rig up instrument dimmer to new stereo

LCR instuments lights are always on so your stereo will always be dim! I had this hassle but I took line to side light line and now it dims as lights go on!

m.r.davies said:

I was wondering whether or not to put in my alpine 7874rb head unit, i'm a bit put off by it coz it lights up the whole inside of the car at night,

however, i was looking at the manual last night and its got an orange wire on the back of the block which allows you to rig it up to the instrument dimmer,

has anyone done this? or know if its possible?

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The dimmer wire on aftermarket head units don't often hook up to the instrument dimmer. They actually work by linking to the head lights wiring, so when you turn your lights on the head unit dims itself.

This works on the theory that you only turn your lights on when it's dark, which is also when you don't need or want the brightest lights on the head unit.

You should also be able to control the brightness of the head unit through it's own settings, so perhaps turn it down a notch or two anyway and then hook up to the dimmer control and see what happens. You can always remove it if it's not right

I've been wanting to do this as well, as in the light level adjustment on the dash where you can vary the degree of illumination on the dials/factory stereo/aircon unit/door window adjustment panels etc. At the moment I have 2 setting for low light and bright light so the Alpine looks like the same colour as the illumination when at its lowest and highest setting.

grey/blue on the back of the light switch connector if i remember correctly

that is for ibiza 3 - leon may be different so check it properly so i dont get flamed

to remove switch properly i think you have to push it in and turn backwards or is it forwards ? to release the catch but its been a while - sorry

On the Leon, if you have a compatible head unit the display will dim with the instrument dimmer using the standard wiring.

I know it works on Becker head units, but have no ideas about others.

works on kenwood

m.r.davies said:

anyone know if this works on alpine?

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Try a post on Icecavern.com

doesn't work on my Alpine 9855R

only dims when turning on ignition, then brightens up again before removing the key, I turned off dimming from the HU itself.

Proper standard must be on the radio design illumination circuits, i believe its the 58g illumination. Some radios do have signal Pulse With Modulation control LEDs diming.

stpete said:

LCR instuments lights are always on so your stereo will always be dim! I had this hassle but I took line to side light line and now it dims as lights go on!

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resurecting an old thread, sorry, but where did you tap into the side light line? I had a quick look behind the glovebox today, but couldn't see anything obvious.