Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit.

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Lexi

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Discussion starter · #1 · Dec 15, 2002

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Looking for your thoughts..... in the Jetta the Alpine deck never dimmed with the dash, it was constant. Now that I have it out again I notice there is no dimmer option on the deck, just "illumination" . On the Metra harness , there's both "illumination" and "dimmer" .
Would it make sense that if I connect the Alpine "illumination" to the Metra "dimmer" that the dash controller should now control the dimming of the head unit ??

 

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Lexi

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Discussion starter · #2 · Dec 15, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Lexi)

Interesting, I just took a look at the manual through the Alpine site and they call that same wire "dimmer" . Guess I'll hook it up with my Metra dimmer after all... just didn't want to blow anything on a great deck.

 

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Mex gti

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#3 · Dec 15, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Lexi)

http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif ... now shome some pics when its finished.

 

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GTakacs

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#4 · Dec 15, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Lexi)

Lexi,
If I rememver right you have a 2002 VW with the Double DIN Premium VI........
In that case you can't use the dimmer and/or illumination wires from the Metra harness. You will have to run a separate wire to you fuse box and hook it up to any of the illumination fuses there. I have used the left low beam fuse on mine, but it does not matter which one you use. And if I were you I'd remove all the tangling wires from the metra harness but the 10 wires that are needed (4 pairs of speaker, ground, and constant +12V), the others will not work as advertised and you might break something!
If you don't have the 2002 double DIN my mistake and you're probably right.......

 

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#5 · Dec 16, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (GTakacs)

What deck are we talking about here?

 

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Lexi

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Discussion starter · #6 · Dec 16, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Non_Affiliated)

Its a 7844, real nice deck with good clean sound. Well I hooked it up to the "dimmer" wire on the metra. Guess what..... I turn on the lights and it dims down BUT it doesn't adjust with the dimmer control. Correct me if I'm wrong since its been three years since I had another deck but don't decks dim variably with your dash if you wire them that way ??????????
Gtakacs - I have a 95 Jetta , thus single din.
Mex - Its one ugly car I installed the deck in by I can pop some pics.
The system so far is
Alpine 7844
JL 6 1/2 coax's [ whatever the recent model is ]
RF Punch 40
Coming in the next week is the subwoofer portion. I built the box, I just need to build my amp rack & attach the box for a flush mount. That's gonna be :
Pair of IDQ 8's in a sealed box
Orion 2150GX
Coustic xover
Once again , I'm such a huge fan of old school amp..... gotta love 'em. I am so impressed with my little Punch 40, it rocks those 6 1/2's nicely. Since this is my winter car I didn't need mega loud, just some decent power .

 

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OdorCide

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#7 · Dec 16, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Lexi)

Hey man no dice on being able to dim it with the dimmer like you would your dash lights, just bright with lights off and dim with them all. BTW nice deck.

 

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Mex gti

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#8 · Dec 16, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (OdorCide)

Quote : RF Punch 40 ...
Nice little amp http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif . I have a pair of Punch DSM amps and totally love them..

 

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#9 · Dec 16, 2002

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Re: Getting dimmer to work properly with Alpine head unit. (Lexi)

Dimmer Control
With the head lights of the vehicle ON,
setting the illumination control of the
vehicle to ON decreases the illumination
brightiness of the unit.
If the illumination is too bright during the
Dimmer Control
With the head lights of the vehicle ON,
setting the illumination control of the
vehicle to ON decreases the illumination
brightiness of the unit.
If the illumination is too bright during the
night, set the DIM (Dimmer) to AUTO.
1 Press and hold the INTLZ button for more
than 3 seconds.
2 Press the >>| UP button repeatedly to
select "DIM." Each press of the >>| UP
button scrolls the modes as shown.
cambiará de la siguiente forma.
---->BEEP -->MUTE--> DIM----
|---PTY31 <--BC<-- AMBER<--|
Note: If you press the DN g button the
display scrolls in reverse sequence.
3 Press the TUNE button to select the
Dimmer mode.
Each press toggles between DIM AUTO
and DIM MANU (Manual).
4 Press the INTLZ button to activate the
normal mode.
Then on the back of the unit you have the Orange wire which is the Dimmer lead. You need +12V to activate the Dimmer. The regular Car Dimmer control may due this if it ramps the Voltage up to 12V. But I would look to tap off of a Power wire for example. The Headlightpower wire or maybe the side marker indicator Positive wire. The Dimmer doesn't draw much power it is really just a trifgger for dimming the HU.