12V light dimmer

[east_over]

Hello All, It's been a long while since logging in. We've been really enjoying 335SS. Has anyone installed a light dimmer on the 12v led interior lights. Seems like it would be easy to install in the switch panel if possible. We have a cockatiel that will just sit there and stair up at them for hours, this is not good, we end up plugging in a bunch of night lights to avoid covering him up, which makes him scream, this is also not good.Any info would be of help, Thanks East

[NorskeNY]

Did some checking:

http://www.pca.com/newproducts/12vdimmer.cfm

or here

http://www.sailorsams.com/12v-dimmers

[mark5w]

Check out this site: http://www.itellmart.com/2-channel-digital-wireless-remote-control-light-lamp-switch-lamp-dimmer-fk922a_p5485.html

Are the light switches behind the door for the overhead led's 12v??

[east_over]

Thanks for the links, I knew I'd come to the right place! Mark5W, Haw!! your camper looks like mine!!! The overhead lights are 12V DC, The dimmer at ItellMart is rated for 200-240V AC, I'm not an electrician so I don't know if that one would work???? Would be cool to have a remote to misplace though ...Thanks Guys!!


P.S. That must be one bad a** F150,,,,,Just SayinEdited by: east_over

[mark5w]

Found this on another web site:

"For just a basic switch, the only thing that should really matter is the amperage and voltage used. (More so the amperage.)


Too much current through too small a switch could cause overheating,
melting, failure, and destruction. Too much voltage through a switch
that wasn't designed for it might cause too much arcing, making the
switch possibly break, and certainly not last as long.





The difference between an AC or DC switch for the same amperage and voltage? At a basic level, none.





There's no reason you shouldn't be able to use a 110 volt, 1 amp switch
for a 12 volt, .5 amp circuit, for example, but the reverse would be
dangerous and likely to fail."

So I'm thinking it would be ok.

Anyone else have a answer??


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[avvidclif]

Whatever you get make sure it is specified for LED's. A plain old dimmer switch won't work. The ones listed above at PCA will work and at $20 cheap enough.

[bdwillie]

If I remember right, leds must be dimmed by pulse modulation, aka pulsing the dc voltage supply. Change the pulse rate, change the brightness. You can find led light dimmers all over ebay. Just search 12 volt led dimmer, or led pulse modulator.