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Mod aftermarket switch to be darker like oem

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by ajsabra, Jun 11, 2017.

  1. Aug 15, 2017 at 6:23 AM
    #21
    Tacoma2GR

    Tacoma2GR Well-Known Member

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    I just put a small piece of light window tint over mine

    No resistors or illumination + & -'s for me
     
  2. Aug 15, 2017 at 10:55 AM
    #22
    TacoTruck808

    TacoTruck808 Well-Known Member

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    I just figured if someone has already done it, would make it easier. I will check with the meter.
     
  3. Jul 5, 2018 at 9:28 AM
    #23
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    There are two 3mm leds in each switch. Each one has a 1/4w resistor to limit current but as noted they are still much brighter than any of the stock switches. The cleanest way would be to replace one or both of the resisitors with a higher value one, possibly as much as 10x since the stock switches can't be seen as illuminated in daylight and the aftermarket ones cast shadows. You can also customize the color at the same time if you chose or have the "switch on" led remain brighter so it's visibly on even in daylight. Pwm or voltage control will still modulate the brightness but the resistor value sets the maximum current the led can be fed.
     
    Bastek likes this.
  4. Jul 15, 2018 at 11:56 PM
    #24
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    39D3F0E9-0C61-4C6F-AAFB-5C5636FA2D35_zps_fa304e35285f1cade26cdfc4aa20270941b8fa72.jpg
    The blue sausages are the resistors. I changed the general illumination ones on my camera switches from 1k to 10k to bring them more in line with the oem stuff. It's not rocket science.
    1B4C74D4-2DCD-4253-92A1-59D24B920F97_zps_cab4bf16e5e5e1ea70ce206899960741774a2c68.jpg
     
  5. Jul 16, 2018 at 4:51 AM
    #25
    House Forsaken

    House Forsaken Well-Known Member

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    Don't stop there!!! Teach me oh wise one! It's been 20 odd years since I've messed with resistors...which one did your replace, how was the outcome? What size did you replace it with?
     
  6. Jul 16, 2018 at 4:25 PM
    #26
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    Who me?(looking over shoulder) Replace both 1k 1/4watt with 10k 1/4 watt resistors. The illumination led is the one behind the label and the on/off is behind the symbol, top or bottom varies by maker. If you connect to the dash dimming circuit you'll get dimming on the illumination led but the top end is set by the resistor. The on/off led gets power from the 12v switch feed instead of the regulated dimming circuit and is way too bright. You want to know its on but sheesh! Dimming works without the swap but at full bright is much brighter than oem. It literally takes less than a milliamp to make them glow. Holdings the switch in my fingers conduction through my skin was enough to make the unpowered led glow. You need a bit more than that to be visible through the opaque switch cover but not tens of milliamps.

    The only tricky part is pulling the pcb out, once the back cover is off(also varies a bit) and the plug guide removed(pcb has a hole you can see between the pins and the plug guide has a pin locator that fits there) slip a screwdriver between the switch(small silver box w/blue button(some have a yellow one)) and the case and pry up. That blue or yellow button slips out of the button cover toward the open side of the case. Once you've had your fun put the pcb back in the case and push the button cover to snap it back on. Plug it in and take offense the sunglasses. Easy peasy.
     
  7. Jul 16, 2018 at 4:45 PM
    #27
    AmericanDrug

    AmericanDrug Well-Known Member

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    I like them being different, not confusing to which is which..
     
  8. Jul 16, 2018 at 7:28 PM
    #28
    helix66

    helix66 Well-Known Member

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    Front & rear ARB lockers? ......nice!!
     
    ajsabra[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  9. Jul 17, 2018 at 3:37 AM
    #29
    House Forsaken

    House Forsaken Well-Known Member

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    Thank you! That doesn't sound too bad. I think I'll be giving this a shot as soon as I can source some resistors.
     
  10. Jul 17, 2018 at 4:35 AM
    #30
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    :D That's what the little glowing words/icons are for. I want it to be custom without looking customized. I don't want my dash switches shouting at me like some modern day chitty chitty bang bang or glowing like a nuclear melt down is imminent.
     
