Mod aftermarket switch to be darker like oem

If any of you have installed an aftermarket switch with blue LED lighting you've probably noticed that the aftermarket switch is much brighter than oem. If your like me it would bother you driving at night seeing it at the corner of your eye.

So anyways I did a little experiment with an extra ch4x4 switch I had lying around. I also used a 9v battery to do the testing in my house. I wanted to see if the switch pulled apart and bam! With ease It did. Pry off the side and then the button faceplate so you don't damage anything.

My first thought was to color the inside with a black permanent marker to tint it, but it wouldn't reach. So instead I cut out a sticky note in the shape of the insides of the button face, colored it black with permanent marker, and stuck it in. Re-assembled it and here were the results.
Be in mind I did a half ass job as I did not want to waste my time if it didn't look right. I will probably do another layer.


Before w/9volt battery

Sticky note colored black inserted

After w/9volt battery


Update, 2 layers of sticky note one colored black and one colored with highlighter green.


Maybe you can do this mod with other methods, but this gives you an idea of what is possible. Sorry in advance if this thread is a waste of your time, just thought I would share.

 

Nice job, I haven't put my switch in yet, I might have to investigate doing this.

 

I used a small 10K trim pot wired in simple voltage divider. Then heat shrinked it all together. Works great and can adjust just how dim bright you want it. Sorry did not take picture of when I did it.

 

All my switches are wired in parallel off the stock illumination circuit with dimming capabilities. Stock dimming works with pulse modulation not variable voltage, so I didn't want to add a potentiometer. I also did a another layer of the sticky note and colored it with green highlighter and it has that oem color now too, will update with more pics soon.

 

The switches available to us use voltage level. So I made a voltage level that will work for these switches by using the 12VDC+ signal that does not change on the OEM dimmer circuit. This voltage divider will not have any affect on the other OEM lights as they are in the circuit before the voltage divider. It is doing the same thing the battery is without the 9VDC battery. This circuit is used for all three of my aftermarket switches. They are wired in parallel with the voltage divider. Not needing to change a battery is nice. I wish we could get switches that would allow the use of the two wire OEM circuit.

 

I understand that, and I still didnt want to use a potentiometer, im just cheap lol, and sticky notes were laying around in the office. Although I'm glad your method worked out for you. I also wish we could get switches that would allow the use of the two wire OEM circuit.

 

Added photo to 1st post of the thread
I used 2 layers of sticky notes
I colored one black with a sharpie
And the other with a green highlighter

Safe to say I'm happy with the results.

 

Out of curiosity, where did you pull the stock illumination wires from? I'm putting a CH4x4 switch in mine soon and want to do the same.

 

Cargo bed light switch
Green wire and tan wire on the top corners

 

Op are those switches from CH4x4?

Edit: just realized they are CH4x4 switches!

 

Hi OP, I am wiring a similar switch but do not have the cargo light to tap from. I found a Green Illumination supply at the radio but couldn't narrow down a tan wire. Would love for my switch to dim with the rest of the lights.
Any thoughts on which to tap at the radio?

@Jimmyh Could I call on your expertise?

 

You could wire a resistor in also.

 

Thanks but someone else already said that.

 

I wouldn't touch your radio, tap into another switch. not sure of the colors, someone should have the info if you do a search.

 

Did plenty of searching, lots of dead end threads and some helpful for older setups. PWD on the ground side seems to be the issue.
Thanks for the tip, I may just get some post-it notes

 

Don't give up, there is an illumination + and illumination - on each stock switch. use illumination + with RED 2, and illumination - on your BLACK ground. The other 2 wires are your relay RED 1 and add a fuse line GREEN.
It will still be brighter than stock regardless. You can use a resistor on the illumination + wire or the post it notes to get it to your dimmed liking.

 

I am wiring up the CH4X4 switches in my roof center console. Could I just tap the illumination off of the existing (looks like Traction Off) switch? would it be the same green and tan wires on the top of the switch? (sorry I cannot look since my truck is being held at the dealer for the rear diff recall).
Thanks!

 

That is what I've done so far at the radio, I identified the illumination + and hooked Red #2 to it. However I could not locate the illumination - at the time so I ran to the ground wire instead. I've read about others burning out their dimmer switch so I am hesitant to find the Illum -. Right now the switch lights with the headlights as it should, just doesn't dim.
It's the reverse camera anytime switch, hence why I'm at the radio.

 

I have 4 switches ran from 1 and ive had no problems. The leds hardly draw any current. almost impossible to fry anything. If they fried somthing they shorted it.

 

Should be able to, just grab a meter and see what you get for voltages when dimming