boost gage don't dim much

[kleinkid]

I installed an Autometer cobalt vac.-boost gauge on the steering column sighted in the middle of the tach. Used a mounting cup. Took it to a shop to have the electrical for the light hooked up. Next time I'll do it myself. It is spliced, with folding things, to the light for the cig. lighter. He got the red wire for one and the red/green wire for the other.

It does dim, but not much, when you rotate the dimmer switch. Does not go nearly out like the rest of the dash lights. Is it supposed to be like this?

I don't like the reflection on the windshield, so am going to make a sheet metal shade(visor) for it.

Can I put one of those colored covers on the gauge bulb to make the light color better match the rest of the dash lights and make it not as bright?

Related topic: installed a MBC and set it at 10 psi.

[Legacy777]

The dimming operatoiin is probably correct. The bulb is different then the rest of the bulbs, so will have a different output at the same voltage.

Yeah you can put a color condom on. The green one does a pretty good job of getting the light color similar to the dash.

[All_talk]

The Legacy dimming control doesn’t work like a lot of other (and older) cars, it is not a variable (stepped) +DC voltage referenced to ground. It is referenced to +12 VDC, one leg of the circuit is +12VDC all the time and the other is stepped from 0 up to +12VDC, so when both legs are +12VDC there is no voltage potential across the bulbs and the lights go out… the higher the voltage on the “ground” leg the less light.

It may not be wired right.

Gary

[Legacy777]

I believe mine dims.....I'd have to double check though.