Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) Dimmer Control Upgrade

[SteveJ]

The nice thing is that the back is held on by screws, facilitating dissection...I mean...curiosity.

 

Here's a link to the one I bought: http://www.amazon.com/niceEshop-Inline-Dimmer-Strips-Black/dp/B004T9ITQ0/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1443466233&sr=1-8&keywords=pwm+dimmer

[TomoHawk]

It looks like they kept the rheostats until there was none left!  I recently saw one in a 1995 Ford E-150 van.  Also you'd be better off using the light switch to activate a relay for the parking lamps...

 

From what I've seen about the 4-wire PWM things is that they are supposed to drive LEDs directly; 2 wires are for power, and the other 2 go to the LEDs in parallel.

Edited September 28, 2015 by TomoHawk

[Captain Obvious]

Steve, Wow. You really went for a prepackaged fancy "module". I was picturing one of these more generic versions. Something that doesn't even have a case to facilitate ummm... curiosity

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XE965RG?gwSec=1&redirect=true&ref_=s9_simh_gw_p60_d0_i3

 

So I guess if your module doesn't work out, you're out a whole two dollars and seventy cents.

 

On edit - I like the uber generic description of that module I linked to! Do you think they could have gotten any more buzzwords in there?? DC Motor Speed Control Driver Board 3V-35V 5A PWM Controller Stepless DC 3V 6V 12V 24V 35V Variable Voltage Regulator Dimmer Governor Switching Build with LED Indicator and Switch Function"

 

Edited September 28, 2015 by Captain Obvious

[TomoHawk]

The Amazon module looks nice, but I don't care for screw-terminals, which unscrew themselves .  Instead, I'd like solder pads, so you can permanently attach your wires, then add train-reliefs.

[TomoHawk]

Somebody should send this idea to MSA, or another company that can make these in  quantities.  Every S30 out there should have one.

[Captain Obvious]

Haha! I've already made a couple of these. What price will the market bear?   

[TomoHawk]

Beats me.  I can't get the rheostat out. 

[Captain Obvious]

Good point about the install difficulty. I don't think there's enough room to swing the rheostat out without pulling the dash. The lower left mounting bracket is right there in the way. I had a bunch of reasons to pull my dash, so I'm just doing it all at the same time.

[TomoHawk]

I managed to get my rheostat out once, but that was a long time ago, wen then stock seats were in.  I think I had to take the vent out and some other stuff, like moving the hood  handle.

[TomoHawk]

While you have the whole thing out, why not add a starter button to bypass the ignition switch, and a few other "corrections?"  Don't forget to  inspect the vacuum hoses for the ventilation controls and the heater hoses, do a little painting of whatever you can see from the seat or the window, and make templates for panels to cover what isn't already covered by carpet.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't have any vacuum controls for the HVAC, so no worry there.

I did. however, take the opportunity to replace my BEEP-BEEP warning buzzer with my polite "Ding-Dong" bell chime from an Integra. I even installed a latching push button switch so I can reach up under the dash and disable the chime if I want to sit with the door open and the key in the ignition. Just have to remember to re-enable it again when I'm done.

I mounted the ding-dong right next to the dimmer. PWM dimmer on the left, I'm holding the Integra chime in the middle, and the original beeper-buzzer on the right. (Note that the dash is upside down.):

Also note that in that pic, I had not yet incorporated the ON-OFF switch on the chime. Here's the switch:

I've got it all mounted up, but didn't take a final pic yet. I'll snap and post one when I get a chance.

[TomoHawk]

I never"remember to turn it back on" so I will just have to live with the chimes always enabled. I'd rather be annoyed and safe than sorry the battery is dead.   This is my dinger:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkC0dcklnO0  But it goes twice as fast.

So much for that.  I have a wiper motor from an Escort ZX2, and it fits just right on the bracket for the Zed.  One wire is low speed, one for high speed, one for ground, and it has auto-park.  I just haven't figured out how to hook it up to the Zed wiper controller.  I think it switches the low side?  That would mean you need some 2N3055s or a SPDT relay.

 

Edited March 29, 2016 by TomoHawk