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Automatic headlight dimmer
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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-09 3:01 PM (#592685)
Subject: Automatic headlight dimmer



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Posts: 2264
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Location: McComb, Mississippi

About to begin the work on the auto dimmer. Has anyone here diagnosed these or found a place to source parts such as the photocell? I have a new vacuum tube for it. Thanks for any help.

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wizard
Posted 2020-01-09 3:05 PM (#592686 - in reply to #592685)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Normally the photocell will work forever.

Just bench connect it and put the beamer in a household paper tube so you can obscure the beamer and let in light.

You just need a foot dimmer switch, a power source (car battery), a sealed beam headlight and some wires.





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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-09 3:09 PM (#592687 - in reply to #592686)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Expert

Posts: 2264
20001001002525
Location: McComb, Mississippi

wizard - 2020-01-09 2:05 PM

Normally the photocell will work forever.

Just connect it and aim the beamer and see how/if it works.

 

The entire unit appears to be dead. Just trying to troubleshoot.

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wizard
Posted 2020-01-09 3:22 PM (#592688 - in reply to #592685)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 13042
500050002000100025
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Does the tube lights up?
There shall be an orange glow in the tube.

If so, there is also a warm-up time before it will go into function mode.

The photocell must be obscured so that you know that high beam is allowed. expose the photocell to light and the unit should dip the beam.
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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-09 3:45 PM (#592690 - in reply to #592688)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Expert

Posts: 2264
20001001002525
Location: McComb, Mississippi

wizard - 2020-01-09 2:22 PM

Does the tube lights up?
There shall be an orange glow in the tube.

If so, there is also a warm-up time before it will go into function mode.

The photocell must be obscured so that you know that high beam is allowed. expose the photocell to light and the unit should dip the beam.

 

Yes, the tube does indeed light up.. the electromagnet contact pulls down but does not open when you try to manually override the system by using the floor dimmer. 

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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-09 4:23 PM (#592694 - in reply to #592690)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Expert

Posts: 2264
20001001002525
Location: McComb, Mississippi
plymouth - 2020-01-09 2:45 PM

wizard - 2020-01-09 2:22 PM

Does the tube lights up?
There shall be an orange glow in the tube.

If so, there is also a warm-up time before it will go into function mode.

The photocell must be obscured so that you know that high beam is allowed. expose the photocell to light and the unit should dip the beam.

 

Yes, the tube does indeed light up.. the electromagnet contact pulls down but does not open when you try to manually override the system by using the floor dimmer. 




Think I found the problem. The two sandblock capacitors are out of tolerance. I'll order replacements and test it then. Thanks
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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-09 4:51 PM (#592696 - in reply to #592688)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Expert

Posts: 2264
20001001002525
Location: McComb, Mississippi
wizard - 2020-01-09 2:22 PM

Does the tube lights up?
There shall be an orange glow in the tube.

If so, there is also a warm-up time before it will go into function mode.

The photocell must be obscured so that you know that high beam is allowed. expose the photocell to light and the unit should dip the beam.


Since I have I found that the capacitors are bad oh, do you recommend standard replacements or would you recommend capacitors with different values to compensate with halogen and LED lights? Thank you for any help
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wizard
Posted 2020-01-10 1:05 AM (#592719 - in reply to #592685)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 13042
500050002000100025
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Change them with same value replacements. The hysterisis can be altered with resistance, but modern lightening and reflection is a problem.
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plymouth
Posted 2020-01-10 7:36 PM (#592765 - in reply to #592719)
Subject: Re: Automatic headlight dimmer



Expert

Posts: 2264
20001001002525
Location: McComb, Mississippi
wizard - 2020-01-10 12:05 AM

Change them with same value replacements. The hysterisis can be altered with resistance, but modern lightening and reflection is a problem.


Thank you again. I sent you an email.
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