LED DIC mod dimmer question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
LED DIC mod dimmer question
For anyone who's done the LED DIC mod, I'm curious if the dash intensity dimmer still functions properly through its range?
I discovered I have a burnt backlight behind the fuel and gages DIC buttons, and am considering the LED conversion while I'm in there.
Some other reading I've done for LED deck lighting with a dimmer says that a traditional dimmer that adjusts resistance to vary voltage will not provide gradual LED dimming as with filament and can shorten LED life. A "proper" dimmer for LEDs will use PWM, pulsing full voltage with a larger and larger delay between as the light appears to get dimmer.
The GM SI CD seems to say "When the driver selects a dimming setting by moving the IP dimming switch potentiometer, all incandescent back lighting lamps are provided with a specific voltage".
Thanks for any help.
Todd
I discovered I have a burnt backlight behind the fuel and gages DIC buttons, and am considering the LED conversion while I'm in there.
Some other reading I've done for LED deck lighting with a dimmer says that a traditional dimmer that adjusts resistance to vary voltage will not provide gradual LED dimming as with filament and can shorten LED life. A "proper" dimmer for LEDs will use PWM, pulsing full voltage with a larger and larger delay between as the light appears to get dimmer.
The GM SI CD seems to say "When the driver selects a dimming setting by moving the IP dimming switch potentiometer, all incandescent back lighting lamps are provided with a specific voltage".
Thanks for any help.
Todd
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Most of the dimming is accomplished via the BCM with a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal... which basically cycles the lights off and on at vary rates the slower the rate the dimmer the lights appear, the faster the pulses come in the brighter.
LEDs work well in this environment do to their inherently fast switching capability... I suspect the fast sitching of the PWM signal shortens the life span of the incandescent bulbs particularly in the HVAC.
OP - Are you sure the bulb isn't just loose?
MyVetteDream - When are we FINALLY finishing your interior?????
LEDs work well in this environment do to their inherently fast switching capability... I suspect the fast sitching of the PWM signal shortens the life span of the incandescent bulbs particularly in the HVAC.
OP - Are you sure the bulb isn't just loose?
MyVetteDream - When are we FINALLY finishing your interior?????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
It's almost like the General planned support for LEDs by providing a PWM power source. Or perhaps the speedo/tach backlight vacuum flourescent needed PWM?
tstar - I haven't confirmed if its actually a burned out a bulb, if it has just unscrewed, or if it is completely missing. If I gotta tear it apart, I might as well do something productive when I'm there. I just got it two weeks ago and I'm afraid I'll crack something because its too cold.
Thanks all for the confirmation.
tstar - I haven't confirmed if its actually a burned out a bulb, if it has just unscrewed, or if it is completely missing. If I gotta tear it apart, I might as well do something productive when I'm there. I just got it two weeks ago and I'm afraid I'll crack something because its too cold.
Thanks all for the confirmation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Maybe, I have a feeling that they made the switch in all their models for whatever reason. You'd have thought that if they were plannin to run LEDs the C6 would have em...
The IPC is lit by two front mounted UV (blacklight) tubes fed by a 600 volt inverter, I believe it's Dimming circuitry stays within the IPC directly off the Dimmer switch, incidently the Trunk/Fog Switch is also fed directly from the Dimmer Switch. I've been meaning to experiment with hooking my new EL Glow Faceplates in my IPC up to that Switch. The ramp up rate on the EL Faceplates is too steep compared to the Dimmer and they go out way before the rest of the interior lights change.
If you have any questions on your LED conversion give me a shout!
Tim
The IPC is lit by two front mounted UV (blacklight) tubes fed by a 600 volt inverter, I believe it's Dimming circuitry stays within the IPC directly off the Dimmer switch, incidently the Trunk/Fog Switch is also fed directly from the Dimmer Switch. I've been meaning to experiment with hooking my new EL Glow Faceplates in my IPC up to that Switch. The ramp up rate on the EL Faceplates is too steep compared to the Dimmer and they go out way before the rest of the interior lights change.
If you have any questions on your LED conversion give me a shout!
Tim
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