I scanned pretty thoroughly the site before asking so hope my First Post isn't redundant.

I am doing auxiliary switch overhead console mod in this thread: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/retro...-150-a-315470/

And part of that mod is tying those new switches into the dimmer. Since I am going through the effort to do that it occurred to me tie this into another project I wanted to do which was to put in some new map lights and some under well / underseat interior red led lighting (for nighttime visibility without ruining night vision / it looks cool).

That said I doubt that the overhead console dimming light, which I understand is utilizing PWM has enough extra current available to run 5 to 7 led strips. Does anyone have any experience utilizing that circuit and adding a MOSFET or any other kind of wizardry to control an additional source of power but tie into the dimming circuit.

My end goal is to be able to turn on the red lights using the overhead console switch, but have them dim controlled by the dimming controls along with the rest of my cabin lights.

If I can't figure out to do that by this weekend I suppose I will design my own PWM modulator with a **** in the glove compartment, and just switch them on via the overhead console. Either way, I will prototype this and post here for the next person who wants to do this.

Thanks for being such a great community, I have read many, many great posts before creating my own.

 

What I have designed so far

Just an update. I decided to go with design a PCB board and a Ardiuno to do all the functionality I could ever want. I thus laid out the following objectives for my little project.

1. Have an Arduino generate a PWM signal to feed two LED Drivers (Two Channels) to light the LEDs
2. Use the existing car dimmer circuit (a 12v PWM) as an input to the arduino such that when I dim my cabin lights, these new lights will also dim to an extent.
3. Use the Arduino to record rapid succession of turning these lights on and off such that within a short amount of time it will cycle through (Floor Lights Only, Floor Light - Map Light on Low, Floor Lights - Map Lights on High)
4. Given that I will make a PCB board for this project, make a few extra and sell to fellow enthusiast on a forum I frequent to recover some of the cost and help those guys achieve a similar effect.