Progress update:
I wanted the map light to be dimmable. I mean, why not make it 100x more difficult than I have to? Not only that, I decided I'd like the knob to be lit up on the dash. Because torture.
Anyhow, this is how I did it. First, I tiptoed into my husband's music studio like the Grinch on Christmas Eve and swiped a linear potentiometer, a heavy guitar pick, and a clear tone (or volume, who knows) knob.
I cut the pick into a circle(ish) shape & drilled a hole in it so it slipped over the shaft of the pot. Then I soldered 6 tiny green SMD LEDs in a ring along with a 100Ω resistor. Yes, I could have avoided all this nonsense with a clear shaft pot but where's the torture in that?!
The light ring will be powered so it comes on with the dash lights and the map light itself will be operated by the pot which will have accessory power from the ignition.
I'm doing all I can with this dash project in The Nerdery (my workroom in the house) since it's SOOO cold out it takes quite a while for the garage to heat up. Once it's a little more tolerable out & I can heat the garage easier I'll test it in the car but so far, everything works great with bench testing.
Grand total for this project? $0 since I had everything in my stash (and my husband's...shhh.)
Planning
For scale
SMD's/resistor soldered up
Assembled
Result. The knob is actually painted solid black inside. I scratched a ring of paint away inside so the SMD's would shine through.
Of course, any sane person would wire in a simple switch. I'm just so extra. Haha!
