LCD DIMMING

[mprus]

Hi guys, I would like to know if anyone knows how to make the lcd not flicker on the radio to the dimmer color when switching at night time lights on.

Durning the day it is very clear, and when I want night mode with lights on, the lcd for my 2004 dims abit. Anyway to not make them dimm and just run all the time 1 voltage....?

Michael

[-RJ3-]

I think you might want to adjust interior gauges switch.

[mprus]

wish it was that easy. I put in my own LED that are blue. during the day there a nice bright blue, but when i switch to night mode, there abit dimmer.

[n00bMeiSter]

Yeah that will always happen. So that you can see the road and are not blinded by the illuminated panels and buttons and stuff inside your car.
When you turn your lights on at night, use the interior light dimmer and crank it up. once it's maxed out, that's the brightest you can get it without doing some electrical work (which is not worth it imho)

[mprus]

now that what i need, some electrical work, but how ?

[n00bMeiSter]

Take a picture at night and let us see how dim it is. I think there may be laws regarding how bright interior lights can be while driving at night.

[cwp_sedan]

A picture won't show truly how bright it is. You would have to see it in person.

[mprus]

Is there anyway to slice a wire or somthing so it doesnt turn to night mode at night ??

[mprus]

BUMP

[n00bMeiSter]

now that what i need, some electrical work, but how ?

You'll need to install some sort of regulator that is hooked up to a secondary power source, so that if the level of power coming into it drops, it can draw from the source it is plugged into and boost the output power back up to the levels set.

I have no clue if they make these small enough for applications such as yours, but I know they exist. You can try speaking to an hobby electronic store, or electronic parts stores like Sayal and Active Electronics.

But honestly, the amount of work that it will require, is not worth it. You need to cut the power wire for the LCD screen insert your regulator, some how run an aux power line for the regulator to something else in the car and splice into that. But before you can do all of that, you need to measure the power that is going into the LCD screen during the day mode and during night mode (with the interior dimmer switch set to it's highest setting) so you know how much they differ (which will tell you how much you need to boost it by).

But before you can do any of this you need the right tools and electrical know-how to do such a job.

[mprus]

isnt it as easy as cutting a wire to disable night mode ?

[gabbygenier]

isnt it as easy as cutting a wire to disable night mode ?

yes you are correct, you should be able to do that by cutting the #14 wire. thats the dimming one (usually orange one aftermarket decks)

http://home.comcast.net/~joelafreeman/Mazda5HeadUnitWiring.jpg

[mprus]

is it the same for 2004 mazda 3

[gabbygenier]

yes, if you search the wiring harness for mazda is the same for all their cars from 04 till at least 09 that i know of. might have changed in 2010 but not sure

[mprus]

Thank you so much for your help, I will discinnect that one cable and see what happens. Thanks a million Gabbygenier.

[gabbygenier]

no problem. your comment actually made me think of it haha.

[Rob23]

then your cd player and hvac controls wont light up if you cut out that wire.

[mprus]

i was thinknig about that. I just need the LCD to stay lit up without switching the brightness dimm

[mprus]

http://d5102.wikispaces.com/Mazda+3+Stereo+Harness

[gabbygenier]

trust me. if you cut that wire the hvac will still work, that ones on a complete diff circuit. and they will still light up. only thing is they wont dimm when the lights turn on

reason i know is the old wiring harness i had for my deck didnt have the orange wire (illum) and the hvac still worked.

anyone that has the sosche wiring harness will have the issue of the deck not dimming.

[mprus]

so if i cut that cable out, just the lcd will not dim or... ?

[gabbygenier]

the lcd and the buttons on the radio. its not that much of a dim from what i remember (had aftermarket for 4 years now)

give it a try and worst come to worst, if the diff with the radio and hvac are too noticeable youll have to find a diff way, but that will be harder

[XTOTHEL]

I don't know if this works for pre 2010, but for my 2010, I just have to push down and hold the light dimming thing (on the left of the pic):
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/264240/2010-mazda-3-mps-instrument-cluster-photo-264294-s-1280x782.jpg

and wait for a beep, and when I have my lights on, things will be brighter...maybe some things become really bright IIRC.

[mprus]

I have installed BLUE LED's in my LCD instead of stock orange. When i turn my lights on at night, they dim slighly, but its too dark, so i was thinking, of not making it dim by bypassing the dimm or switch on the LCD.

[gabbygenier]

I don't know if this works for pre 2010, but for my 2010, I just have to push down and hold the light dimming thing (on the left of the pic):
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/264240/2010-mazda-3-mps-instrument-cluster-photo-264294-s-1280x782.jpg
and wait for a beep, and when I have my lights on, things will be brighter...maybe some things become really bright IIRC.

this is a completly diff thing, hes talking about the lcd on the radio. and yes some of hte pre 2010's have that feature.



I have installed BLUE LED's in my LCD instead of stock orange. When i turn my lights on at night, they dim slighly, but its too dark, so i was thinking, of not making it dim by bypassing the dimm or switch on the LCD.

my guess is its all built into the deck so to do just the lcd screen would be hard. try what i said and see if you like it.

thats also one issue with blue led's they are one of the dimmest leds available due to the light spectrum.

also off topic but i think it was you that managed to change the led in the window switch, what led was in there?

[n00bMeiSter]

also off topic but i think it was you that managed to change the led in the window switch, what led was in there?

Jeff-TheBizz did that.