks for the globe? (orange, green, blue) and did you fit them. I'm sure these would dull the light output quite a bit when fitted. I put the blue one on mine but haven't wired the gauage up yet, so can't comment on the brightness.

[SANZY]

You can get a potentiometer it is basically an adjustable resistor. These can be gotten from dicky smith or Jaycar down in penrith.

You would just need to know how many watt the globs are then talk with the people at your store of choice. You put them in series with the lights and you can turn up or down the brightness of the globes.

Hope this helps

[-Nemesis-]

Hey Bryan,

I recently bought the same gauge....did yours come with little coloured socks for the globe? (orange, green, blue) and did you fit them. I'm sure these would dull the light output quite a bit when fitted. I put the blue one on mine but haven't wired the gauage up yet, so can't comment on the brightness.

I just went and ratted through the box they came in and found those. I didn't know I had them, and didn't know thats what they were anyways. I'll try them tonight.

Thanks for the other responses too.

[TWISTY]

How'd you go Nem? did the sock thingo fix it?

[-Nemesis-]

It came close, I used the greens to match the instrument panel, but they may be still a tad bright. The worst thing which I didn't allow for is the reflection on the windscreem, might need some little guage hoods or something.

[michaelcarey]

If you want to reduce the brightness with very little mucking around, jam a 24V lamp in the gauge and see how that goes....
You might surprised at how bright it is on 12V, especially at night. When I replace lamps in gauges on boats (which are 24V), I normally fit 28V or 32V lamps. They don't stuff up your night vision (especially it they are red!) and run cooler.

[ausyota]

On the same topic.
I am fitting 3 new Autometer gauges to the Lux and want to hook up the illumination to the dash cluster lights so they dimm together from the factory knob.
I pulled the rheostat from the dash and it has 2 wires coming from it, so I though easy I just tap into the wire coming out. Not as simple as that. One wire reads zero volts and one reads 12volt when lights on but not plugged into rheostat, when plugged in it reads much lower volts that increase as I dim the lights .
Im no auto sparkie and Im scatching my head at this stage.
Cheers
Paul.

[F'n_Rover]

On the same topic.
I am fitting 3 new Autometer gauges to the Lux and want to hook up the illumination to the dash cluster lights so they dimm together from the factory knob.
I pulled the rheostat from the dash and it has 2 wires coming from it, so I though easy I just tap into the wire coming out. Not as simple as that. One wire reads zero volts and one reads 12volt when lights on but not plugged into rheostat, when plugged in it reads much lower volts that increase as I dim the lights .
Im no auto sparkie and Im scatching my head at this stage.
Cheers
Paul.

Sounds like its on the negative (ground) side of things.

- pos - globes - rheo - gnd -