Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2020 15:40:30 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Rigging up spare Rear Defogger Switch to do other stuff
In-Reply-To: <1651793530.1336870.1585866209099@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Here ya go,
Excuse the dirty dash.
Notice the fog lights switch has indicator light recessed and fog light indicator protruding .
They are visible in daylight, more so than I remembered.
https://shufti.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/b451b430-0a02-4de8-af3d-f619918fef16.jpeg
Alistair
> On Apr 2, 2020, at 3:23 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
> This is kind of a funny coincidence: I mean here in Southern California with garage kept Vanagon, I NEVER use the Rear Window Defogger feature. Even when camping...I generally wait a little before driving, and by the time I do there is no Rear Window visibility issue. Just for fun a few months ago, I turned on my Rear Defogger Switch....and could see no indicator light....I distinctly remember (probably decades ago was the last time I switched it on) that it was bright! Glowing amber, readily visible. I assumed that heating element on the glass surface or the connector to the wires on rear window was funky, but since I never use it, I quickly forgot about exploring the problem. I easily could have muffed up something when doing my occasional washing of interior rear window, or maybe just a corroded connector. All of it is still a mystery for me.
>
> Rich
>
> San Diego
>
> On Thursday, April 2, 2020, 3:13:59 PM PDT, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>
> My amber light is dim on both de frogger and fog light switches , for what’s that worth.
>
> Alistair
>
> > On Apr 2, 2020, at 3:09 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> > I tried hooking it up as you suggested Mark, and got the same results as you; my drycell voltage was around 12 VDC instead of 9 VDC like your setup, and still the amber light is pretty dim, to the point of being unusable in normal daytime situations driving. To keep things simple, I think I'm going to use the rocker switch without the indicator light.....one less thing to try and figure out 5 years from now when things stop working for whatever reason. I tested everything indoors in a dimly lit room.....ya know, I originally thought that amber light was an LED but now I'm not so sure....may just be a light pipe utilizing a tiny incandescent bulb, like the bulb for the one nearby to help you find the switch on the dash at night.
> > Rich
> > San Diego
> >
> > On Thursday, April 2, 2020, 6:27:05 AM PDT, vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net> wrote:
> >
> > I have 2 used stock switches in my hand.
> > Testing with a 9 volt battery.
> > Polarity doesn't matter to either light.
> > The amber external light only lights when the switch is on and doesn't
> > care which large pin has power. Switch off, light off.
> >
> > I'm tempted to open one up.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >>
> >> You'e working too hard. What Dennis said -- brown goes to ground and
> >> gray/blue (not blue/gray) goes to any gray/blue wire under the dash. That
> >> will take care of panel lighting and and the power-on light. Note that
> >> power to the switch has to cone on the correct wire or the light will be on
> >> constantly.
> >>
> >> Yrs,
> >> d
> >>
> >
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