Disable Photocell Dash Light Sensor
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
Disable Photocell Dash Light Sensor
I want brighter dash lights. They work but are not bright enough to my liking as I have trouble at times reading the speedo...not good in a Vette LOL.
My Photocell sensor located near the DIC does work. If I shine a light in it, the dash lights get much brighter. How can I disable that sensor so I have max brilliance of the dash lights all the time. Hopefully I can do it without tearing the dash apart. Nothing in the FSM suggests how to do this.
I sure wish the General had just used Plain Jane analog dash gauges.
The Vette is a 1995 Coupe
Thanks
8Valve
My Photocell sensor located near the DIC does work. If I shine a light in it, the dash lights get much brighter. How can I disable that sensor so I have max brilliance of the dash lights all the time. Hopefully I can do it without tearing the dash apart. Nothing in the FSM suggests how to do this.
I sure wish the General had just used Plain Jane analog dash gauges.
The Vette is a 1995 Coupe
Thanks
8Valve
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The classic method of doing this is to put a glob of solder across the photocell terminals. That forces the dash to full brightness all the time. Of course, the dash has to come out to do this.
The FSM doesn't mention anything about the internal workings of the cluster because they expected the dealer mechanics to send it out for repair.
Are you sure all your backlighting bulbs are working?
The FSM doesn't mention anything about the internal workings of the cluster because they expected the dealer mechanics to send it out for repair.
Are you sure all your backlighting bulbs are working?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
If you take the photocell out the backlighting will be dim all the time.
If you short out the photocell the backlighting will be at maximum brightness all the time (even at night).
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Sep 18, 2013 at 02:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
Ok, looks like I will be soldering the terminals together this winter when the vette is in for along winter nap. Yes, the back lights appear to be fine, its just vary hard to read in bright day light. Thanks for the info
8Valve
8Valve
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 2
From: Reno Nv
H
Mr Harris. I respectively think you are wrong. the common name for a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) is a Photoresistor. Your definition is right but I think the application is wrong, a photocell creates voltage From light to produce a signal. if you short a photoresistor as you say then you remove all resistance and the lights will dim. In eather case there has to be a second circuit to ether supply power for a photoresistor to work or to use the powera photocell produces. If I am wrong I stand corrected. And yes it has been a very long time ago I quit playing. With electronics. And yes I remember vacuum tubes
Photocell is the common name for a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor). The dash backlights get brighter when the photocell resistance gets lower. The brighter the light the lower the resistance.
If you take the photocell out the backlighting will be dim all the time.
If you short out the photocell the backlighting will be at maximum brightness all the time (even at night).
If you take the photocell out the backlighting will be dim all the time.
If you short out the photocell the backlighting will be at maximum brightness all the time (even at night).
Last edited by envirotrans; Sep 19, 2013 at 01:17 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Mr Harris. I respectively think you are wrong. the common name for a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) is a Photoresistor. Your definition is right but I think the application is wrong, a photocell creates voltage From light to produce a signal. if you short a photoresistor as you say then you remove all resistance and the lights will dim. In eather case there has to be a second circuit to ether supply power for a photoresistor to work or to use the powera photocell produces. If I am wrong I stand corrected. And yes it has been a very long time ago I quit playing. With electronics. And yes I remember vacuum tubes
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ull-story.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 2
From: Reno Nv
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The dash dims the backlighting when you turn on the parking or head lights. It assumes that it's dark and you don't need much back lighting.
The photocell overrides the headlight switch control. That's so you can turn on the headlights during the daytime but still be able to see the dash.
You can test the photocell operation at night by shining a flashlight on it. The dash should get brighter. There is a time delay, so it takes several seconds for the brightness to change.
The photocell overrides the headlight switch control. That's so you can turn on the headlights during the daytime but still be able to see the dash.
You can test the photocell operation at night by shining a flashlight on it. The dash should get brighter. There is a time delay, so it takes several seconds for the brightness to change.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
8Valve