Which is better?

[MastuhWaffles]

So I picked up some flex led strip lights to put under the driver side and passenger side dash, and I'm debating on what I should do to wire them up.
A: Should I get a separate dimmer switch that will allow me to independently dim the led lights.
Or
B: Should I tie into the dimmer switch already on my dash?

 

[LIMA BEAN]

So I picked up some flex led strip lights to put under the driver side and passenger side dash, and I'm debating on what I should do to wire them up.
A: Should I get a separate dimmer switch that will allow me to independently dim the led lights.
Or
B: Should I tie into the dimmer switch already on my dash?

I never even thought about if you could dim led's or if they need nominal voltage to operate.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Since LED's operate at such a low amount of power, I'd wire them to a seperate dimmer switch. If you wire them to the main dimmer you might not notice much difference until you get towards the very bottom of the dimmer switch.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Since LED's operate at such a low amount of power, I'd wire them to a seperate dimmer switch. If you wire them to the main dimmer you might not notice much difference until you get towards the very bottom of the dimmer switch.

Hmm, well I'm going to see how bright they actually are tonight when its dark, and if they are not really bothersome I might just end up getting a simple on and off switch.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Hmm, well I'm going to see how bright they actually are tonight when its dark, and if they are not really bothersome I might just end up getting a simple on and off switch.

Maybe there is a SPECIAL dimmer, might call someplace like Radio Shack and ask... couldnt hurt.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Maybe there is a SPECIAL dimmer, might call someplace like Radio Shack and ask... couldnt hurt.

Maybe... I don't think you need a special dimmer though. Like I said if there not to obstructive I might just get an off/on switch. And if there going to be that bright, I might find some other creative places to put them.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

I think they ARE special first link is an e-bay one and the second link shows the guts with tansisters n stuff.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Dimmer-...1&prg=1005&rk=1&sd=390370275381&#ht_981wt_679

http://www.dalewheat.com/news/12v-dimmer-kit-v2-now-available/

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I think they ARE special first link is an e-bay one and the second link shows the guts with tansisters n stuff.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Dimmer-...1&prg=1005&rk=1&sd=390370275381&#ht_981wt_679

http://www.dalewheat.com/news/12v-dimmer-kit-v2-now-available/

Ah, well I'm going to check some places around here, I think I should be able to find one.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

It turns out it's not that bright and isn't bothersome, so I'm just going to rig up a simple on/off switch. I'll post pictures when its done tomorrow.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

It turns out it's not that bright and isn't bothersome, so I'm just going to rig up a simple on/off switch. I'll post pictures when its done tomorrow.

Fair enough but now you have a better grasp of light emitting diodes. I take it your strip was marked pos and neg as it will only function in one direction much like water flowing with a check valve. Now if you have a Zener (Gated in my world) you can reverse the polarity. Look foreward to the pics man.

P.S. If you already knew that stuff I wasnt trying to dis you ok!

 

[doorgunner]

Mastuh...............where do I get "stick-lites" to wire into the rear 12V tail lites on my '36 Ranger?

The stock little round tail/brake lite don't put out enuff lite....everyone says it looks like two motorcyles riding side by side until they get close enuff to see the tailgate.......

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Mastuh...............where do I get "stick-lites" to wire into the rear 12V tail lites on my '36 Ranger?

The stock little round tail/brake lite don't put out enuff lite....everyone says it looks like two motorcyles riding side by side until they get close enuff to see the tailgate.......

DG IF you are running old school bulbs out back say 1157's for stop/tail/turn you can get plug and play LED's. You have to get the flasher unit though or your junk wont work.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Mastuh...............where do I get "stick-lites" to wire into the rear 12V tail lites on my '36 Ranger?

The stock little round tail/brake lite don't put out enuff lite....everyone says it looks like two motorcyles riding side by side until they get close enuff to see the tailgate.......

Well, you can go to Wal-Mart, in the auto section they have them, they got 3M adhesive on the back so you can stick them anywhere. They come in many different colors too. I think Target carries them too, as well as some auto stores.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Well here's some pictures of them out of the box. A nice thing that you can also do with these is cut them to different sizes.
As you can see, these puppies are bright!

Like I said, the 3M backing lets you stick it anywhere.

 

[Haywire6000]

I have blue ones under my dash(Same lights but blue) and I have mine wired into the regular dimmer switch. Even with the dash lights dimmed almost out the leds were still bright. I recently changed all my interior lights to blue led and the dimmer switch is now pretty much useless .(lol)