Parking light output to dimmer wire

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=82802
Printed Date: May 05, 2025 at 8:15 PM

Topic: Parking light output to dimmer wire

Posted By: punkbastard
Subject: Parking light output to dimmer wire
Date Posted: September 12, 2006 at 8:47 PM

Okay, before I get flamed, I know that this is bad to do!

Now heres my problem, I accidentally did it. My question is, what exactly in the car will this damage? It is a 1994 chevy caprice with the digital speedo display on the dash. When the car turns on, the speedo display comes on all nice and bright. Once you turn the lights on, the display on the speedo dims to nothing. NONE of the dash lights come on at all. If I meter the dimmer wire from the switch, it still travels the range from 12 to zero. If I remove the fuse it reads nothing. I order the guy a new light/dimmer switch but I am wondering what you guys think got damaged.

Replies:

Posted By: xscash
Date Posted: September 12, 2006 at 9:15 PM

dimmer reostat. they are usually not capable of handling direct power. new switch should solve the problem.let us know how you make out

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expandable sound
south of boston

Posted By: punkbastard
Date Posted: September 12, 2006 at 10:29 PM

I hope it does.

So what is it in the rheostat that goes bad? Somebody said something about a variable resistor? I always knew it was a bad idea just cuz I was told not to do it but now that I am dealing with it, I find myself not being able to explain to my customer why that is. Would it have been okay if I had used a diode or relay to isolate my connection from the switch?

Posted By: punkbastard
Date Posted: September 12, 2006 at 11:02 PM

see what I dont get is if the switch were bad then why would I still get readings on my meter? The rheostat is part of the switch right? If that were bad then I would think that I would get no reading or maybe a very strange one.