Night time dimming of an Alpine headunit...

[callahan]

Afternoon

I have an Alpine headunit (ida-X001) fitted in my W202 and keep getting blinded by the display at night. According to the Alpine manual the 'Dimmer Lead' is orange, which is helpful, but can anyone tell me which cable that should connect to on the Merc wiring loom?

It's fine in daytime, I just need it to dim when I switch the lights on, it's getting dangerous driving with one hand covering the headunit's display

Thanks

[popuptoaster]

needs to go onto somthing that powers up when your lights are on, normally the instrument lights for example, but anything thats handy such as gear selector or heater control illumination, depends whats easy to get at.

[KillerHERTZ]

My Alpine CDA-9812RR has a lights off mode, after 5 seconds all nights go off apart from the main red control buttons.

Does yours not have this option aswell? (on mine I hold down the display button for 5secs to activate it)

[SilverSaloon]

Originally Posted by KillerHERTZ

My Alpine CDA-9812RR has a lights off mode, after 5 seconds all nights go off apart from the main red control buttons.

Does yours not have this option aswell? (on mine I hold down the display button for 5secs to activate it)

hi

if you find the unit needs a CAN signal to get the headlights on signal let me know as i have a canbus adaptor that i'd happily sell for £20 posted if interested. it may just need the light signal though

[KillerHERTZ]

Thanks for the offer, but I drive with all the headunit lights on never found it distracting TBH - I have it on a dim setting mind...

[Diesel Benz]

I thought a W202 would have a separate illumination "signal" driving the radio illumination and coming on and off with the rest of the instrument panel lights and also adjusting brightness accordingly. Shouldn't this after market Alpine unit accept this wire?

[hitenhirani]

the alpine units usually come with two (three) settings, two manual, and a third is auto, using the illumination (orange) wire. this wire just needs a positive signal. i.e. when the lights are on, the unit 'auto' dims.

not sure on the w202, but i dont think it needs a CAN signal.
pull the head unit out, and check if you have any other wires, possibly an orange one coming from the car harness? someone may be able to give you detailed wiring diagrams/descriptions?!

The Alpine 'Blackout' feature I believe it is called, is good, but only really good for when driving on a road with no street lighting (your lights should always be on in the dark!!!). it blacks out the unit display, so not to distract you whilst driving. I never used it otherwise.

I may be talking absolute rubbish, as I havent had an Alpine unit for 2 years, but im pretty sure the tech is the same. so apologies if im talking a load of rubbish!
just my 2pennies and some more....

[callahan]

Originally Posted by Diesel Benz

I thought a W202 would have a separate illumination "signal" driving the radio illumination and coming on and off with the rest of the instrument panel lights and also adjusting brightness accordingly. Shouldn't this after market Alpine unit accept this wire?

That's what I thought too, so it would just be a case of finding the cable that contains the same trigger voltage as the instrument display, so when the lights are on the instruments dim and so does the Alpine....

The X001 doesn't appear to have the option to turn the main display off, my old 9811 did, this one just blinds me!

Anyone have a wiring diagram? Haynes manual?

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[callahan]

I was discussing this with a work colleague and he suggested I try his Becker Grand Prix headunit, so I borrowed it and put it in tonight.

What a unit! Great sound, a big improvement over the Alpine which was pretty amazing itself.

No idea if I can get this one to dim, but when it sounds this good I think I can live with it

I think the Alpine will be up for sale soon.....

[Alps]

there should be an illum wire on your ISO connector at the back of the headunit unless it has been chopped off (like many dodgy stereo installers do!) if not you can take it from one of the illuminated controls in the car. - canbus controller is not needed.