Adding dimmer-controlled lights?

[trevg]

Hey everyone! I am looking to add some LED strips for ambiant lighting but am running into some issues with how to wire them. I would like to have them go on when you turn the parking/headlights on but be controlled with the dimmer switch, similar to the backlights for everything on the dashboard. That is my main focus and seems pretty doable, though I don't know how to do it. The second thing is, I'd like to have them turn on and dim out with the dome lights when you open/close/unlock the doors, but I understand that the dome lights are on a separate circuit so this may be difficult. Let me know if you have any ideas, and thanks!

[Derf]

Can get two of the items,confirm if this is what you want
-Automatically come on and off with the door
-Turn on with headlights, but dim with rotary wheel

How many lights are you adding? Need estimated number and power consumption of strips. What year is the Vibe?

[trevg]

Can get two of the items,confirm if this is what you want
-Automatically come on and off with the door
-Turn on with headlights, but dim with rotary wheel

How many lights are you adding? Need estimated number and power consumption of strips. What year is the Vibe?

Thanks for the quick response, yes that is what I would like to have, if possible. I doubt I would use more than about two meters of the LED strip I have and a few loose LEDs, it should never draw more than one amp. It is a 2004 Vibe. Not sure if it would have an effect on the stuff already on the dimmer though, I don't really know how Pontiac has it wired. Thanks again.

[Derf]

Working on the design. This issue is interfacing the dash lights/dimmer. I have the wiring colors for the door lights, need the colors for the dash lights. The 2005 and 2004 dashes are slightly different.

[joatmon]

Working on the design. This issue is interfacing the dash lights/dimmer. I have the wiring colors for the door lights, need the colors for the dash lights. The 2005 and 2004 dashes are slightly different.

The dimmer controlled variable dash illumination is a green wire

Here's a couple of pertinent wiring diagrams, from a Matrix, but the same for a 2004 Vibe

[Derf]

Thanks for the diagrams. Looks like I need to reconsider the circuit design.

The Door activated dome lights are a ground activated system. The dash lights appear to be a voltage activated system. Their polarity seems to be opposite, which adds to the complexity of the circuit. In the drawings it shows the dash indicator lights (blower, A/C, cig outlet ring) on the same circuit as the license plate lights green wire, which would make them steady on. In the 2005 the dash indicator lights are dim able. Thinking their is a detail missing in the 2003 schematic. Ran out of time this weekend, will be the 11th before I get a chance to get back to drawing something up.

[trevg]

Thanks for the diagrams. Looks like I need to reconsider the circuit design.

The Door activated dome lights are a ground activated system. The dash lights appear to be a voltage activated system. Their polarity seems to be opposite, which adds to the complexity of the circuit. In the drawings it shows the dash indicator lights (blower, A/C, cig outlet ring) on the same circuit as the license plate lights green wire, which would make them steady on. In the 2005 the dash indicator lights are dim able. Thinking their is a detail missing in the 2003 schematic. Ran out of time this weekend, will be the 11th before I get a chance to get back to drawing something up.

Thanks for looking, I think I might temporarily leave out the coming on with the doors part for the simplicity aspect, though I think i might later add in a PNP transistor controlled by the door dimmer circuit in an OR gate setup with diodes to prevent mixed signals. As far as the voltage controlled side, I tested with a voltmeter and found a green wire that is controlled by the rheostat dimmer that I can splice into for now. Thanks Derf for checking it out and thanks Joatmon for the diagrams.