withalligators

Hey folks,
1994 12valve 3/4 ton. I recently tired of replacing my headlamp switch every few years so I installed a CAJM8190 kit. Eventually I will install some HIDs and relays as the front stocks are so, so dim.

Anyway, I have a couple of guages I'd like to be able to dim to match the dash. I used to have them spliced into the tan wire on the headlamp switch (which seems to be the only wire that outputs a dimming function. Can I hook them back up to that, or is that contributing to burning up my switches? Should I just hook it up to one of the wires after the CAJM8190 relay?

Cheers,
Alex

RAM2940

I have a 2001 but i installed a "ADD-A-CIRCUIT" to the fuse panel, believe it was the headlight or dash circuit. Basically puts your gauges on its own fused cuircuit, but lets them work off the dimmer for the dash lights.

withalligators

Thanks for the reply. However, adding a circuit isn't what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to figure out if placing a small light (the light that illuminates the gauge) on the headlamp switch dimming circuit (the beige/tan one) is enough extra load to burn out/melt the poorly designed headlamp switch in these earlier 2nd generation trucks. If it is, then I need to add a relay to the gauge illumination circuit. If not, then I can just hook it up as normal.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Alex

EDIT- wait, is a dimmable 12V relay even a thing?

withalligators

bump

KATOOM

The lights in gauges are tiny and require very little to run them. The headlight switch isnt going to be affected. You should be able to tap right on to the dash light fuse in the drivers side fuse panel for the gauge lighting. When tapped into that fuse the gauge lights will dim with the dash lighting.

withalligators

Thanks Katoom

KATOOM

You're welcome.