What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

wiring a Garmin 430 into RV-10

J

JDanno

Well Known Member
I'm trying to wire the 430W into my panel. The diagram shows that the yellow wire coming out is for dimming the panel lite. Does this get run thru a potentiometer and then to the ground? Or to 12v. ? the diagram is very vague at this point. All the dimming modules I've used need a positive and negative, hence my ignorance!! :confused:
 
I gave up on the dimmer wires and just set the configs in the 430's setup menus to use the photocell on the front panel to auto-dim the unit :D

Here's something I found on another website:
In configuration mode, the Lighting Configuration page selects the method
used for dimming. Choices are:

Photo - tracks photocell in GPS
14 Volt DC - tracks 14V DC aircraft lighting buss
28 Volt DC - tracks 28V DC aircraft lighting buss
5 Volt DC - tracks 5V DC aircraft lighting buss
5 Volt AC - tracks 5V AC aircraft lighting buss

The following parameters can be set for both the display and for the
keys(buttons) lights.

Response Time - speed which the intensity changes with an input lighting
change
Value's 3 to 7, factory set to 4, higher is slower.

Minimum - minimum brightness, Values are 35 to 999, factory set to 80.
Higher is brighter.

Slope - The sensitivity of a change in brightness to a change in input
lighting level, Values are 0-99 and 50 is set by the factory. The higher
the number, the greater the display will change for a change in input level.

Offset - Adjust lighting level up or down for any input level. Values are
0-99, Factory set to 50, used to adjust the GPS to other equipment in the
panel.

There are two more parameters if a lighting bus is configured. When the
lighting Buss is at its lowest level,

Photo Trans % - This sets the point on the lighting buss, that when it is
below the value, the GPS photocell will control the brightness. Values are
0-99, 25 is the factory setting.

Photo Slope/Offset - Two fields equivalent to the Slope and Offset fields
for the internal photocell control of lighting but only come into effect
when the ships lighting buss is below the Photo Trans % value above.
Values for each are 0-99, and 50 is the factory setting.
Click to expand...


So I would take a wild guess that if you select the "track 14v" option, then as the voltage increases from your dimmer pack, then so would the 430's brightness increase and vice-versa.
 
Last edited:
Dash and radio lights

To setup and use a dimmer circuit on any Garman you must use the LC-50 that has a analog circut. the LC-50 has 2 such circuits.

On our Saratoga our 530 uses the photo cell for the screen and the dimmer system for the background bezel and button lights.

That way we manage all radio background lights with 1 rhiostat and insterment background with another and switch back lighting with another, we mounted all light controls center Insterment panel above the throttle quadrent. They work great.

And flying at night is a pleasure.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top