  11. Jul 17, 2018 at 9:04 PM
    #31
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    Tomorrow night I'll do an led and resistor swap with pics, might be after midnight before it's posted though.
     
    shane100700 and House Forsaken like this.
  12. Jul 17, 2018 at 9:20 PM
    #32
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder Well-Known Member

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    Why not use a rheostat? Basically a dimmer. I used one on my mustang cobra and got the color to match the gauges perfectly by toning it down a touch
     
  13. Jul 17, 2018 at 11:15 PM
    #33
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    You could do that but the pot would be outside the switch(either buried in the dash or not) and thus not as clean as making the switch the way it should have been to begin with. Also, while different makers use the same switch housing and pcb, they use different colors and different resistance values so each would need a pot and still possibly a different led to make them all match. Some of these panels are cramped for space behind already and wire management along with harness construction becomes an issue. I realize it's an ocd issue for me and if bright, wrong color, dimmed with tape or a sharpie is ok with you that's fine. The guide will be there for those who want the switch to be "right", and as close to oem or their imagined ideal as their inner demons demand. I'm no Picasso with a soldering iron and all thumbs guided by bad eyes so if I can then most others should be able to as well. These switches are very basic electronics and a good project to practice on with a low stress level. Both the leds and resistors are cheap so it's no big deal if you cook one on the learning curve. It also means you're not limited to whatever color is available since you'll be able to change it to match your set.
     
    shane100700, Ensemble88 and ShredSled like this.
  14. Jul 17, 2018 at 11:49 PM
    #34
    TacoTruck808

    TacoTruck808 Well-Known Member

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    In for modding my switches!
     
  15. Jul 18, 2018 at 8:37 PM
    #35
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    Ok, here we go.

    Start by prying the back off, some are easier than others. This ch4x4 switch was nice and snug but still not too hard to remove.
    8676B242-F5F0-4CF8-8922-E2AF40951A69_zps_41deb6b5e8c75c2d898dfc7bce8f6d6cc0b1861b.jpg
    Next lift the board up. There's a plastic locator pin you can see amidst the connector pins we need to clear.
    85E4AD5E-42B5-4596-A5F9-3AC5913F7D88_zps_1ce601ee9498e4b436e6bc64e1ed89e6bf15392b.jpg
    Then use some needle nose pliers to pull the connector guide out. It's not attached but does colate the pins for the connector so gently please.
    F17B60C0-5111-4795-B072-55FF8804E0DF_zps_eb058627930c81a8264e784636179442011e0763.jpg
    To be continued...
     
  16. Jul 18, 2018 at 9:07 PM
    #36
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    F75E072A-AE90-4473-B07F-8B144CD65989_zps_5c65a830159877290ad468bc249801e92c2d638b.jpg
    Now insert a flat screwdriver under the switch that's on the other side of the pcb and gently pry up.
    9B917127-D94E-4DB1-9256-B6DC60A6EBAA_zps_43e3567a0490b6276e23fe700d016e1a9258195b.jpg
    All that's holding it in is the button on the switch which is captured in a channel by the button cover. See?
    9AC73B52-3E08-4796-8C14-9BD81BEACB79_zps_671c7314b24ac69bf6f45f583e01127187e0baaa.jpg
    Once you have it out lay it next too the switch cover in the. Same orientation as in the switch to locate the illumination and on/off leds. Make note of this.
    A9F6301E-558D-4360-8BC5-8AA49C05AB59_zps_158c4444374ab2beb3e9994322ea5ce6c4de2b72.jpg
    Typically, the switch label is the illumination (led on the right) and the icon is on /off (led on the left) though some have just a small rectangular window instead. Now that we've got it apart and know which is which we can remove, change, have our way with it. In this particular case I'll be changing both resistors but only the on/off led. Ch4x4 used 3k resistors on this switch while I want higher values and both leds are white while I want my "on" indicators all amber. So next we clamp it and start removing bits.
    EBBC3384-BCDD-49B0-8825-A9FB80193A98_zps_cd66466c2090a8d778b8505c95e6547a28fccb6a.jpg
    You can either pry them out while holding the iron to their feet or do like I did and use an alligator clip(preferrably insulated). Grips really well. 8EFF9F62-72AC-4703-B546-7E6A003A8CFA_zps_e412e0eb8b5c3d3603f2202e2bfa615afdf92a64.jpg
    And to be continued ...
     
