Dimmer for Gauge lights

[SandDemon]

I don't have my manuals yet and I'm getting sick of tripping over the light wire for my guages. Whats the best way to hook them up to the headlight dimmer?

Jeff

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2001. 5 ETH/DEE 2500 4x4 3. 54 lsd. 33' Weekend Warrior 5er and an army of toys to fill it!
'96 1500 360 3. 90 LSD 3" cat back no muffler! 110,000 and still eating chebbys for lunch!

 

[CumminsPower98]

SandDemon, I just pulled my light switch out and tested for the dimmer wire and spliced into it. Maybe someone else will have a better idea.

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Red 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 Quad Cab, CTD 12 Valve, Long Bed, 5-speed, 3. 54 gears, Camper/Tow pkg, 33x12. 50x16. 5 BFG A/T's, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Auto Meter piller mounted Pyrometer, Boost, and Fuel pressure gauges, Tuff Country Leveling Kit, Straight Piped, K&N Air Filter, Silencer Ring Hanging in Shop, Yet to be Bombed, 70K+ Miles. My web site: www.mark74.com

 

[hammong]

I tapped directly into the dimmer output wire, which is a light brown color and in one of the "corner" pins of the connectors in back of the dimmer/headlight switches. You'll need to remove your dash trim to get to the dimmer/headlight switch screws.

I used a "vampire tap" to tap into the wire, basically a blue connector that stabs into the original wire and your new wire w/o cutting the original wire. Easy on, easy-off.

Greg

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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger, Autometer Ultralite EGT and Boost gauges in 2-gauge pillar w/tweeter, DD Stage II injectors, boost module, and boost elbow. Yee haw!
http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!

 

[roadranger]

There's a mini fuse you can use in the panel on the drivers side of the dash- says 'illum'.

Bottom of fuse is the hot side, top is the protected side.

You can get little brass gizmos from auto parts stores (Pep Boys) that will slip over the mini-fuse lug to tap off with a spade connector.

 

[Sandmann]

What Deezul Doug said and its fuse #5

Ron


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2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto Cummins, 3. 54,Quad cab,Short Bed,Camel Leather, White Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group,A. R. E cap with rear door, 29RKBS Cedar Creek 5th Wheel.

 

[SandDemon]

Thanks guys,

Does the Illum fuse work with the dimmer? Or does is it a constant 12v? I really don't want to pull the dash apart to get at the dimmer...


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2001. 5 ETH/DEE 2500 4x4 3. 54 lsd. 33' Weekend Warrior 5er and an army of toys to fill it!
'96 1500 360 3. 90 LSD 3" cat back no muffler! 110,000 and still eating chebbys for lunch!

 

[illflem]

Depending on where you mount your gauges you can also pick up a dimmer wire on it's way to the radio area, mine were tan colored wire.

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'95 2500 4X4, AT, Driftwood, Banks Stinger, Warn fender flairs and running boards (work truck)
'95 3500, 5 speed, 3:54, BD E-brake, Driftwood, Banks & Psycotty, 34,000 GCW apple and tractor hauler (works harder truck)

 

[Deezul1]

I picked mine up behind the radio where it dims the radio light, on my 97 its a orange w\ white tracer at the radio plug.

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97 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, Ranch Hand front and rear. Gauges, EGT, Boost, fuel pressure, oil temp,indash CB, custom switch mount-6 switches BD brake extra fuel tank 45gal. Oh oh dang cat fell off, took the muff with it. Member NRA/USPSA

 

[Wcr25]

Originally posted by SandDemon:
Thanks guys,

Does the Illum fuse work with the dimmer? Or does is it a constant 12v?

No, it is not a constant 12 volt, the illum fuse (#5) goes with the dimmer. Super easy plug-in using those little brass fuse taps. You can get them @ Radio Shack.

Todd



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Mega Stealth 2001. 5 2500, 4X4, Black Sport Quadcab, Auto w/Mopar Performance Pan, 3. 54 anti, Tow/Camper group, Smittybuilt Step Bars, Autometer Pyro (pre),
transmission temp and 35 psi boost gauges in an Autometer triple pillar mount, Power Edge EZ, Lund Exterminator bug shield, PM tractor utility back
up lights, Mopar under rail bedliner, ARE K Series Cap, Pioneer 45DHE CD Stereo, Cobra CB, Custom on board air system w/2. 5 gal tank and
Big Honking Grovers under the front bumper!!

Pulls a 24 Foot 10K pounder enclosed toy box for the Datsun 510 Road Race Car. SCCA GT4 class

www.Wolfcreekracing.com

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Based on my experience in wiring dozens of trucks, center splice AND solder the wire when tying onto the one at the headlight switch. I have seen many trucks with erratic gauge lighting, and the problem is always a scotch-lock or t-tapper on the dimmer wire. Also, the fuse taps can be a pain as well... They can widen out the contacts of the OEM box, and cause problems. I spent an hour troubleshooting a '98, and the problem turbed out to be a fuse tap. It had stretched out the contacts, and caused the blower and heated mirrors to cease working. #ad