I just got a Kenwood KDC X711 deck and I'm not sure how to properly wire the dimmer wires. My truck has (as most of you probably know) an orange illumination wire and an orange/black dimmer wire. The stereo has an orange/white "Dimmer control wire" with a tag marked "Illum" on it. The Kenwood manual says to connect this wire to my "Car light control switch". My question is how should I connect these wires so that the stereo will properly dim when the I turn the headlights on and also dim with the dash lights when I adjust the dimmer control on the dash? Is this even possible?

Thanks,
MJ

 

Probably not with that unit. If they only provide one wire on the Kenwood for dimming, it is most likely a direct voltage system. The trucks use a pulse across two wires for dimming. It doesn't look like it is compatible.

 

I just had my Kenwood X-771 put in last week. I took the radio out today to run some rca cables for my subs and noticed the dimmer wire was not hooked up. If you find out anything let me know.

Thanks,
Ron

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'97 Ford F-150 XLT SC, 4x4, Auto, 5.4, 3.55LS, 265/75/16 BFG AT, K&N Filter,
TekStyle Tonneau, Westin Chrome Nerfs
rmagers@cet.edu
http://www.cet.edu/staff/rmagers/personal.html

 

Ron,

If I find out anything on the dimmer, I'll keep this thread updated. It doesn't sound too promising so far, though. : (

Have you figured out how to set a Disc Title or Track Title on a CD yet? I can set the Artist Name, but not the other 2 names. The manual doesn't offer much help. I tried everything I could think of.

Thanks,
MJ

 

You might want to check out www.sounddomain.com

 

MJ: Hook up the orange wire only. It should measure 12v as soon as you turn on the lights. You won't be able to dim the stereo with the dash lights but it will dim the stereo slightly when you turn your lights on at night, atleast mine did anyway.As far as setting the Disc Title and Track Title. The artist name would be the Disc Title. As far as the track title, there aren't any disc players out there that I know of that you can set that on. If the CD is coded with that info the head unit will pick it up and list it but ther aren't too many discs out there with that info on them. All mini discs have that info. If you have a MD changer you unit will display it.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll try just the orange wire and see if it works.

Thanks,
MJ

 

ooooooor, you could not hook that up so that your stereo is the brightest thing in your truck, mine is like that, but now i have neon lights on my amp, and you know what, i love my system

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1989 Ford Ranger, XLT, Extended cab, 4x2, soft tonnue cover, bedliner

System: 2 Audiobahn AW120S's, powered by a Power Acoustik Apache 1400, and Audiobahn 5 1/4's