Dimmer dial question

Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane

I am installing 3 gauges in the cruiser and picked up another dimmer dial from the wreckers.

I want to hook the lighting for the gauges up to the 2nd dimmer so I can turn them down but still have the dash lights bright.

The dimmer has 3 wires - what are the 3 wires for I am guessing one is positive and one is the feed to the light I want to dim but the third? I have a multi-meter but have no idea how to use it Smile

- can someone tell me how to find out which wire does what on the dimmer - remember I am a multi-meter newbie.

Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Sunshine Coast Qld

Depends on the car you got it out of but I'd say one wire is power from source, one is to the lights and third is earth either to earth the switch or to earth an interior light.

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

Sometimes the three pin types work in two directions, ie one terminal gets brighter when you turn the knob and the other one gets dimmer... and vice versa. The third one is power in.

My guess is that earth is not involved with the dimmer switch at all.

Jason