Redarc gauge no backlight after dash LEDs

[ImKing]

Hi Guys,

I'm completely stumped.
I've changed all dash lights to LEDs today (a/c controller, sub tank, defroster and dials) and after turning the car on to admire my work I noticed that my redarc gauges are not back lit during day time anymore, but still turns on☹️.
When I turn my head lights on, they change to my blue colour and I can control the brightness with my dimming switch, but once I turn the headlight off they just go dark instesd of going to the daylight brightness settings. I haven't messed with any of the wiring, literally just changed the halogen globes to LEDs.
Any ideas? Thanks

[Coldcomfort]

What year is your car? I suspect the last couple of years Patrols have used the CAN bus system. That may have some kind of affect.

[ImKing]

What year is your car? I suspect the last couple of years Patrols have used the CAN bus system. That may have some kind of affect.

2000 GU patrol td42. I think canbus was introduced in zd30?

[Coldcomfort]

Definitely not CAN bus then. I don't think that there is any CAN bus on ZD30's either.

[Cuppa]

Not sure this will be at all helpful, but ....... I had a couple of Redarc gauges in our Patrol, & had to fit Redarc's dimming doodad (AKA 'Enhanced Lighting controller - GA-ELC). Despite this I was never able to get an ideal balance between daytime & night time brightness. Not exactly sure what you mean by "not back lit during day time anymore, but still turns on". If they turn on they have to be backlit, but sounds like 'not enough. That was the issue I had , trying to make the brighter during the day without being so bright at night they dazzled me. I eventually found a balance but it could have been better.

https://cdn.intelligencebank.com/au/share/yE9N/zJpl/MMEM7/original/GA-ELC+Manual+English

[Cremulator]

I would be tracing the grey and brown wires from the gauge and just double checking the connections.
If the orange and black are connected, you will get power to the gauge, but the grey and brown wires control the illumination circuit.
See some details on how I wired my Redarc gauges here.
https://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?43379-Ash-s-2004-Patrol-GU-III-TD42ti&p=795455&viewfull=1#post795455

[ImKing]

I would be tracing the grey and brown wires from the gauge and just double checking the connections.
If the orange and black are connected, you will get power to the gauge, but the grey and brown wires control the illumination circuit.
See some details on how I wired my Redarc gauges here.
https://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?43379-Ash-s-2004-Patrol-GU-III-TD42ti&p=795455&viewfull=1#post795455
I'll double check connections today. Could the LEDs be messing with the resistance and that is causing my issue?

[Cremulator]

I'm not sure. I don't know enough about LEDs, sorry.

[ImKing]

I'm not sure. I don't know enough about LEDs, sorry.

I've now figured out that the redarc gauges work again if I remove one of the LEDs and put a halogen bulb back in. I'm guessing the cause is that the LEDs are polarity sensitive while with the halogen it doesn't matter. Now my question is how I can get the redarc gauges to illuminate with ignition on?
I can buy the redarc enhanced lighting controller, or can I just run a wire between blue and pink wire on dimmer switch and use a relay or something so that when I turn the headlights on it disconnects the connection and I can use the dimmer light normal? Thanks

[Cremulator]

Good that you managed to troubleshoot what the problem may be.
This is how I wired mine up to a separate dimmer switch.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240921/4faaca8b1fbc6e8aff059acb2ad7ba93.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240921/e8a012308d37423917efb7211551045a.gif