Auto-dimming interior lights

[Jutzi420]

Anyone know what it'd take to rig up an auto dimming system like in most newer vehicles? Like when you turn the ignition off the lights come on, and turn off after a set time period. I'm thinking I wanna tackle it for my next electrical project in the car, but I'm not quite sure where to start with this one.

[Mooneggs]

I think the most practical way would be to tie it into the door activation switches since that's a way they automatically come on. As far as dimming I'm not sure how that would work since if it were me when I shut the door I would want the light to go off but then there would have to be some sort of timer...

I think the easiest thing would be to open your door when you turn off your car haha

[Jutzi420]

That sounds way too easy. I need a challenge.

[Ryan]

get a capacitor (or several). They slowly loose charge.

[wagZE]

potentiometer. You could get clever with an amplifiers bass knob or an adjustable neon's knob.

[projectzemx3]

well how do the switchs in houses work? you know the ones that you move the slider up or down for how dim you want the room? does it just cut the amount of electricity flows to the lights? if thats the case find a timer switch that when it switchs off it does so in a slow way. good luck finding a electrical switch that does that. in newer cars its all ecu controlled so you really would have to just rig up a way for it to work.

[wagZE]

a relay & a control knob for neons would be easy to find & wire up. And ya the home dimmer that is a potentiometer

[wagZE]

Oh auto dimming! I didn't read the auto part. Ya capacitor in line on the switched wire going to the dome lite. Or at fuse box I believe you want the "room" circuit.

[Jutzi420]

I've got a few possible leads on some timer relays, similar to the standard 30amp bosch-style but with a delay, I haven't made the calls yet to see for sure.

[jrors]

I remember when I got my alarm installed a few years ago... the guy must've hooked my interior light to dim, once I left the car, then turned the alarm on...... funny thing is is that, after messing around with my alarm controls shortly after that, it stopped doing it, and now goes off once the door is shut....

[Daninski]

Does GM Cavaliers not use the Radio,,seriously. On some cars it's actually in the ECU.

[wagZE]

GM cars that you are reffering to have the door trigger activate the auto dim/ stereo off. ** Edit && yes you can add that feature to any car very inexpensively