Thumb wheel dimmer switch question.

[Polara_500]

For anyone following along here's why the lights weren't working anymore! I have an electronics shop trying to source out a 25 ohm potentiometer like this one. Crossing my fingers.

View attachment 175986

View attachment 175987

Can you get one similar but not quite like?? Another burned one probably won't fix too much...........

 

[Fury440]

For anyone following along here's why the lights weren't working anymore! I have an electronics shop trying to source out a 25 ohm potentiometer like this one. Crossing my fingers.

The problem is the wattage it must handle. You should inventory all the bulbs that are powered through the dimmer and add up the current draw for each. Then you will know the total load in watts. If, for example, the total is 20Watts, I'd be looking for a 25ohm 30Watt or even 40Watt pot. The enemy is heat and the device's ability to radiate the heat. The "open air" type will do this much better than an enclosed pot. Maybe convert to the older style?

A word of caution, be careful that you don't inadvertently overload the dimmer by replacing dash lights and courtesy bulbs with ones that draw more power than the factory bulbs. Don't forget add on stuff, radio(s), tach gauge strips (amp/oil/temp), all have lights that will increase the dimmer load.

 

[Erayn]

The problem is the wattage it must handle. You should inventory all the bulbs that are powered through the dimmer and add up the current draw for each. Then you will know the total load in watts. If, for example, the total is 20Watts, I'd be looking for a 25ohm 30Watt or even 40Watt pot. The enemy is heat and the device's ability to radiate the heat. The "open air" type will do this much better than an enclosed pot. Maybe convert to the older style?

A word of caution, be careful that you don't inadvertently overload the dimmer by replacing dash lights and courtesy bulbs with ones that draw more power than the factory bulbs. Don't forget add on stuff, radio(s), tach gauge strips (amp/oil/temp), all have lights that will increase the dimmer load.

As far as I know, nothing has changed as far as bulbs, also the radio is aftermarket but not hooked to the dimmer. I'll have to check wattage of the cluster bulbs. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Fury440]

I have macular degeneration in my right eye and cataracts which may put me in the white cane club in about 5 years or so. I'm getting the cataracts removed this summer. My macular was the basically untreatable dry type, but in January it switched to the wet type which is treatable with injections. So if I'm lucky I'll have some scar tissue and somewhat reduced low light visibility.

I'm going to look into converting all my dash lamps to LED which will hopefully reduce the wattage load on the dimmer and maybe increase the max brightness so I can see the numbers. Alas no more night driving, my favorite time for long haul highway trips.

 

[Erieaddict]

How are you guys getting to this switch? Removing the complete dash cluster?

 

[Erayn]

How are you guys getting to this switch? Removing the complete dash cluster?

I pulled the switch panel off to get to mine

 

[Welder guy]

On my 69 fury you have to remove the cluster