  17. Jul 18, 2018 at 9:56 PM
    #37
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    AB202A01-DBC8-4862-8E50-B73038959C11_zps_d9e6fb72cfece6d943fc499f93fd92dfa478ade9.jpg
    Once you've removed what you want, use some flux and solder wick to clear the holes so the new parts fit and then clean it with isopropyl alcohol(rubbing alcohol) and start fitting bits. Double check yourself on resistor value and led color. A coin cell works to check the led(short pin is -)
    44A6F7A2-591E-49C7-9E98-148CBBBB0186_zps_d8fcf42c806d0da7d80ebb37d197e5b825961b58.jpg
    Touch the iron to the board where the lead pokes through and touch the solder to that junction, just a quick dab on each one.
    AB202A01-DBC8-4862-8E50-B73038959C11_zps_d9e6fb72cfece6d943fc499f93fd92dfa478ade9.jpg
    Clip the excess with some dikes not letting them stick up higher than the others or the back won't go back on. I thought I had another amber led but apparently was mistaken so won't be soldering that today but this next pic shows the board traces nicely and will allow me to guide you around it. It's a single sided board so while all of the the components are on the other side the connections are all made on this side. About as simple as they come.
    09F55BAF-0DE3-4F42-8AA0-CE9FC881C66C_zps_9485334003966c7efab8170662188abe72dc2b46.jpg
    The unsoldered leads poking up are for one of the leds (on/off in this case)You can see that both leds have one pin connected to the same trace that runs across the top edge of the board and down the left side to the first pin on the left, that's ground and is used only by the leds. This connects to B- if you're not connecting to the dimmer circuit or dimmer ground if you are.
    The second pin from the left has a trace that ducks down under the first pin and up to one of the resistors feeding an led. Since it's not connected to the switch this is the illumination led providing another way to identify it. It is the one you would connect to 12v or dimmer positive(basically the same thing since dimming is done on the ground side of the dimming circuit). The middle pin is unused. The 4th pin from the left is connected to the output of the switch just above it and below and around to the resistor for the on/off led so obviously this led only gets power when the switch is on. The last pin on the right is switch power.
    I'll add another post when I get the amber led to show how it looks next to a stock white/white switch with both 1k resistors. I'll have some pics on reassembly then too but it's pretty simple though there are a few things to be aware of.
     
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  18. Jul 19, 2018 at 12:40 AM
    #38
    bagleboy

    bagleboy Well-Known Member

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    Snug top Rebel, Thule tracks, ditch tracks, Bagged rear suspension, F/R anytime camera, intermittent wiper switch...
    Here it is with a yellow "on" led.
    74AAE6D4-F0A0-432C-B7D0-1E553F5F2DF0_zps_da7ad0f0fb85fb3e578df611ad0cb755c01db26a.jpg Since different led colors have different apparent brightnesses at the same current you can't assume the same resistance for both. Also, the type face and image both have an effect light transmission.
    Guess which LEDs have the same resistor values.
    3043BE85-6855-4635-9A4C-5707F05B28AD_zps_6a2d279106b2cbc7361b0f9432d0a38ac111fcd0.jpg
    Both top LEDs have 1k resistors and both bottom LEDs have 3 k resistors. In a darkened cab that left one the image will be bright but the bottom will cast a shadow. On this one I used 6.8k behind the camera image and 10k on the yellow led behind the window since it's clear.
    9873D05F-A6B7-4A7E-BE6A-8E2D012B1C38_zps_933d73b81357936c44286634ad9d1658ab318e24.jpg
    For other switches 6.8k was just right for a white led but here I had to dial it up using 3k while the yellow led has only a 1 k resistor. Basically just pay attention to what your switches look like to begin with and go from there. For a dramatic change you need a big resistor change but everything should be between 1k and 10k.

    Footnote, to get the full print to illuminate on the air compressor switch I has to resort to physical mods of the switch cover itself to allow the white light to show through more evenly and to block it from the compressor image. Can you say OCD?
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2018
  19. Jul 19, 2018 at 3:34 AM
    #39
    House Forsaken

    House Forsaken Well-Known Member

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    @bagleboy that's a great write up! Thank you!!!
     
  20. Jul 19, 2018 at 8:45 AM
    #40
    TacoTruck808

    TacoTruck808 Well-Known Member

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    Yup, that was my intention to delete that post. I just did! This is a great detailed writeup!
     

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